Colby and Isabella Park

If one dog was great for Paducah’s John Park, two have been even better. John describes how Colby and Isabella have changed his life — and stirred things up on Kentucky Lake! Here’s his story:

I adopted Colby, my blonde-haired, blue-eyed Collie/Siberian Husky mix on Dec. 13, 1994 at the Murray-Calloway County Animal Shelter. At the time I was informed that he was brought to the shelter with four other siblings and their mother and, unfortunately, he was the only one “kept” because he had blue eyes and they knew he would soon find a loving home.

When Colby and I locked eyes I knew he would be mine forever. There was a 24-hour waiting period for all animal adoption applications, but thanks to the strong will instilled in me by my mother, I told the director of the shelter that I was not leaving without him. Needless to say, he was home with me within a couple of hours.

Colby has definitely fulfilled his duty as “Man’s Best Friend.” He has traveled with me to Chicago, New Orleans, Destin, Louisville, Nashville and multiple other destinations. As an avid boater on Kentucky Lake with Colby always by my side, I began to see him being less and less comfortable on my smaller boat — he began to have aging bones and joints and a few balance issues. I decided in early Spring 2005 that it was time for something a little slower paced and something that would allow him to feel more secure, yet he could continue to benefit from “weightless” exercise by swimming in the lake.

We went houseboat shopping and luckily found one he could get off and on independently and navigate around the outside and inside safely. We rarely miss a weekend during the warm months of the year. Colby still enjoys the water, “meandering” on the beaches and wears me out walking up and down the dock multiple times a day!

In May 2008, Colby suffered a “mild heart attack” and very soon following, began losing a lot of his muscle mass. I was prepared by my veterinarian that “He may not make it through the winter.” Defying the odds of an older K-9, here we are Winter 2010 and doing great!!

Although Colby is more a lover of human beings than other animals, he transitioned well with his baby sister, Isabella….after he realized that she WAS NOT going away!

On a bitter cold Feb. 13, 2007, I was standing in the kitchen listening to a segment on WPSD, featuring the McCracken Co. Humane Society when I heard them say, “She’s a Golden mix with blue eyes.” I turned to the television and my heart sank. I called my mother, telling her to, “Turn on the T.V. quick!!!” The next thing out of her mouth was, “John, that looks just like Colby when he was a baby. You need to go get her!”

I canceled the rest of my day, went and stood outside the humane society, first in line for them to reopen at 1 p.m. By the time the doors opened, six other people had driven to adopt this blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty. Again, I was not leaving without the one who had captured my eyes and subsequently, my heart. When I left the humane society, I was the proud owner of Isabella — and the three other siblings she had arrived with had all been adopted!

Although nothing like Colby, Isabella also brings so much joy to my life and definitely keeps Colby on his toes! She NEVER meets a stranger and welcomes all with her piercing blue eyes and VERY vocal greetings, much like one of those well-trained “talking dogs,” but apparently still has some “speech intelligibility” issues left to resolve. LOL.

Thanks to Isabella, I now fully understand the necessity of K-9 life preservers. Much like a four-legged “Houdini,” she is able to open the sliding door, escape the houseboat and off to the beach before I ever get the boat completely anchored…while Colby is still sleeping peacefully down in the bedroom.

When back on the dock, there is not a person who doesn’t know “Izzy,” mostly because she has, at one time or another…or multiple times, boarded everyone’s boats and “talks” to everyone like they’ve been friends for years.

Every day, whether we are hanging out at home, out taking a walk, visiting friends or heading to the lake, I look forward to having my sweet Colby and Isabella by my side. They enjoy being by each other’s side, as well. I consider myself very blessed to have been given not one, but two such wonderful K-9 companions. They are BOTH loved so deeply and are definitely the “lights of my life.”