Nike (left), Puma (center), Dockers (right). Circa 2001 – image scanned.
Two years into our marriage and with the purchase of our first home, we added a third member to our family. We adopted Nike from the city pound. He was around 8 months old…the pound didn't know for sure. He was a good kid…the kind you would want at your side in a dark alley. He was one helluva watch dog. Our poor Nike was lonely while we were gone during the day and ritually got out of our yard. We have many funny stories of his escapes. Our neighbors started calling him "Houdini".
About six to eight months later we started considering a companion for Nike and another addition to our family. My brother surprised me one evening with exactly what we were looking for and brought us home an angel. She was from a very large litter and was too young to be taken away from her Mom (the owners wanted to be rid of the litter and didn't give much thought to this), but we worked through it and loved every puppy moment with our girl. We named her Puma. Yes. I know – a Puma is a cat, but she was black as night and was the most beautiful dog. Friends teased that we should paint on their dog houses "Foot Locker" because they were seemingly named after shoes. The tease was appropriate too because my husband is a Coach.
Puma was a perfect and loving companion for Nike. He never tried to get out after we introduced her and he took care of her as if she was his own. As they grew older together, they absolutely understood eachother. Nike was our Alpha and any new additions (like Dockers) or other canine visitors were whipped into shape and brought up to speed by the ever diligent Puma to keep them out of Nike's harms way. Nike wouldn't hurt 'em, but he did want to make it clear that he was not for toying with.
Both elder kids embraced our three month old Dockers when we brought him home. There are a lot of funny and loving stories about them.
Nike and Puma – our kids before there were Corgi Tales.
