Finally! A Feel Good Story about a Stray

by Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger

27 Feb 2008 02:01 PM

Strays seem to be a hot topic with me lately. First Winky crossed my path. Then my friends in Arizona called me for advice about how to help a stray who collapsed in their yard. Then I keep seeing the elusive stray roaming our neighborhood.

Even though I believed Winky was Budly in Beagle's clothing and I wanted desperately to keep her, I couldn't. I keep trying to earn that elusive stray dog's trust, but I have a feeling that's going to be an ongoing process. But, finally, I do have a story about a stray with a happy ending.

It has to do with those friends of mine in Arizona. They have decided to keep that little pup who wandered into their lives.

Top: Found Cujo. Bottom: Look at him now! Happy puppy!

WOOHOOO!!!

One less pup off the streets. One less pup who won't know the loneliness and uncertainty of shelter life. One more pup who's found a loving home. (Complete with plenty of playmates: a sister-dog and two boy human brothers!)

Becoming One of the "Mega C" Clan

Ever since I've known Christy and Christian it's been tradition to keep a "C" theme going in their house. They had two cats with C names. (I always only remember one of the names, though --Calvin, because Christy named it after Calvin and Hobbes.)

When their sons were born each was bestowed with an appropriate C name. (Which I won't mention here to protect their identities.)

Once it became official the stray was going to become part of the Carey Clan, they had to pick the perfect name. They started off calling him Cookie, but decided Cujo was more fitting. Not because he acts like the wild beast in Stephen King's book, but because he's the "antithesis of that" (to quote Christy).

Working Out the Kinks

Christy reports the little guy got a clean check from the vet and is adjusting to his new family -including his sister, Callie Carey. (Who Cujo wasn't exactly nice to in the very beginning. That's why Christy and Christian were apprehensive about whether they'd be able to keep him.)

Callie Carey

Christian reports Cujo's warming to Callie, who isn't much older than him (the vet guesstimated he's around nine months) and is still bursting with puppy power. All she wants to do is play. Cujo isn't always on board with that plan so spats sometimes break out when he's had enough.

But everyone's thrilled. Callie's got a new playmate, the boys have a new pup, and Christy and Christian have a new C to cherish and love --and Cujo's found a family.

FYI

I don't think I even ever shared this with Christy and Christian, but I've always thought their C theme was cute. Which is why I borrowed it for the dog naming scene in Mackie's Tale.

Courtney Mroch writes about animals great and small in Pets and the harmony and strife that encompasses married life in Marriage. For a full listing of her articles click here.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Christian and Christy Carey and used with their permission.

Learn more about Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k.

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Aimee Amodio (11995) 27 Feb 2008 02:18 PM

Some friends of mine have a cat named Cujo -- she was very shy and quite the scaredy-cat when they got her, and hoped that giving her a "tough" name would make her a little more confident! :)

Courtney Mroch (9169) 27 Feb 2008 02:27 PM

Did it work?

Aimee Amodio (11995) 27 Feb 2008 03:45 PM

Sort of. Cujo is definitely braver than she was, but she's not what I'd call outgoing. She always shies away when someone reaches out to pet her (but then purrs away while you do pet her)!

mcmama (51978) 27 Feb 2008 09:55 PM

cally carey is adorable. Very alert.

Courtney Mroch (9169) 28 Feb 2008 07:41 AM

Better she shy away than be a rabid monster like the real Cujo! hehehehehehe =) That's cute about the purring thing. I love when cats get content like that.

And I agree with you, Janet! Callie's a cutie patootie. And so is the new little guy. But that's just keeping with their Mega C theme. Chris and Christy are cute, their boys are cute, so naturally they need cute animals! (Get, it "C"ute???)