Rusty-versary

Five years ago today, Rusty the Rooster came to join our family.  We were actually looking at another Siberian from Carolina Siberian Rescue, but when we went to look at Sunshine, Nikita was clear that she did not like him.  Disappointed, we kept introducing one Siberian after another and either Nikita or Natasha made clear their disdain.  We were about to give up when they told us of a recent rescue who had only been with them for a couple of days.  We decided to meet him and out the front door stepped Rusty.  Natasha immediately went into a playbow and Nikita huffed her reluctant approval.  A couple of days later, Rusty joined our family.  (Nikita was clear that she liked him, but did not realize he was going to live with us).

He never told us anything about his past and little is known.  We tried to call him Boris for about a week, but it just never fit.  We kept referring to him as the Rust Colored Dog as we tried to find a name and Rusty just ended up being the name.

We quickly realized that Rusty was not an ordinary Siberian (like there is such a thing).  He is, well, eccentric in many ways.  Like he does not like to be cold, but loves playing in the snow.  He loves to sleep, but hates sleeping on the floor.  He loves to be a lapdog and be cuddled, but has a mean ticklish streak.  But, best of all, absolutely everything is a game.  He takes absolutely nothing serious and can find the most creative ways to keep himself entertained.

And Rooster?  So named because the boy loves to sing.  At anytime, anywhere, and, mostly, when you least want him to, the head goes back and he sings as loudly as possible.  Life is meant to be enjoyed.

The attitude is infectious and you can almost always see the mischievous glint in his eyes.  Amazingly, he is the alpha male in the pack, though that matters little since the females all boss him around.  But he doesn’t care.  Attention is attention.

So, Rusty, happy gotcha day.  We can not imagine The Herd without you.  You are the entertainment, the one who can find fun in the most mundane things, and the one who reminds us everyday to live life to the fullest.  Thanks for being a part of The Herd!

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What is going on down there?

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Posing at Devil’s Courthouse

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Can I climb in your lap?

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Yes, he climbed up there all by himself.  Never sleep on the ground.

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Never, never, never sleep on the ground

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Look at the view!

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Handsome Boy

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A rare serious moment, with Kodiak and Natasha

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Paw cross in the Jeep

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Showing off that pickle nose

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Look over there!

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Doing the “Rusty Strut” at Charleston

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The proper way to ride in the S-RV

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Thanks for Five Years ! ! !

19 Comments

  1. Steve & Kat on June 24, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    Happy Gotcha Day, Rusty. The Herd (and the Herd videos) wouldn’t be the same without you.

    Steve and Kat

  2. Stella on June 24, 2009 at 12:20 am

    This was a great bit of writing, DK. I will read it again and enjoy every bit of it.

    HAPPY GOTCHA DAY, RUSTY! You wound up right where you belonged!

    Kisses,
    Stella and her Mom

  3. Team Husky on June 23, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    What a siberrific personality handsome Rusty has! We are so glad the Herd found him…..our Mom had happy tears in her eyes when she was reading this post and looking at all the beewootiful photos of Rusty.

    Thank woo fur sharing with us all!

    Team Husky

  4. Sue on June 23, 2009 at 9:33 am

    Oh dear, I am smitten…what a handsome devlish boy! I can see the glint in his eyes and joy in his heart…what a gem!!! Happy Gotchaversary Rusty!!!!!

  5. Teddy Bear on June 22, 2009 at 11:51 pm

    Happy Happy Gotcha Day, Rusty! You sure are a beautiful boy! I think it’s too cute that you never sleep on the ground.:)

  6. Mochi on June 22, 2009 at 11:08 pm

    Happy Rusty-versary! You always crack me up! 🙂 Hope you have a great day!

    Mochi

  7. NCMountainwoman on June 22, 2009 at 10:27 pm

    I made a comment before, but it got lost in cyberspace. Our girls love to sleep on the hardwood, even when there is a bed a few feet away. Great photographs of this handsome fellow. I’m glad the pack allowed you to keep him.

  8. Storm Glory on June 22, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    It would be really, really, really, really awesome if you could post a video of a howl fest at your house. 😀

  9. Huffle Mawson on June 22, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    Happy gotcha day Rusty! Your family is lucky to have you 🙂

    Huffle Mawson

  10. Painter Pack on June 22, 2009 at 6:55 pm

    Happy Happy Happy Gotcha Day!! Woo is Rusty-licious!!!

    Mya Boo Boo

  11. the Army of Four on June 22, 2009 at 11:09 am

    RUS-TY! RUS-TY! RUS-TY!!!
    Happy Rust-a-versary, buddy! We agree – the Herd wouldn’t be the same without you! Mom said something about “every pack needs a silly redhead” — whatever that means!
    Great photo essay – and we loved hearing about you finding your furever home!
    Play bows,
    Zim

  12. Kira on June 22, 2009 at 10:53 am

    WOOOO! Happy Rusty Day! What a great tribute to such a fun loving pup!You are my personal favorite of the pack, I just love your sense of the humorous.
    -Kira The BeaWootiful

  13. Woodrow, Sweetie & MJ on June 22, 2009 at 10:32 am

    what a great gotcha story – happy he is part of the pack – and such a character

    woodrow sweetie mj

  14. Life With Dogs on June 22, 2009 at 10:17 am

    Congrats on 35 dog years of joy!

  15. 3 Dogs on June 22, 2009 at 9:57 am

    Congratulations on the anniversary!! I absolutely love the “happy gotcha day”… and, of course, Rusty is beautiful. It sounds like(as I’m listening to a husky opera going on behind me) that he would fit in rather well in our house:)

    But on to serious business. I love dogs. A lot. And I love huskies. A lot. And I now officially love you for having SIX huskies. I don’t think my furniture (and more importantly, my vacuum) would survive.

    CONGRATS AGAIN!

  16. princess eva on June 22, 2009 at 9:46 am

    Happy Rusty-versary!!! Good thing that he recognizes the superiority of the girls.

    Princess Eva

    p.s. Boris !?! Bricey is chuckling about that little tidbit of info.

  17. KB on June 22, 2009 at 9:27 am

    Rusty is clearly a hysterical character – and so handsome.

    I loved the photo of him on the La Fuma chair. My dog, R, steals my seat in my La Fuma when I abandon it even for a moment. Or, if I sit in it for too long, he creeps into my lap (or leaps, depending on his mood). A 55 lb lap dog. Maybe La Fuma should make a dog version!

  18. The OP Pack on June 22, 2009 at 6:50 am

    Happy Rusta-versary!!! We so love Rusty. It is easy to tell from his face that he really does know how to enjoy life. Hope he has a fantastic day.

    Play bows, the OP Pack

  19. Khyra on June 22, 2009 at 5:49 am

    Let’s hear it fur RUSTY!

    Most excellent paw placement!

    It is nice to see what an even more handsome fella Biloxi will grow into!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra
    PeeEssWoo: Sunshine? SUNSHINE??

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