The Art of Animal Keeping

 How We Magically End Up With More Creatures Than We Planned

Or: How Saying “No More Animals” Somehow Means “Welcome to the Family”

The Gateway Animal

We started with one. In our case, it was a pure bred German Shepard and we named him Diesel. It was practical, manageable. It was even before we had children. Then somehow, another one showed up. And then another. Before long, we're hosting a full-on animal kingdom.

Diesel

The Accidental Acquisition

Cutie "Mama"

The pet you didn’t mean to have but couldn’t say no to. Someone needed a home for them, and you, despite knowing better, obviously stepped up. Fell for it yet again. My grandmother had a barn cat, for mouse control. Her name is Cutie (like the orange) and she is great at her job. BUT she had kittens. We found perfect homes for all of them except 2 so of course we had to keep them. Oh and yes we finally caught Cutie and had her neutered. So here we are, now we have, Cutie, her two babies, Maggie, and Reese, and my cat Luna. And trust me, they are all spayed and indoor cats! 😂

Luna

                                                                   

Maggie

Reese

The Rationalization Stage

• “Well, I already have food for one, so what’s ONE more?”
• “It’s not that much more work.”
• “Okay but LOOK at its little face, I HAD to.”

Or just watching my husband do his animal whispering thing. Oh, and by the looks of him you wouldn't necessarily think he's the animal guy. But I have proof!

The Logistics Spiral

Suddenly, the animals outnumber the humans. You’re running an unlicensed zoo. You have vet appointments, feeding schedules, personality clashes, and a growing budget dedicated entirely to keeping these tiny critters happy.

The Joy (and Chaos) of Too Many Animals

FeeFee

Sure, it’s exhausting, but there’s something magical about all of it, the personalities, the companionship, the little chaotic moments that remind you why you keep saying “just one more.” Although I must say, it is truly devastating when you lose one, then it turns into " I'm never getting another animal again." 
It was after I said those words, a baby squirrel came into our lives. She was desperate for food and warmth. Well now she's thriving and climbing trees! I guess its these moments that make it feel worth it.

And so, despite all logic, reason, and our ever-growing zoo… I know the next ‘accidental’ addition is just around the corner.🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Have you ever found yourself magically accumulating more pets than planned?

 Tell me about your ‘gateway animal’ in the comments!⬇️💬

The Easter Squirrel That Found Us

Easter Sunday. 

Kids running around, baskets in hand, hunting down eggs like their lives depended on it. When I look over to my husband and said "The kids said they see a squirrel." So I said "Okay leave it alone kids." Then our daughter says to me "Why can daddy hold it then?" I turned around and couldn't believe my eyes. Then I hear it...the inevitable discussion about how this flea-infested baby squirrel was coming home with us.😧

Here is the link to the last post about the squirrel/ animals. I figured I should tell you how she came into the picture.➡️https://navigatinglifewithruthie.blogspot.com/2025/04/turns-out-im-not-italian-but-honestly.html

I knew it. I just knew my husband wouldn’t be able to leave her behind. He might not look or act like it at times but he's a sucker for animals, especially baby animals.

So here we are. At home, with the baby squirrel. My husband gives her a D.E.(diatomaceous earth) dust bath, and just like that, no more fleas. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love animals. But let’s not forget that he works a lot, which means every pet somehow becomes my responsibility. And now, I’m forced to bond with this ridiculously adorable little squirrel.

 The next morning, she rode with me in my fanny pack, with a small piece of soft fleece fabric, while I brought the kids to school. She needed to stay warm from my body heat since it was such a cold morning. She even made a store run with me for puppy formula, which is what she needed (according to reddit), and electrolytes. She needed strength, and somehow, I had become her lifeline.

The name? Still undecided. Every day, I call her something different and then immediately change my mind. Hazel? Nope...too close to Diesel (our dog, who absolutely freaked out every time I said it). Munchkin, Peanut, Suzie (since she was found in Aunty Sue's yard). Nothing sticks.

After a few days, she was strong enough to run and climb, so we tried something. We let her climb a tree in the backyard, thinking maybe she’d want freedom. Maybe she’d run off. Nope. My husband stepped back, barely a foot, and she cried like an actual baby squirrel screech, then bolted straight down the tree after him.

I've never seen anything like it.

Now, while we can’t let her roam the house freely (thanks to four cats and a dog who love to investigate), she gets outside time daily and has her own cage when we’re not home. Oh, and she’s even made it onto TikTok.

So here’s the real question....what should we name her? Because at this point, she’s here to stay.