After Adopting A Puppy, This Couple Realized They Needed Another Pet… And They Let The Dog Choose Her New Friend
Christina and Vincent always knew that they wanted to start a family together, especially once they became engaged. But having children was a commitment they weren't sure they were ready for yet, so the next best option was to adopt a pet.
They instantly fell in love with a beautiful Tamaskan husky puppy named Raven. They thought she was the perfect addition to their family but it wasn't long before they had a change of heart. A month later, they returned to the shelter with Raven and made a strange request.
Starting A Future Together
This is Christina and Vincent. The couple knew that they were made for each other and couldn't wait to start their lives together. They always envisioned some additions to their little family in the future and the moment they got engaged, it seemed that that future was starting to become a reality.
Of course, there's a lot to consider when it comes to starting a family, especially for a young couple like themselves. Christina and Vincent weren't sure if having children was the best move for them at this stage in their relationship.
Having Fur Babies Is Another Option
Couples who decide that having a baby isn't quite the next step for them opt to have fur babies instead! Welcoming a pet into the home can be nearly as demanding as having a baby, especially if the animal is still in its infancy.
Some couples even end up loving their pets so much that the animals are treated as if they are kids! For Christina and Vincent, they decided that taking on a pet was the safest move.
They Adopted A Husky Named Raven
Christina and Vincent browsed their local animal shelters until they laid eyes on one particular Tamaskan husky puppy. They named her Raven, which may have been inspired by the pup's beautiful dark coat.
Raven was a welcome addition to their little family and they couldn't have been more excited to raise her as one of their own. But not long after they took Raven home from the shelter, they soon realized their mistake.
Raven Was Adjusting To Her New Home
Raven warmed up to her new surroundings quickly, especially since she was now constantly surrounded by the love that Christina and Vincent had for her. She finally had her own warm bed to sleep in, fresh food and water every day, and people to snuggle with throughout the night.
But as Christina and Vincent began adapting their new fur baby to their home, they couldn't help but feel like something was missing.
Raven Was Full Of Energy
Christina and Vincent loved having Raven in their home but they noticed that she was full of energy and constantly wanted to play. This didn't always work out, since Christina was busy at work and Vincent was studying in medical school.
Returning Raven was obviously out of the question so the best solution was to find her a sibling! If Raven had another friend who was constantly at her side, then perhaps she'd be better occupied.
They Knew Exactly What She Needed
So with Raven in tow, the little family returned to the animal shelter to find her a new furry best friend. Christina knew precisely what kind of friend she was looking for.
"I had always wanted a dog and a cat to grow up together. It's been like a life goal," Christina told The Dodo. At an animal shelter in Lubbock, Texas, four little kittens were presented before Raven with the hopes that one of them would make a connection.
Raven Found The One
Most of the kittens that Raven met that day didn't show much interest in the hyperactive puppy. All of the kittens didn't react or recoiled to Raven's "hello" nuzzles—except for one.
There was one tiny feline that seemed open to Raven's curiosity. It almost seemed as if the two animals had some sort of connection. The kitten in question was an adorable little guy named Woodhouse and he turned out to be The One.
They Had To Get Along
Christina knew that you simply couldn't pick someone's best friend for them which is why having Raven meet the kitten was so important. "I wanted them to be able to get along well. So I wanted her to actually meet the cat and have the cat get along with the dog as well," she told The Dodo.
Just a month after they'd adopted Raven, papers were signed and they took Woodhouse home as well.
Raven And Woodhouse Became Fast Friends
Raven and Woodhouse took to each other's company quite well. Christina and Vincent couldn't believe their eyes! Raven even started sharing her things with Woodhouse, holding her peanut butter rawhide in place for her new BFF to try. Woodhouse seemed to be adapting to his new surroundings just as easily as Raven did.
"Within 5 minutes of bringing Woodhouse home, they were already so tired from playing they needed some water!" Christina shared on Instagram.
They Were Attached At The Hip
It was immediately apparent that Raven and Woodhouse were inseparable. When they weren't busy playing together during the day, they were often found snuggling with each other, usually in the morning and before bedtime. Surprisingly, they never grew tired of each other either.
Their relationship warmed Christina and Vincent's hearts and the proud fur parents knew that they had made the right decision, instead of jumping headfirst into parenting a human baby.
Raven Let Woodhouse Take Control
Raven was clearly the bigger, more physically dominant sibling between the two of them but she didn't mind having her soft passive side take over. Sometimes, she even let Woodhouse boss her around, even though he was technically younger than she was.
When they adopted Woodhouse, they had learned that he was born just a few weeks after Raven so the two best friends didn't have much of an age difference.
They Loved Going On Road Trips
The new happy family loved spending time together. The animals had a blast going on road trips with their humans. They never limited themselves to the local park, either. Both animals proved that they could withstand long car rides as well, so they'd sometimes venture out to national parks to hike as well!
But of all the places that they traveled, there was one spot that Raven and Woodhouse were astounded to see.
They Visited The Beach For The First Time
One of the most exciting places they visited was the beach! Christina and Vincent took Raven and Woodhouse to the beach for the very first time. They seemed to enjoy it as much as they could but at the same time, it was only 40 degrees with windchill.
Raven had no issue walking along the shore with Vincent but Christina did have a bit of difficulty getting Woodhouse to budge in the sand!
They Celebrated Holidays Together
Christina and Vincent's fur babies were growing with each passing day and along the way they'd come across plenty of milestones. On the animals' first Fourth of July, for example, Christina and Vincent saw the perfect opportunity to get their pets excited for their country's independence!
Raven looks completely enthralled to be celebrating in her starred scarf, while Woodhouse looks like an absolute darling in his red, white, and blue flowers.
The First Birthday Bash
The biggest celebrations were birthdays, of course! The first big birthday bash was Raven's first birthday. Christina made a very special peanut butter and hot dog cake specifically for the occasion.
With their party hats on, Raven and Woodhouse shared the cake after the candles were blown out. Raven probably ate most of the cake herself though. These fur siblings loved doing everything together and were there for each other's special moments.
A Cake Fit For A King
Raven wasn't the only one to get a very special birthday cake on her big day. When Woodhouse turned two, for example, Christina made a cake fit for a feline king. It included a base of duck and salmon cat food, with a drizzle of Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Beef Roast, and a sprinkling of catnip!
It probably wasn't so much Raven's jam, which is why she was just happy to watch her brother do his thing.
Eventually, The Family Grew
Within three years of adopting their fur babies, Christina and Vincent tied the knot and eventually decided that it was time to have kids of their own. Here is the family at Christina's baby shower, where they celebrated the fact that she was going to have a baby girl!
The family of four was excited for their new bundle of joy, though we're sure Raven and Woodhouse at that point had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
They Loved Having Baby Penny Around
When the baby finally came, the transition was as seamless as when Raven and Woodhouse had first joined the family! Christina and Vincent were not only parents to their fur babies, but now they were also new parents to a gorgeous baby girl named Penny!
Raven and Woodhouse finally understood what all the flowery baby items in the house were for and were pleased to spend time with their new baby sister.
Naptime Is Still A Family Event
Now that little Penny isn't a baby anymore, she takes naps on the couch with her fuzzy best friends. Here they are all sprawled out on the couch after a fun afternoon of playing together. Christine captioned this one, "Work hard. Play hard. Sleep hard."
It's so cute that Penny is touching both of the animals while they sleep. You can see practically see the love between them all.
A Halloween To Remember
Raven and Woodhouse have even been turned into an amazing Halloween jack-o-lantern! Check out this masterpiece that Christine shared with the family's Instagram followers. She carved it herself! The pets don't look too sure about it, though.
Raven and Woodhouse are so lucky to have found each other, and it's so heartwarming to see how much love this family has. We can't wait to see more updates from them!
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