This page is to showcase some of the other residents of the castle, past and present. (In case you were wondering, all of our dogs and cats have been spayed or neutered so they can live a healthy, happy, and non-reproductive life at Dane Castle.) (Photos will be added as I can gather them.)
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MacDugan Mor` -- aka "Doogie" - Doogie is a very big boy. He is a "piebald" Great Dane, His sire Dugan is a handsome Mantle Dane, and his dam Gypsy is a beautiful Harlequin Dane. After the loss of Quatro, Cathy's friend Mimi Kim of Saravilla Danes in Ohio, offered Cathy this handsome 'pet quality' puppy. Cathy wasn't sure if they were ready for a puppy, especially with Lacy being an older dog with arthritis, but after alot of thoughts and prayers, they decided to bring him home. Doogie and Mike have formed a strong bond, and he still likes to sit on Mike's lap, although now he just steps over the footrest of the recliner to do it. When Doogie stands on his hind feet, he looks Mike directly in the eye, and he still has some growing left to do!
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| MacDugan Mor` aka "Doogie" |
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Princess Suki Joy - Suki came to the castle after running onto the road in front of Cathy and Mike's care one day and getting hit. After taking her to the vet and finding she needed surgery for a broken leg, Cathy called the owner who realized she couldn't afford the cost and told Cathy that if she wanted the dog, she could have it. Since recovering from her surgeries and spaying, this little Jack Russell Terrier has added excitement and love to the castle. Doogie just adores his baby sister, and she returns the love.
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| Boutiful Boutiful Boudica |
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| The Great Sylvia Blue -- aka Boutiful, Boutiful Boudica - Boudica (a great warrior princess) is a beautiful Blue Great Dane. She came to us through Cathy's friend Patty Stutzman in Gas Center, PA after the loss of Lacy. (Patty loved our old girl very much and often stopped by just to see Lacy...) Boudica (boutiful boutiful Boudica) graduated from her obedience class; but she sometimes tends to forget her lessons when she meets people. She and Doogie have bonded and love to chase each other in the yard. Boudie is definitely a princess, and she knows it. Her name, "The Great Sylvia Blue", is a tribute to Sylvia Brown, the psychic.
A sad note- On February 5th 2011 our beloved Boudica passed away in her sleep. Her joyful nature and love of everyone will be missed by all who knew her.
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| Quatro and Lacy in the Great Hall |
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| Quatro and Lacy - Quatro and Lacy were both rescue Danes. Both were fawn colored and presented a lovely sight when walking Cathy and/or Mike down the lane or around the castle grounds.
Quatro was very large, (he attended a pet fair and even sitting he was taller than the miniature horse!) He had been in several homes before coming to Dane Castle where he spent the rest of his life with his beloved friend Lacy. We lost Quatro to bone cancer, but until his last day, he never acted sick, (other than the lump on his foot and a limp.) We still miss his silliness, but Doogie helps to fill that void.
Lacy was an older girl when she came to us, she was "battle scarred" and we believe she may have been a victim of some dogfighting or at least baiting. She didn't mind dogs, but would get very excited and try to "get" any cat she saw. Lacy was very small for a Dane, she wasn't much bigger than a large Boxer, in her past, she had been used for breeding, probably from her first heat cycle on, so everything that should have gone toward growth went into her puppies instead. Lacy believed that everyone who came to the castle came to visit just her, and would stand and wag her tail and lay her head on their lap waiting to be told how sweet and beautiful she was. She was our "old grandma" to Doogie when he arrived at Dane Castle, and although she may have been alot smaller than he was, she would let him know when she had had enough. On Lacy's last day, Doogie just stayed with her on their bed.
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Francine - Frannie the Wizard dog, was part dachshund but believed she was a big dog. Cathy found Frannie while working as the Dog Officer in Nanty Glo, and after being unable to find an owner, adopted Frannie into the family. Frannie was the top dog, and let the Danes know it. She was the boss. When dressed in her wizard cape and hat, Frannie believed she could levitate to the "cookie" canister. We lost Frannie in 2005 to old age and lingering health problems. She is still missed in the household.
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| Firecircle |
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| FireCircle - FireCircle is a sweet black cat. He earned his name when Mike discovered him as a tiny kitten. One day while checking the property a few years before construction began, Mike found him curled up, coated with old ashes from the fire circle, hence the name FireCircle. He is devoted to Mike and likes to come into the main living quarters and visit sometimes.
Sad note - Our beloved FireCircle passed away at the end of February 2011 due to ill health and old age. FireCircle was approximately 16 years old and gave us great joy and love. FireCircle loved to walk with his brother, Doogie when Cathy took Doogie for his daily walk.
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Sparky - S-s-s-s-sparky as he is affectionately known is a chubby orange and white cat. He was rescued as a youngster while living in Nanty Glo. Cathy kept Sparky and had him neutered, and he became a loved member of the family. Sparky liked to roam around outside their Nanty Glo home and one night he returned home injured from a bullet wound to his front paw. He also had his eye injured, and eventually lost sight in it, but this big boy still loved people and was often found sitting on or near the drawbridge to greet people. Sparky crossed the Rainbow Bridge in February 2006 and is now greeting others as they cross, showing them the way over. We still miss our S-s-s-s-sparky.
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Jessie - Jessie is an 23-yr old long-haired gray cat. She is very small, resembling a half grown cat, she weighs only 2-4 pounds at most. Rescued many years ago by Cathy as a feral cat, Jessie has come a long way. She likes to sit in the sun and relax, although Jessie enjoys attention from a select few people she hides from most others.
A sad note - Our beloved old girl Jessie passed away in her sleep at the beginning of March 2011. She gave us many years of love before crossing the rainbow bridge to be with Boudica, FireCircle and the others who have crossed over before her. Be at peace sweet Jessie.
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Peepers - Peepie as she is affectionately known, was found near death as a tiny kitten alongside a highway by Cathy's sister Patty. Unable to keep the kitten, Patty called Cathy, who took her home and cared for her overnight until she could be seen by the vet in the morning. Suffering a broken leg and broken tail, which had to have a few inches amputated, she would peer over the top of the box she was in and make little "peeping" sounds - thus her name. Peeps is white with tabby brown patches. Peepers will occasionally do a little "ballerina" dance for Cathy and a few lucky people.
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| Peepers |
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| Bobby |
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Bobby 3 - Bobby is an adult male Manx cat who showed up in early 2007 and decided to stay. He is white with some light orange coloring. Bobby is very shy, but has made great leaps toward trusting people, but he still hides around strangers. (Note: Bobby has decided to move into the garage with the other cats and has been neutered.)
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Buddy - Buddy showed up shortly after Bobby moved in. He resembles a Scottish Fold, his ear tips curl back and gives him a slightly odd look. We believe Buddy is an older cat, he moves as if he is arthritic and has just "one speed" (s-l-o-w). Buddy just wants to spend his days in the sunshine, relaxing and eating. He moved into the garage soon after he got to the castle. Buddy is dark Tabby and white. He is a charming fellow and we hope he is with us for many years to come. (Note: Buddy and Bobby have both been neutered to ensure they don't create unwanted litters of kittens.)
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| Buddy |
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Tramp - Tramp is a tabby male with 3 white stockings and a white chest. He came to the castle when one of my neighbors was moving and wasn't taking him with them and I couldn't take him in. Cathy graciously allowed Tramp to become a castle critter and he has adjusted well to his life there. Tramp likes to join Doogie on his daily walks and greets many of the castle visitors as well. Tramp has become a beloved member of the castle clan of cats.
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Jerry Springer - Jerry Springer came to the castle as a rescue that Cathy took in in 2010. He is a very handsome orange youngster who loves to hang out with Firecircle and walk with Doogie also. Jerry Springer loves people as well as his cat family at the castle.
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Jester - Jester is a black and white (tuxedo or mittened) male cat who appeared outside one day. It is unknown if he is owned or stray, he just hangs out with the castle cats outside and relaxes. I named him Jester because I thought he needed a name if he was going to hang around and every castle needs a jester... (note: Jester has since disappeared, we hope he has found his way back home or to a new home.)
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Little Foot - Little Foot is a painted turtle that Cathy adopted after her nephew Jerod couldn't keep her anymore. She spends warm Spring and Summer days in her own turtle pond (a turtle sandbox with stones and water) and winters in a nice tank indoors. Little Foot sometimes goes along when Cathy talks to children about caring for turtles and other unusual pets. We lost Little Foot in 2005, but she left a lasting impression on many who knew her.
Chaos - Chaos is a yellow bellied slider who was raised by a co-worker as one of a pair of "fail to thrive" hatchlings after the other died, and the owner wanted someone to care for this one. He is helping to fill the void left by the loss of Little Foot.
Titan - Titan is a red eared slider who came to us as a rescue, someone contacted a friend who brought him to us. He had been teased and tormented by his former owners and was nervous of people and became aggressive when frightened. (Defensively aggressive) He and Chaos spent the Summer in their little turtle pond, and will spend the winter indoors.
*Follow up note - Chaos and Titan moved into my home in October 2006 and have since been adopted by Coltin and his family and their other turtles and will now live in Virginia in a 100 gallon set-up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Abra and Cadabra - 2 white doves that were in a magician's act. Cathy adopted them, and they were often displayed at weddings. They also occasionally spent a day or so over the holiday season at the Ebensburg Center where Cathy works so the individuals could enjoy them. Unfortunately Cadabra passed away in 2005, and the Abra has been adopted by a co-worker and her parrots, and has become very spoiled.
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