Shrimpy is a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Some folks seem to think it hurts his feelings to be called Shrimpy, but I haven't found that to be the case. They think he'll feel better if he goes by his previous name, Clancy. It's nice of them to give him so much credit. He was a show dog before I got him, so I can legitimately say "he's supposed to look like that!" In this photo, he is completely exhausted and lying on my bed. I'd just returned from 20 days in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, and he had spent his vacation with his two best friends, Haida and Nootka. They are very exciting company, and it took him a couple of days to recover fully. Shrimpy plays well with bunnies and cat.
Haida Bunny (or Rose) Coughlin
Haida is the family dog, who lives with my folks. We have a bit of a dispute about her middle name. I feel that "Bunny" is a more accurate description of her personality. She is Shrimpy's best buddy, and they are quite a pair when they play together. He can walk under her with plenty of room to spare, and often does. Despite her middle name (my version), she and the bunnies are segregated at all times. A squirt gun is quite effective for keeping her away from the bunny condo.
Edgar is the newest member of the pack (we got him on 8/1/02, he was born in late June, 2002). He's seven weeks old in the photo. His jobs are to be dad's dog and to lead Haida not into temptation.
Edgar believes that Shrimpy is the fastest dog in the world, which Shrimpy appreciates. And, although Edgar now weighs 53.5 pounds to Shrimpy's 46.5 (and slimming!), he knows Shrimpy is the bigger dog.
Edgar is also a firm believer that anyone can learn to love him, if only he is persistent enough.
Nootka is Cathe & Dink's dog. She is the blonde beauty of the pack, and is shown here in a tug-of-war with Shrimpy over Karate Kid. Shrimpy ended up with the ear; Nootka got the rest. Nootka's favorite game is probably starting fights and waiting for Haida to jump in and save her. She wasn't so sure that Shrimpy was a good addition to her pack, but now they have a lot of fun playing together while Haida rests. She still isn't completely reconciled to the idea of Edgar, but if he spends enough time hero-worshipping her, he may win her over yet.
Babbit "the Wabbit" Coughlin and Fionn MacCumhaill
Fionn (pronounced Fin McCool) is the cranky-looking brown one. She is, sadly, no longer with us. She and her daughter, Seanachie, came to live with me in 1997. Babbit is a more recent addition, who came to live in the bunny condo when his owner moved to Germany. He and Fionn grew very fond of one another, and if the right bunny comes along, I may get him a companion again. In this photo, they are on the second story of the condo; rabbits love heights.
Coffee is Babbit's new little friend. At first, it was tough to introduce them, because Babbit was being rather mean and aggressive. So I had her in my shed, in a dog kennel (just so she couldn't bite anything she shouldn't bite, like the extension cord), with the communicating door open to the bunny condo. Twice, she managed somehow to jump out of the 3.5-foot high kennel and go into his condo. The second time, she just stayed there.
Now she's starting to beat up on Babbit!
Butch is the family cat, who lives with my folks. Both Butch and Cassidy (weird coincidence!) need to be only children (well, only cats), so they live in different homes. Butch gets his kicks from terrorizing humans and dogs alike. If one of our dogs gets in a fight, Butch comes running, and usually sends the interloper crying all the way home. It can be embarrassing. I have seen people cross the street rather than walk by my folks' driveway. Butch is also the cat who has come the closest to obeying Tom when he says, "Do a back flip!"
Cassidy "Talkie Toaster" Coughlin
Cassidy came to me via a friend, who got her from the shelter. She was named for the Grateful Dead song. We're not sure what her early life was like, but we don't think it was too good. Cassidy doesn't really like anyone but me, so the casual visitor to my house (including her previous owner) is unlikely to see her. Typically, those who stay with me for three or more days will see her when they're packing up to go home.
Sekoia knows her name isn't spelled like the tree, so you don't have to tell her. She's another of my godpuppies, and she is going to have a little sister (human, this time) soon. She will either raise her as her own, or it will be a big problem. Bubbert is very excited about the new addition, because he loves babies. Sekoia is a little more ambivalent. She reminds me a lot of the coyote-dog who raised me, though, so I have high hopes for her.
No, she doesn't always look this goofy. See?
Kobuk "Bubbert" "Bûbert" "Blue Bear" Kell
Kobuk is one of my godpuppies, and belongs to Anne-Corinne. You wouldn't think it to look at him now, but he used to get very anxious if I looked at him too long, and would cry and cry until I stopped. About the same time, he went through a phase of believing he was a beaver, wherein he nearly chewed down a cat tree, and moved logs around the backyard. He is feeling much better now, thank you for asking.
Here we see Tilly, with her daddy, Steve. She looks rather stressed, don't you think? Even though Shrimpy met Tilly Jane long after he'd met Tokedee, he seems to like her and accept her as part of the pack. I think it's because she's a cute girl, and she flirts with him.
Tokedee joined Kobuk and Sekoia after we were no longer living together, and when Anne-Corinne had moved to Portland. Therefore, Shrimpy doesn't really consider him one of the pack. The two of them have a great time arguing over toys, bones, and pretty much anything else, though. Tokedee can't really understand why such a small dog insists that he's dominant. After a busy day of arguing, Tokedee and Shrimpy are apt to lie on the floor, growling at one another with each exhallation.
