First pet that became a part of my family was a cat named Ally when I was 5 years old. Ally lived a full life out on the farm for 14 years. Roxy joined my family when I was 12. Roxy was an Australian Shepard mix and she was rescued from a shelter when she was a little over a year. Roxy was "returned" to the shelter three times for destructive behaviors and on the list for euthanization before becoming part of my family. She was the best travel buddy I could have ever asked for. She moved with me to Washington, Oregon, Montana, Utah and Colorado before she was diagnosed with cancer at age 15. Daisy, a long haired orange Norwegian Forest cat was rescued from the shelter at age 12 and lived to be 15 before being diagnosed with cancer a year before Roxy. Currently, I have welcomed two kittens who are about to be a year old into the family. Their names are Athena and Aphrodite, two sisters.