The Pack

In this family, a dog is more than a man's best friend. He is a member of the family, a brother, an uncle, a child. Each and everyone is cared for as such. So, in this case, what does an unleashed life look like? Well, it’s a lot of naps on couches, snuggles in bed, getting to lick the plates clean at dinner time, and an open yard to roam freely in. Our family has a soft spot for all animals, especially dogs, and it’s hard to pick a favorite memory when they are part of so many. We might as well own a family nonprofit pet sanctuary. Here's a warm welcome to our dog family, these are our dogs:

Mosby

Pronounced M-OHS-BEE. One of the first pups to enter our lives, and he brought the most love and joy to our family. He hated the broom and vacuum, barked at anything or anyone that would pass by the house, and he would chase beams of light to the point we would have to shut the curtains throughout the day. He loved to go for walks, and I could take him around the neighborhood a million times and he would never get tired. Mosby loved other dogs and playing. Summertime he would get to visit my grandparent's house and would play in the dog pool, taking breaks to sprint sporadically throughout the yard. His best friends were my mom, Fenway, and Kato. He lived the most unleashed life, traveling to dog parks, going on walks, getting to swim in rivers, doggy play dates, and a family that loved him with all of their might. He went out doing one of his favorite things, chasing the mailman. We miss him dearly every day.

Fenway

A rescue and one of the scarier dogs of the family, he lives a little less unleashed life. He wants to eat any small creature, and if left unattended will eat just about anything in sight. From bread on the counter to a vitamin bottle. His bark is a bit intimidating, but he loves his bigger humans and his dog brothers and cousins. Even though he doesn’t get to go for walks or on visits to the dog park, he does get to have play dates with his dog family members. If he could he would take off into the woods and catch himself a deer or other wild animal. He loves to chase the other dogs around and play fight with them. His favorite human is my Grandpa or my mom as he is more of an adult human type of dog and not very good with small children. Whenever he gets the chance he will snuggle with them on the couch or in a snug chair.

Max

Originally his name was Matthew, but the name was already taken by my grandmother's human son, so they did a quick name change to Maxwell. A rescue from the south with no real known history. His adoption gave him the opportunity to live an unleashed life, even though he doesn’t live it to the fullest because of anxiety. When he was brought home he would hide behind the couch and not come out. If approached by people his teeth would chatter and he would begin to shake, he still remained gentle. He is the oldest of the dogs and has come out of his shell a lot over the years. He no longer hides behind the couch but still avoids people, his teeth no longer chatter, and he gets along well with his dog brothers. Unfortunately, he was recently diagnosed with cancer. He is currently living out his days comfortably and is loved unconditionally in his home.

Luke

Luke was also a rescue with not much known about his background. He was originally severely overweight when he was found, and to lose that weight he was starved at a kill shelter. Every snack he was received he ate like it was potentially his last, but in this family that was far from true. In this family, he was no longer starved and he was well taken care of. He was given the opportunity to live an unleashed life with us, without fear of being left to starve again. His favorite times were doggy play dates with the other dogs. Typically he found himself in the middle of any dog fight and usually received an injury or two. He continued to live out those days and received unconditional love from not only us but his dog brothers too. After falling ill we lost Luke in March 2021. His absence is noticed and he is missed.

Kato

Pronounced KAY-TOE, the best way to describe this pup is a big love. He loves all dogs and people. Forget personal space when you meet him because he lacks all understanding of it. Petting him is required as soon as you have a minimum of one foot in the doorway. It doesn't matter if you are big or small, human or animal, he is the friendliest and most accepting dog. However, he has a tendency to get mouthy especially when he would much rather be lounging on the couch with a snack than outside playing. He has a need for companionship, which could be partially due to his breed, and he counts the other dogs as part of his pack as well as his people.

Beemo

Though not much of a dog, he had a big heart filled with love for his people. His people being his owners, my daughter, and maybe my mom. He had a lot of anxiety when it came to new people or my brother, and he barked constantly whenever new people were around. He loved to be outside with other dogs, mostly Kato and Mosby. His fear of people and incessant barking played a role in his less than unleashed life, however, he was a great companion for my daughter. From the time she was born to his unexpected last days, he loved to sit with her and snuggle. Unfortunately, we lost him in a tragic accident before his second birthday.

Bear and Koda

The brothers from the south and the only blood-related pups part of this pack. They were found in a barn as puppies and took a long truck ride to Maine in order to be picked up by my family. They are the babies of the family, and still have all the energy of a puppy. Bear suffers from some dog anxiety and has a tendency to lick the couch. Koda gets a bit scared of his dog brothers and tends to hide whenever they get excited. Both love people and tend to get really excited over new faces. Both were brought into the family after the passing of Mosby and definitely helped heal the broken hearts the other dogs were struggling with.

Cooper

Unfortunately, Cooper was unable to make friends with the other dogs, and I did not get a lot of time with her. However, she was calm and always friendly. Even though we did not get much time together she still very much deserves a place in this piece.

George

Another dog that does not get a lot of time with the others, simply because they completely ostracize him. He is a sweet boy that can rest his head on the counter so do not leave any of your favorite snacks out. A very lovable dog that I, unfortunately, do not get a lot of time with.

Stella

The new addition, Stella is the only female in the group! She is still so new to the group that I'm not really sure about her yet. But, she is a beautiful dog and the only female so that definitely makes her a princess.

Last but certainly not least...

Abel & Liam

Definitely snagged this beauty from Facebook (thanks CiCi for the great picture)! Liam may bark and is getting old and a bit senile, but he and Abel are the best of pals. They are part of their own little pack, they enjoy car rides and visitors. We love to see these pups because unlike the others the excitement of people ends rather quickly and they tend to relax the entire time you visit. It would not be right to not include them in this list!

All of these dogs live their life as unleashed as they individually can. It isn't very creative but, look at all these faces. How could I just pick one to write about? They're all pretty great in their own way!