In the first few months of living with BiJae we faced our normal puppy challenges. He was nearing eight weeks old and began the chewing phase. He would especially do it when I'd leave him home while I went some where. Even early on he showed he did not like to be left behind. He wasn't to particular about what he'd chew on either. If it was mine it was fair game. During that time I lost a rosebush, a bicycle tire, a bicycle seat and countless other small items.

We worked on getting some simple rules down too. No Chewing for one. And Don't chase the cat! When they told me I couldn't take BiJae home with me for ninety-six hours I couldn't leave empty handed. So we had Tigger and BiJae. I caught BiJae chasing Tigger several times. I would holler at him and tell him that he's not to chase the cat. I thought I was being a good parent, making then children get along.

Well, one day I saw the rest of the story. I was working swing shift. I was home alone with the two of them. BiJae was sitting on my couch next to me. Tigger was on the other side of the living room behind a potted plant. I was watching the television. I got up to get something to drink from the kitchen. I guess I came back just a little too soon for Tigger. Just as I rounded the wall I saw Tigger bolt from behind the plant heading straight for the couch and BiJae. I couldn't believe my eyes when I watched what happened next.

Tigger ran across the room, reached up, smacked BiJae in the face and then took off down the hall. BiJae gave me this look that said, "See, I'm not just chasing the cat. Can I do something about this?"

I looked back at him, picked my jaw up off the floor and said, "Hey he earned that one, go get'm BiJae!" From that point on I was more lenient on BiJae when he wanted to chase Tigger. They never hurt each other. It must have been some bonding thing that they needed to go through. When I would come home from work at one in the morning they would be curled up in the back yard together. BiJae would lay in a tight circle with his tail covering his nose. Tigger would lay in a smaller circle on BiJae's belly with his back to the outside. They kept each other warm on the colder nights. You gotta be buds to sleep together like that!

Tigger stayed with us for five years. He moved back to California with us where we all lived on a ten acre spread of property.Over the years at that location Tigger became more and more of a barn cat. He'd jump 30 feet down from the apartment window if I left him inside. He hated being an indoor only cat. So when I was time for me to move on. BiJae and I, with the permission of the land owner, said our good-byes to Tigger and headed to San Diego. But before we go there we have much more to tell you about Living in Oregon and Northern California.