Pets Forever!

My fellow Killer Hobbyists and I are blogging this week on how we keep up with our favorite subjects. Mine is easy, in most ways. Since I write about pets, I just have to keep an eye on my own: my adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Lexie and Mystie.

First, there’s my star, Lexie. Recently, she has given me insight into courage as well as cuteness. Her vestibular disease is ongoing, and she is still somewhat lopsided. Even so, she’s learning to live with it, including worrying me as she approaches some of the steepest stairways around our house. Fortunately, she has only challenged, and conquered, the stairways inside which are not so steep and are carpeted. Outside, she usually waits for me, and if both my husband and I are around she’ll choose which one of us she wants to carry her up or down.

Mystie remains cute and elusive, the model for the hard-to-catch kitty in my latest Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery FELINE FATALE. We have gates up at our inside stairways to make sure we’re around when Lexie uses them. Little Mystie finds ways under railings to circumvent them, so she goes wherever she wants.

There are other ways I’ve been researching pets, too. With my upcoming spinoff from the Kendra series, the Pet Rescue mysteries, I’ve begun volunteering at a rescue facility. I’m not there long or often, but what I see when I’m present never fails to impress me with the dedication of so many wonderful people. I’m planning to take a volunteer class at another facility soon and hang out there sometimes as well. Plus, I’ve attended several pet expos recently, networked with other rescuers, and always delightedly accept any invitations to watch training sessions with Los Angeles Animal Services’ Small Animal Rescue Team.

If anyone has other suggestions, please let me know. I’m always ready to learn more about pets!