Etsy Pets: Charley, Jackson & Elliot

Name: Charley
Owner: Robin of TheFancyLamb

Nicknames: Char, Char Bar, Chup Chup, Chaz the Spaz

Breed: Probably part terrier (Jack Russell, perhaps) and part hound (maybe Beagle).

Age: 4 1/2 years

Aquired: Charley and I have a special bond because when I got him, it was just the two of us. I hadn’t met my husband yet, and I was fresh out of college living on my own for the first time. In my mind, I wasn’t ready to get a dog, but a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend’s dog had just had puppies and I got wrangled into going to visit them. And no surprise, I ended up going home with a new friend. In the end, it turned out to be a perfect match.

How long have you had Charley?

I’ve had Charley since he was 5 weeks old. He came home with me fitting in the palm of my hand, too young to jump off the front stoop, and too tiny to wear the smallest puppy collar. And you know what? I needed him just as much as he needed me!

Favorite activities: Nowadays, Charley is starting to settle down a bit. He’s perfectly happy napping at my feet, and protecting me by barking at strange noises.

If Charley could help with your shop, what would he be good at?

Charley is a natural born model. Always looking debonair and handsome, he was made to be in front of the camera.

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Name: Jackson

Nicknames: Jack, Big Boy, Jax, Jaxie, Wacky Jacky

Breed: Your guess is as good as mine – we’ve heard it all from Blue Tick Coon Hound to Dalmatian, Great Dane to Pointer, and countless other breeds.

Age: 4 years

Aquired: Jackson’s life was full of rejection and disappointment before we adopted him [awwwww]. He was born in a shelter, and his mother and all his brothers and sisters (10 of them!) were adopted. Actually, he was adopted for a short time too, but his temporary owners had a small child and Jack proved to be too hard to handle for the family so they returned him. When we first saw him, there was no way we couldn’t take him home.

How long have you had Jackson?

He spent the first year of his life in the shelter, and he’s been with us for the past 3 years. You can see the gratefulness in his eyes.

Favorite activities: He thinks he’s the same size as his brothers, but at 85 lbs., he’s more than twice their size. Nevertheless, you can often find him curling up on our laps, pretending to be a lap dog. I love him to death, but he’s not the brightest bulb. In fact, today he “accidentally” went for a swim in a nearby lake! I guess he thought he could walk on water, but NOPE! Ker-PLUNK!

If Jackson could help with your shop, what would he be good at?

Jackson prefers to be behind the camera. He’s constantly within arm’s reach whenever I’m taking pictures for the shop.

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Name: Elliott

Nicknames: Ellie, Ellie Belly, Sweet Pea, Rusty, Rascal, Smelly Ellie

Breed: An equal mix of alien, cat, and pup.

Age: 3 1/2 years

Aquired: His story as we know it began with being found wandering the street in a rural area on one of the coldest days of the year. At just a few months old, that was no place for him so he was promptly scooped up and taken in by a foster family with Stray Rescue here in St. Louis. It was love at first sight with Elliott. The moment I saw his photo on their website, I just knew he was going to join our little household.

How long have you had Elliot?

We’ve had Elliott for a little over 3 years now – he joined our family shortly before Jackson.

Favorite activities: Stealing socks, chewing flip flops, knocking over trash cans and sneaking onto the kitchen table. In fact, Elliott has enjoyed many a meal including an entire sausage pizza on one occasion, a sweet Italian vinaigrette salad on another, and many other snacks. However, he’s quite finicky when it comes to dog food – no wonder since he’s experienced the good stuff! And when he’s not wreaking havoc, he’s fast asleep and won’t move a muscle even for treats. There’s no middle ground with Ellie – he’s one extreme canine!

If Elliot could help with your shop, what would he be good at?

Elliott is the comic relief of the operation, always keeping me on my toes!

Where do you all call home?

A 1920s brick bungalow in St. Louis, MO. Vintage through-and-through!

Tell us about your shop, TheFancyLamb

I’m a treasure hunter with a bit of crafter sprinkled in. My favorite activity is exploring; digging around in dusty old attics and basements; learning the history of people, places, and things. Then I’ll often see what I can create with my finds. My shop reflects these inclinations to a “T” – a wide array of vintage treasures with handmade goodies mixed amongst them.

What is the best thing about being a pet parent?

Where do I even begin?!? Unconditional love. A smiling face when you get home. Never-ending kisses. A good source of laughter. A warm cuddle when it’s cold out. The list is endless. As I write this, I’ve got a 35 lb. “lap dog” curled up on top of me.

If you were an animal, what kind would you be?

Woof Woof!

If you could have any exotic animal for a pet, what would it be?

Probably a giraffe. And I say this because I recently watched Sharon Montrose’s Handmade Portrait and I have been obsessing over that guy ever since. Although in reality, I’m perfectly happy with my canine family.

You can learn more about Robin, her furry family and her vintage treasures by following her on Twitter or Facebook.