The Champa family on Starlight Pass—Jeff, Tanya and kids Tyler (21) and Karissa (16)—were entertaining friends one evening in 2018. As guests started to leave, a stray cat snuck into the house. In the following days, the family was unsuccessful in their attempts to find its owner so decided to adopt her instead of giving her up to a shelter. The family likes to think Piper adopted them as her forever family, given she chose their house to seek shelter that night.

 

Fur-baby Dexter is a sable colored Yorkie who will be 2 this March. It had been a couple of years since their beloved Shih Tzu, Gizmo, crossed the rainbow bridge and Tanya was anxious to bring another fur-baby into the family. Tanya found a breeder in Fate and brought little Dexter home when he was 8 weeks old. She named him after the TV character who is described as smart and lovable (although famously he was a serial killer who killed other serial killers). Dexter the Yorkie definitely fits the 1st part of the description as a smart and lovable 8 lb. fur-baby.

 

Piper and Dexter get along great although Piper is definitely the Queen Bee. The two will wrestle and play with each other like siblings. Piper likes to torment and tease Dexter, whether it be through the baby gate to keep them separated when needed or when she sleeps in one of his two doggie beds. She is an inside cat, but enjoys sitting on the bay window bench in the dining room to observe the backyard activities or opening the blinds—herself—in the office to look out the front window. Unlike a lot of cats, she craves attention, especially if Dexter is not around, asking to be picked up for some human lap time. Piper favors Karissa who took her under her wing the minute she walked in the door that night in 2018. When asked for 3 words to describe Piper, Karissa said “angel—until not”!

 

Not quite 2 years old, Dexter is still in puppy mode. His favorite past-time is playing tug with his toy rope. He likes the pool’s sun deck and also floating on a raft when the family is enjoying pool time. Tanya will bring him with her on kayaking trips, but always has his doggie life-vest on during the excursions. He enjoys walks and car rides. He will chase birds, rabbits and squirrels in the yard. Tanya has been working with him on agility training, an activity he enjoys, perhaps because he gets a treat with each trick. Dexter enjoys a few human treats as well—bananas and apples are his favorites. He will hover near Tanya as she prepares meals at the kitchen island, hoping for a crumb or two to fall his way.

 

Dexter sleeps in his kennel and hops in readily when its bedtime. Piper will rotate her sleep time between the cat tower, Dexter’s bed in the family room or the rocking chair. No matter where they spend their nights, every day is filled with happiness and joy with these two unlikely companions in the Champa household.

To learn more about how you can become a partner with Stroll Buffalo Creek please reach out to Teri Preas
teri.preas@n2co.com
https://linktr.ee/marketingsolutionsbyteri