The Begining...Copey, Shasta, "3",& "7"

As Copey was approaching 6 years old, a trusty companion to Jim was starting to show the first signs of aging. A slower step, running shorter distances, and putting on weight. A Doberman/Shepard mix, he was always lean, even at 70 lbs. He needed a friend though, as he had been alone for over a year now. A stay as a puppy, Jim found him abused. His tail had been chopped with a hatchet around two months and he escaped not long later. A bone still protruding from the end, it needed to be recropped. A mean streak he had from an early age, but it was conquered with love over the years.

In front of walmart in Yreka CA, a local rescue was trying to find homes for it's dogs. Jim & Cortleigh stopped by and saw the cuttest little puppy, maybe 3 months old, happy as could be. She was friendly... and beautiful... a rotweiler/Hound mix. The lady working the rescue said someone had thrown her out the window while still driving down I-5. Fortunately for them, she was saved just in time. While still shopping inside, the descision was made, she would be theirs. Cortleigh and Jim would adopt her at once, only problem was, someone beat them to the punch. Fortunately for them, it was a friend. After taking her home and talking with her husband, a phone call was made and the dog became theirs. The Ellis's had a new member of the family...Shasta

About a year later, a descision was made. Jim wanted puppies and Cortleigh wanted them too, but didn't want to wait too long. Shasta and Copey were given one chance for kids. Copey was near 7 and needed to get fixed, Shasta was a female and bleed all over the house...Once was all it took. At 10 months old, Shasta would be a mother....8 kids to be precise.

Abbie was born on January 8th, 2004, as the third in the line of a litter of eight. The first six were all girls and the last two boys. Initially, all the pups were given a number and documented in detail the markings on their bodies. Abbie would be called "3" & her brother Connor "7". As the puppies aged, the descision on which one to keep became nearer, but not easier...They wanted to keep all. Family's were lined up and homes were ready.

"7" got sick early on and worry was there. A sick dog was not going home with someone, only to break their heart, so the descision became easier. Jim had (not so) secretly wanted a boy, so "7" it was...Connor became his name. But Cortleigh was still torn. One pup in particular picked her from day one..."3" only had eyes for her. As puppies started to go home, somehow everyone came under the impression that "3"was taken or unvailable. Down to 2 girls left, a nice family came by..."3" or "6" were the choices to be had. Up until this point, keeping two pups wasn't really an option because that would mean four...and then the family decided on "3".

Instantly, "3" turned and ran to Cortleigh, hiding behind her feet. The family had to leave for an hour, but would be back for a dog. As they left, Jim saw Cortleigh break down in tears. The reality set in...this was her dog...or she was this dogs' master. After a seconds thought, the descision was made. "3" would be theirs and the other family would get "6". Four dogs no worry, for the happiness she would bring. At 6 weeks old, "3" became Abbie and the love had set in. Never before had a dog touched so deeply. Cortleigh had her first child.