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| Taylor
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Sadie, now renamed Taylor, came into my life in August 2009 when she was about two years old. Her start in life is somewhat of a mystery, but it’s safe to assume it wasn’t a good one. I am happy to say that the rest of her life now seems much brighter and I thank you folks for bringing us together. Taylor joined a household that includes Bill the Cat, a 17-year-old Maine Coon and his buddy Zacharias, a 4-year-old Rough Collie whom I had adopted the year before from the Adirondack Humane Society in Plattsburgh, NY.
Taylor is a tactician and deep thinker. Aside from joining Zack in challenging the mailman every day, she delights in sitting quietly, tracking the movements of squirrels through the tall trees of Wychwood. When one comes close, she pads as quietly and deliberately as a stalking cat toward the prey, putting on a big rush of speed only at the very end of the pursuit. (So far she has thankfully not managed to catch one, so I’m not sure how deep her prey drive actually runs.)
Likewise, inside the house Taylor has evaluated my behaviour to such an extent that after about six months she began to anticipate where I was likely to be next. So, on my way into the office to check my email I would call to her and Zack to come join me, with only one dog appearing in reply ... then I would look around everywhere ... no Taylor. Whereupon I would find her already lying relaxed under my desk, waiting for me.
Even more amusing is that Taylor watches my patterns in keeping Zack’s behaviour in check. Often, as she senses that I am about to bring Zack down a notch on the adrenaline scale, she jumps in and does it for me with a neck grab and a heavy push. Her other tactic is sliding her head under Zack’s belly and actually lifting him off the ground. That is a sure-fire way of snapping Zack out of just about anything he’s up to. She is a very, very strong lady – she’s given me a few amazing shoves on the couch.
The last thing I want to say about Taylor is that she is a great talker in the mornings. On some days she does an awesome Scooby-Doo routine. Her best so far was something like: “Walla-walla-woo-walla-walla-waaa ... woooooof”! On behalf of Bill, Zack and me, thanks to everyone at the SPCA of West Quebec for caring about Sadie/Taylor, and for letting us include her in our household. Keep up your great work.
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