My love for animals started right after the Korean War ended. My father was in the Air Force and after a trip to Germany he came home with 2 baby dachshunds in his flight jacket. This was a gift to my grandmother who actually had squirrels sit on her lap and eat. She started breeding the dogs and I got one of the first puppies whom I named "Taffy" . Taffy was killed on my 5th birthday which I actually remember to this day. From there we loved several other dachshunds who lived for a long time. After my father retired from the Air Force we bought a Westie puppy and that tradition went on for many years and 4 westies later the family still has a little character called Brody. Cats came into my life when I was 38. I had just moved into an apartment complex. As I was coming home from grocery shopping one day my neighbor knocked on my door and asked me if I could foster a cat for a couple of days until he found someone to take him. He said he would give me money for food, litter and medical bills. This cat had been hanging around his apartment for days and his cats were not accepting him at all. I agreed. He brought this beautiful white cat into my apartment and he immediately jumped onto my cushioned dining room chairs. My neighbor then explained to dos and don'ts of the care and feeding of a cat and left me there with the cat on the dining room seat. Saturday was normally my nap day so at that point I laid down on the couch and started watching TV. The white cat jumped on my chest and started purring. End of Story..... I have had cats ever since..... more than one. I love all animals and they like me. I wish I had space to have a big variety of dogs and cats. Nothing warms my heart like seeing pictures of cats and dogs sleeping together. When I brought my puppy into my house almost 5 years ago my 2 FAT cats accepted, tolerated him, but they rule.