About

So you are wondering who we are and what we are all about.  Well, here it goes…

Shane and I were married December 21st 2002.  We have a lot in common and really are best friends.  We have many of the same goals in life and cherish our time together.  I am a rare, born and raised Floridian, while Shane is a transplant from N.Y.  We work and live in Ellijay, GA and love our small little town and the Appalachian Mountians. Our vacations together always include our pets and we hope to give you that same opportunity and experience!

When we met, Shane already had “his” dog Chloe.  He broke Chloe out of the clink (aka SPCA) January 2000, when she was  about one year old.  Since we did not know when she was born we told her she’s a year older every January 1st.  Chloe was a Labrador/Greyhound mix (Labrahound as I liked to say).  We lost her to melanoma near the end of 2012; she was around 15 years old.  Here are a few fun facts about Chloe:

Chloe

• Loved to walk and run forever but doesn’t like water
• Favorite flavor was food
• Didn’t like to be disturbed when she was resting
• Nicknames included Pooties, Scruffs and Big P

Chanel was our second dog.  Otherwise known around the house as “my dog.”  She was born July 22, 2005 and was a Labradoodle (Labrador/Standard Poodle).  I think she got most of the French Poodle in her because she loved chasing Champagne corks around the house when they popped! We tragically lost our sweet girl in March of 2016.  The incidents surrounding her death are a long story, one that I will write about someday, but not now as it is much too painful to re-live.  Here are some fun facts about Chanel:

Chanel

• Loved being a dog but thought she was part rabbit and part monkey
• Was as smart as she was funny
• Didn’t want to ever be separated from Chloe
• Nicknames included Little P, P, P-Didds (Like P-Diddy), Diddles, and Diddlesticks
• She got a kick out of zapping you with her nose when there was static electricity

We also had a couple of cats that we’ve had to say good-bye to.  Our cat named Emilio, who lived to the age of 21, was part of my life since 1992.  I picked him out at eight weeks old.  I know the site is dedicated to dogs and travel, but he was a big part of our family so I feel the need to talk about him also.  Plus, it is only fair since he was there before either dog was.  His nicknames were: Kitten, Chops, Chopper, and Cat E Cat.  

Giorgio was our second cat together.  He was handsome and sleek.  He was around six months old when I adopted him.  Sadly, he didn’t live to be two years old.  Another tragedy for us.  But the time we had with him was awesome.  Such a great guy!

Now on to our current bunch!

Mollie, our black Labrador, was adopted in 2014 when she was around a year and a half old.  She was fortunate to spend time with Chanel and Giorgio.  Mollie is a sweet girl who loves to walk, hike, camp, splash and swim, ride in the car, and have a good ‘ol time!  She was a little sister and now has the privilege of being a big sister.  Mollie was born in Arizona and has traveled to quite a few places.  Besides camping in Arizona she got to camp with her Dad in Joshua Tree National Park, swim in the ocean in California (for the first time ever!), visit Florida, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, and Colorado.  Mollie’s nicknames are Miss Mollie, Hot Ta-Mollie, and Muskrat.

Next up is Oliver, our tabby cat.  I adopted him when we lived in Arizona around the age of one and he’s now about five.  He’s quite the character!  He was rather timid for the longest time but has come out of his shell over the past couple years.  He has traveled with us to several places including California, Florida, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, and cross-country from Arizona to Georgia.  Oliver loves sardines, chasing moths, and watching squirrels, birds, and chipmunks outside in the yard.  His favorite pastime is playing under the sheets when I’m trying to put them on the bed. He loves his sister and brother but will only confess to “tolerating” them.

Our most recent addition to the family is Major, the Sheepadoodle, who was born in June of 2015 in Prescott, Arizona.  His mom is an Old English Sheepdog and his dad is a Standard Poodle.  As a puppy he was very shy but has become quite the character!  Major’s favorite things to do are go on long walks, catch sticks, fetch balls, and ride in the Kubota ATV.  He’s been from coast to coast, walked on the beach in Florida and California, swam in the river in New York, and visited Indiana and Pennsylvania.  He doesn’t want to be excluded from anything and will howl like a sad wolf if he’s left out.  He picks up tricks very quickly even learning to “boop” my nose with his nose!  Love it!

We LOVE our pets!  When we’re on vacation without our pets we constantly think about them and where our next vacation with them will be.  Chloe and Chanel went with us to Gatlinburg, Key West, Asheville, Ellijay (twice), Long Beach, and made the cross country trip when we moved to Arizona.  Chanel also visited La Jolla, Durango, and has seen the Grand Canyon! I think Chloe and Chanel loved to get away more than Shane and I did.  Mollie and Major look forward to every vacation too.  They know the drill when they see us packing up and can barely contain themselves when it’s time to go!  We hope you too include your pets on your vacations; ask them where they want to go next!

That is a little bit about us. We would love to hear from you about anything and everything.  Contact us at email@dogdazed.com