Let's Get Shabby #44 - Easter

Inspiration: List 1: Rabbit, List 2: Buttons and string, List 3: Distressing and Inking.

 

As children we always had a dog; my earliest memory is of Santa, a spaniel cross. When he died, we got Ross, a Shetland Sheepdog and eventually a female too, Cairead. We were taught the responsibilities of owning a pet from an early age. When we started our own family we felt this was a good way to teach the children responsibility for a living thing too. We started with a Jack Russel, Yukka but he was too nippy and energetic for our eldest son at 18 months and with another baby on the way we decided he was not a good fit and we returned him. We later took care of my mothers dog Cairead when she moved into nursing quarters and the boys were taught about feeding and grooming and when they were old enough, the cleaning that is also required.

Our eldest son had his heart set on a rabbit when he was 10 and we decided to get him one for Christmas on the understanding that he was solely responsible for its care. This photo was taken on Christmas Day, it concentrates on the rabbit and you can not see our sons smiling face. Our son carried out his duty so well that we allowed him to buy another with his own pocket money a few months later. We were assured by the pet store owner that both were boys and there was no fear of them breeding. Needless to say it was only 12-15 weeks later that we discovered several kits in the enclosure as well. Sadly, our sheepdog was 'helping' the mother return the escaping kits to their enclosure and was not gentle enough. The adults contracted a virus a few weeks later and succumbed. It was decided that we would stick to dogs in the future!  

When our son left home and moved to his own property, he chose an active kelpie cross and spent many happy hours training her in agility and obedience. All our boys eventually would leave home and have dogs of their own and now teach their own children the responsibilities of owning a pet.

Thank you for looking and any comments you may leave, kind regards.