Re: How did you get your first dog/cat?
Neither Mum nor Dad had ever had a pet of any kind, and although some of my friends had cats & dogs, I wasn't bothered
We talked briefly about getting a pet but decided not to
When I was about 13 or 14 I came home from the Scout's summer camp to see a dog in the garden, and i asked Mum & Dad who was visiting
They said 'no-one', so I asked about the dog - 'it's ours' they replied
While I was away they were invited to a party, and the lady was a breeder of Jack Russell Terriers
There had just been a litter. We lived in rural Warwickshire, and most people wanted smooth haired ones as working dogs. There was one rough haired puppy left, and apparently he had spent most of the evening on Mum's lap
The breeder suggested they take him home and try him for a week........well, you can guess the rest
He was mostly white, with a couple of greyish brown streaks around his ears, and a small black patch on his back - hence the name, Patch
Jack Russells have a reputation for being a bit snappy, but although he was lively and boisterous, this one was mostly gentle and harmless
We had him till he was 14