Page 43 - The Gem | August 2024 Magazine
P. 43
It’s reigning cats and dogs!
CATS AND DOGS HAVE BEEN A PART OF ESME AND STEVEN GALLATLY’S LIVES SINCE THEY WERE
MARRIED 37 YEARS AGO, AND THE TRADITION CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.
The GemLife Highfields homeowners say life bath which he didn’t like, and he hit out at me
would not be the same without the three big and drew blood, hence the reason we called him
dogs and four cats that they welcomed into Rambo,” explained Esme, a devoted animal-lover.
their home and family during their married life Bo has settled in well since then and is mostly an
together. This includes their current fur-babies indoor moggy but prefers being outside in their
Persian-cross moggy Rambo (or Bo for short), cat-proofed backyard.
and 14-month-old, caramel and white-coloured
cavoodle, Daisy-Mae. “He has a cat enclosure outside — or penthouse
as we call it — which enables him to climb up
“We used to foster cats and kittens and our high to get away from Daisy. If he runs out of
two daughters grew up with cats and dogs. It food at night, he will wake us up by slamming
wouldn’t be home without them,” said Esme.
our bedroom door and on cold nights, Bo will
However, there was a brief time when they had come in and lie beside me for a tummy rub while
no animals. he sleeps,” said Esme.
“We were without any pets for about six weeks. Meanwhile, Daisy-Mae is a real character who
Before I knew it, I was showing Steven some gets excited when she sees other dogs or meets
photos of cats that needed fostering and Bo people when out for a walk.
came into our lives, for which we are so grateful.”
“Daisy is currently in obedience training classes.
She said Bo and Daisy-Mae, who are well known She can be outgoing and shy at the same
by fellow resort residents, are good friends. time, be picky with friends but sometimes
“Bo is a fabulous big brother and looks after quite rowdy when excited. As far as manners
Daisy – who joined our family last year, but go, she is a work in progress, but she also has
each likes their own space, and has their own a gorgeous personality. Our 18-month-old
distinctive personality. grandson is growing up with Daisy and they
have a special bond.
“We’ve had our gorgeous, big and fluffy feline
Bo for almost five years, getting him about “Having animals brings an extra dimension
nine months before we moved into GemLife of joy to our lives. Life wouldn’t be the same
Highfields. We brought him home, gave him a without them.”
42 The Gem GemLife.com.au AUGUST 2024 43
