Gotcha Day

Groucho is having a rest today as it's his "Gotcha Day". Before we discovered the wonderful world of dog-blogging, we used the rather long winded "It's the anniversary of the day we got Groucho today' expression. Gotcha Day is so much better! For those who know Groucho, his Gotcha Day is well known - we received a phone call from Maureen of Westie Rescue Ireland (www.westierescue.ie) on Wednesday, 12 April 2006 telling us that a wee Westie was in a pound in Co Louth (about 50 miles from we were then living) and he would be put to sleep the next day unless someone would rescue him. Well, given we had been waiting for a dog to rescue for months, it was a huge YES from us and the next day, Groucho came into our lives - you can read more about that on my first ever post at the very beginning (we would have included the link but the link thingy is not working!!). Here is a photo of Groucho the day he arrived at his new home:

He looks so adorable and innocent but he packed the punch of a hyperactive banshee - he had such a horrible start to life that the poor wee thing didn't know what to do with himself. But, we all settled down after a while and with the help of Julie from Tagnrye (www.tagnrye.com) we learnt how to be the sort of Two Legged Ones Groucho needed in his life. And all we can say is thank goodness Maureen contacted us - we have been blessed with a Westie who has brought so much joy, humour, comfort, love and laughter into our lives and all those he meets that we really don't know how life was "Before Groucho". We have made wonderful friends, both in Dog Blogville and in every day life, through him and we think we are one very lucky pair of Two Legged Ones to have him. As we say, Life is not the Same without a Westie. And now, to celebrate Groucho's 6th Gotcha Day, we wanted to share even more photos of him with you all (psst, it's Groucho here, I've just snuck in for a few edits - I'm warning you, there are a LOT of photos to follow and even though I tend to be ok with my photograph being splashed all over the place - I'm a Westie after all - I thought I should warn you that well, the She Two Legged One has gone overboard ........): Groucho Takes Over the Living Room:

Groucho's First Holiday to the West of Ireland

Groucho at our Home in Dubai (Groucho here - I was a bit homesick at first in Dubai but I had a great time while we were there - I went to Doggy Creche twice a week which was pawsome - I hung out with the big dogs and I was the head honcho and the new dog mentor and I made some great friends - especially Marcel and Drake who I'd like to see again one day!!)

Groucho back in Ireland after his Dubai Gap YearNote from Groucho - these photos are taken when we first arrived back from Dubai - we had a long holiday in Galway and boy, was it great - we went for long walks, I ran along deserted beaches and while I missed my buddies in Dubai, I was so happy to be home again!!

Groucho Down Under When we first moved to Australia after some time back in Ireland, it took Groucho a while to learn to like the water but with an incredibly hot Summer the first month he arrived, he soon learnt that part of the Down Under experience was learning to appreciate the ocean and river!and now I think I'd be a strong contender in any Doggy Triathlon!

Holidays Down Under with Groucho Just as we did in Ireland, we take Groucho with us whenever we possibly can on our holidays in Australia (hmmmph, I beg to differ - two holidays this year without me!!!). And the holiday locations are always close to a beach as Groucho just cannot get enough of beaches!!!

And, to finish off our photo homage to our wonderful Groucho, here is the photograph that says it all about the sheer happiness of Groucho: