Nine years ago Steve and I adopted a brindle pit bull terrier puppy. We named her Penni because she had a Copper sheen to her fur.....but we changed the spelling to end in an "i" as our other dog was named Torii (bring on the cheesy comments. I can take them). She was so timid and for the 1st week preferred Steve to me, but she and I soon became inseparable.
Two years later we "adopted" Kofi (he was a pet store return that we bought for $200) and we were officially outnumbered; dogs-3, humans-2. Everyone seemed to call Penni "PP" for Penni puppy. She also had some major house-breaking issues and ruined the carpet in our condo and had stomach issues as well so the PP stood in for those behaviors too. Our other dogs, Kofi and Torii were sight hounds so often we would refer to the dogs as "PP and the Hounds" For a few years the dogs got along swimmingly and then when Penni was four she started to show some of her genetically ingrained animal aggression.....towards our other dogs.
Our amazing vet (Dr. Bender) recommended a behavioral vet who was equally amazing. Dr. Meyer trained us to train and adapt this new-weird Penni and make her environment safe for her and the hounds. After moving to our new house we had to make a return visit to Dr. Meyer who recommended putting her on Prozac (Fluoxetine, actually, which is generic Prozac). We debated it and decided to give it a try and it has helped her immensely. That is how we came to "Prozac Penni and the Hounds"
I don't know if I can actually use Prozac in the name for legal reasons, but this reference to our 3 dogs turned into an idea for a children's book. Steve and I would joke about how her and the hounds would go on adventures in the backyard, to visit Uncle Bill & Mike or to see their cousins. I'm not trying to make it the next "Marley & Me" (although I will say Kofi gives Marley a run for his money) but having a medicated dog and two sight hounds has been a learning experience.
This takes us to today where after many years of Steve asking me when am I actually going to pursue this idea......dipping my toes in.
