About Us
My husband and I moved to Ohio the summer of 2000. We live in Marysville, which is about 25 miles northwest of Columbus. Danes and Dachshunds have been our passion, and we've owned them, plus rescue dogs, for almost 30 years.
During those 30 years, we'd taken in 41 rescue dogs from Rescue Leagues, SPCA's, Humane Societies, and Veterinarians & Groomers who contacted us because they had dogs abandoned at their facilities. All 41 rescues stayed with us for their entire lives. We also bottle-raised litters for the SPCA (baby puppies who had been found in dumpsters, abandoned anonymously at their door, or brought in to them when the mother had died) and for several veterinarians who were treating desperately ill mothers who could not nurse their babies. Pictures of all our kids, rescues & purebreds, adorn our living room.
We also have 8 rescue cats which were among 100 abandoned by neighbors, (some were housecats tossed out of their home) in February (a few years ago) to freeze and starve to death. The cats came over to our house seeking food and shelter. Although we both are allergic to cats, we had them vetted and fixed and arranged the house so they have full run of the basement, upstairs laundry room, attached garage and a fully enclosed outdoor pen. Hubby built a huge 10' x 20' outdoor pen so they can be outside in the fresh air and sunshine whenever they want, but cannot roam. (More about the cats on the page "The Story of Kali.")
Though we continue to have rescue dogs, we only raise Dachshunds now. We breed miniatures and tweenies (small standards).
We do not have a kennel, and our dogs are never crated - they enjoy full run of the house and securely fenced backyard (as often as they want through a dogdoor). They spend most of their mornings playing tag, chasing butterflies (or snowflakes, depending upon the season), sunbathing and digging holes; then back into the house where they pile up on the recliners & sofas and on top of each other for long afternoon naps. In the warm summer evenings, we take them out into the 1-acre fenced front yard which contains a large pond. They love swimming, sniffing out bullfrogs and racing around the pond's edge. The rest of the evening until bedtime is usually spent in our laps while we watch television. Their daily lives are consistent and fun-filled. I am home 24/7 with them, they are never left alone.
We currently have 2 rescue dogs which are also part of our family. Our rescue Beagle is the ringleader of the household and races around the house and yard with the little Dachshunds happily in hot pursuit. Our rescue Lab mix is the Dachshunds' "big brother"; he is very protective of "his Doxies", and teaches the little puppies not to be frightened of larger dogs by playing gently with them and allowing them to crawl all over him.
The picture below is Rufus (our Shepherd/Lab mix from the local humane society) leaping into our pond for a ball.
