Animals in my life

For some of you non-animal lovers, you will be very bored by these comments of mine. I happen to love animals and the zoo at my house proves it. I currently have three cats and two dogs. I was hoping to get some chickens but was sadly informed that they wouldn't survive with cats in the household. I don't want a bird (Cameron does) but that would also have life issues, and anything reptile is going to give me the heebie-jeebies. No I'm content with the cats and dogs I have --and anyone who said it rains cats and dogs must have been talking about my house.
The good news about owning five animals is that we never have to take turns petting just one animal. Naturally everyone wants to pet the soft fur of Tiger, or the thick fur of Perch, Torro just bites everyone but Shawn who pets her, but no one wants to scoop the cat poop out of the litter. It is the same with Penny, all the boys love letting her in the house and feeding her extras she shouldn't have, but no one wants to go out and shovel her --uhm-- you know in the back or brush all the obnoxious weeds that get caught in her undercoat. Kia, who is our new german shepherd, is an indoor dog. She follows me around everywhere. I usually take her on bike rides every day as her walk (yes it is the lazy mans way to walk your dog) and she runs quite well next to the bike. In case you are wondering, I have fallen over about 3 times (that I can remember, once is the only time that I ended up needed bandaids and getting some nasty bruises. For the most part, she runs beside me (unless she sees another dog that's running loose and well that's when we have a slight problem-but we are slowly working on that) while I'm on the bike. So the other day I was out riding in the circle with the kids and there she is running beside me (without her leash). I found it really funny as she got slower and slower and farther behind. I finally stopped and let her take a rest.
Kia is not a puppy--she is about 5 years old (we don't know her exact age). I was researching German Sheperd dogs thinking that someday I would like to have one providing I have enough time and energy to meet their exercise requirements and the need for human companionship stuff. I didn't think that time was now. Until I went one day to Petsmart where there was a group doing adoption and I saw her sitting in a cage. I looked at her profile and took her out. I wasn't sure if I should bring her home (Shawn and I hadn't really discussed getting another dog)--but I felt pretty good about trying her out for a week. I explained to the lady there that I had another dog and three cats that would have to get used to another dog in the household and since they were here first, well if this new dog doesn't get along, the new dog goes. Kia did beautifully the first week and the day after we paid for her, she pooped on my carpet. Of course. I have to say she is much better about letting us know when she has to go now--I don't know what her situation was before-but now she goes to the sliding glass door when nature calls. She loves to ride in the car, and she thinks she's entitled to go with me everywhere I drive to. I don't mind--what's one more? And she doesn't fight with the others over where she gets to sit or who's bugging her or who's got their window down and I'm cold...Wouldn't it be nice sometimes to leave all the kids at home and only take the dog?
Our other animals have gotten used to her. The cats were petrified at first and wouldn't even come out of their rooms (or from underneath the beds) but have gradually realized that Kia eats dog food, not cats and she's mostly laying around not thinking about getting them. UNLESS they run, then she is a chaser. She's got Perch exercising more, but Torro just hisses and lets Kia know THE CAT is the boss.
Penny gets along with Kia, but still guards her food and toys. They do chase each other and play a little--for the most part they don't really pay attention to each other. So with all the animals around the house--I think I'm set for now. And with four boys, three cats, and two dogs you can bet life never has a dull moment.