From: Ed Travis <ed@travisfamily.org>
Date: Fri Jul 4, 2003 6:56:11 PM US/Central
To: <austinpets@earthlink.net>
Cc: Ed Travis <ed@travisfamily.org>,
Mary Travis <marytravis@austin.rr.com>,
Kate Travis <katetravis@austin.rr.com>,
Ann Travis <ann@travisfamily.org>
Subject: Meet Shadow, the Weirdest Pet in Austin
Attachments: There are 3 attachments

Hi,

We got a copy of the AustinPets Directory, and it was very cool! The whole family loved reading it, especially my daughter Mary, who wants to enter our pet dog, Shadow, in the Weirdest Pet in Austin contest.

If I had to describe Shadow in one word, it would be "conflicted". This is due to the fact that she has three parents, and none are dogs. After owning her for several years it is clear she is descended from three different lines in roughly equal portions:

1) Shadow is 1/3 'Fraidy Cat- She is a very nervous dog. This makes her tentative to approach people, and an excellent watchdog as she barks to scare off whatever it is that is scaring her. When a new visitor approaches, this is the first personality trait that appears. She barks, then begins to approach and wag her tail. Then the next trait kicks in and you begin to see the intensely conflicting personality traits.

2) Shadow is also 1/3 Tasmanian Devil- As she is getting over the fear of approaching someone, and before the next trait kicks in, she begins a series of high speed rotating movements. This is probably due to a rapid switching back and forth between the initial fear/repulsion and love/attraction forces, both of which are quite strong. As a result of the two forces, she spins around in a circle. Then trait #3 pours out.

3) The remaining 1/3 of her genes trace to the Love Bunny species- Once she gets past the Tasmanian Devil stage, she becomes extremely affectionate. She sits before she gets close to you, and then inches closer with her nose in the air and with her whole body quaking in anticipation of being petted, and partly out of the residual 'fraidy cat fear that is still lingering. When you begin to pet her, she closes her eyes, and begins to make tiny little licking motions with her tongue. If you stop petting her, she taps you with her paw, or leans against you, or shoves her nose up under your hand, and looks at you with the most love-starved eyes you'll ever see.

To look at her, you would think she was part black lab and part australian shepherd, but her personality gives her away. Before she gets petted by a new visitor she puts on this three-ring-circus show of her personality, and people get a chance to see her true personality. Every dog I ever met had dogs as parents, but Shadow is different- she has three parents found only in the dreams of children.

If you ask me, that's weird, so we think that qualifies her to enter the Weirdest Pet in Austin contest. Three photos of the three stages are enclosed.

Owner: Mary Travis
Pet's Name: Shadow
Address: 4506 Eby Lane, Austin, TX 78731
Phone: 458-9466
Email: <ed@travisfamily.org>

Regards,

Ed Travis

Three (3) pictures enclosed