Mr. Gus
It was four years ago that I first brought home Mr. Gus. Sometimes he gets called Gustopher, or Gus Gus or just Gus. Gus came to us late on Easter Sunday after our kids had gone back to college. Karen was experiencing her first taste of sad as the youngest child and oldest child had come home from college, the oldest in her second year and the youngest his first year, but we knew that our holidays as a whole family were going by quickly.
Enter a trip to get Gus. I didn't tell anyone we were going to get Gus. In a lot of ways it was just a snap decision, but one of the best snap decisions I think I've ever made. The only issue with Gus' arrival was the children had just left and returned home and had I thought about it, I would have had them get Gus with me when they had arrived for Easter weekend. But thinking has never been my strong suit.
After I dropped my son at the airport I ventured to pick up Gus not far from their before I returned home. Gus was just a little fluff ball when he was a baby boy. Whenever I knocked on the door the amazement in Karen's eyes was worth all the effort to find and get Gus. The two of them became fast friends and to this day Gus gets all the kisses. And whenever it's my turn to get one or two he barks with jealousy and jumps up on his momma to make sure he will get his fair share.
Gus now has a younger brother named Hank. Even though Hank is younger he is quite large compared to Gus. Hank is a rescue dog and has some cur dog and some greyhound in him I believe. He is super fast, has a great tracking nose and is sweet as pie, even though his bark is deep and loud and sounds super intimidating. Hank loves to play with Gus and vice versa. We call them "the boyz." The boyz are always in trouble when they go outside together unsupervised. If they individually go outside there is no problems. But for some reason they get extra curious when they roam the backyard together.
Mr. Hank
Mr. Hank was adopted from the local animal shelter after a family friend had to turn him into the shelter because the were moving and then put out a last ditch video blitz to my wife. Which included their precious 4 year old daughter holding and petting the baby puppy. When I went to see Hank I knew one day he would be large because his feet were almost as big as the rest of him. He was timid and shy but also very attentive and aware. We always tell Hank, that he is a good boy. (even when that might be stretching the truth) I like to sing to Hank, because well his name is Hank and I like country music. While he is drinking his water I might break out in, "Hank! why do you drink..." or whenever He comes in after running around I'll sing, "Hanky Panky, what ya got cooking, Hanky Panky you are a good looking..just a Hanky Panky around this town..."
Mr. Hank has a great nose on him and often we will have "visitors". Our visitors are usually racoons or possums trying to get some left over dog food or water. Mr. Hank will investigate by putting his nose to the ground and retracing our visitors steps over and over, until He is sure we are safe. He also is super fast and loves to run figure 8 laps, sometimes induced by his older but smaller brother chasing him. Mr. Hank is so fast he has caught birds out of the air, as he runs through the bushes and they flush he snatches them in midflight. While impressive we try to limit this practice.
Our baby boy is also a big napper, once he has run he loves to take a nap, and when not napping, he loves to lay out in the sun and catch some rays. So I guess he is either running, trailing or resting, sounds like a pretty good life to be rescued to.
