10 JAN 2018: Fairhope is the best kept secret in Alabama. Last summer when we joined Trusted House Sitters International, the plan was to find a warm place to dog and cat sit over Christmas. Our accommodation was free, we just needed to get there.

Fairhope sounded very appealing. We specialize in senior animals, and the family had 15-year basset Dudley-Do-Right, 12-year-old Rosie, a Maltese Shih Tzu, 12-year-old Kali the cat and Penny the basset/beagle.

They are all rescues.

We applied in July, and approved in October.

Our hosts live busy lives, and so do we, so it got to be two weeks out before we had much information, and two nights before take- off before we talked to them. “Penny is 10 months old we were told.” We’d have said “no thanks” had we known and missed the best time.

The dogs always had a bowl of dry food and water. Rosie headed up the complaint department. When either bowl was empty, this little dog with the big personality would head over to tell me to fix the problem … never barking of course, just a lot of wagging and paws up on my knee.

If that didn’t work Dudley would explain the problem, and he did bark. Dudley would also bark when it was time for their walks. Princess Penny would wait for them to organize things. She had her “crazy time” every afternoon tearing through the house, and then flying out the dog door to run around the big fenced yard. Then she’d come in and terrorize the cat.

When we met the puppy, we were told she needed to be crated whenever we were out.

“She’s eaten three converters in the six months we’ve had her. She chews baseboards, her bed, and everything else she can get her teeth into.” No wonder she was a rescue at 5 months.

So, on the first day, we crated the puppy, and headed off to buy groceries. When we got back a short hour later, we discovered Dudley (the 15-year-old Basset) had managed to stretch his long body, by standing on the rung of a metal stool to reach the island which was 11ft.by 4ft. In the middle, I had left 20 large homemade iced chocolate brownies. He ate all but one although I think the little dust mop Rosie had a couple. The puppy stuck in her crate was outraged that she couldn’t join the fun.

We of course were panic stricken, as chocolate is so poisonous to dogs. It was a long day and a longer night setting the alarm for every 2 hours to check on Dudley. At 4am. He went into serious tremors. We were having trouble with our cell phones and could only text, so counted the minutes till the Vet opened at 7am. as we couldn’t even phone the 24/7 emergency vet line attached to Trusted House Sitters.

At 6am. Dudley decided to chase the cat, and then wanted a walk. WHEW!

We gently told our hosts. “Oh, yes” Dudley gets into everything food related. He can reach the entire island and most everything on the counters. You have to watch him. And look around, he hides some of his food treasure for later.”

They’re used to this so never thought to tell us. We learned everything had to be way up for Penny’s habits, and all food had to be closed in a cupboard, or in the frig because of Dudley. All the bedroom doors had to be shut, and the bathrooms. The master had a cat door, but Penny and Rosie could squeeze through it, as they could through the cat door into the master bathroom. Kali’s food bowl and water was on the counter, and her kitty litter box in the bathtub.

Every night after dinner when the dogs dozed, Kali would come out of bedroom, wander around, climb on the counters and then drink from the dog bowl.

There was lots of entertainment in the house, and even more in the area.

Fairhope is an arts and culture town. Think Niagara on the lake without any souvenirs. The stores are very upscale boutiques, galleries, antique stores and restaurants. AND more thrift shops, consignment shops, and a huge Good Will store than I’ve ever seen in one place. This is the place to come for ball gowns, that were gently worn at Mardi Gras. The town established in the late 1880’s has a population of 15,500 people, one of whom is Jimmy Buffet, and there are lots of football players.

We spent days looking at the gorgeous old homes on the shores of Mobile Bay, animal kingdom in tow. They loved it, but nobody liked the leash tangles.

The Magnolia trees, live oaks, orange and lemon trees made for a gorgeous pictures and great sniffing. It was strange to see Poinsettia planted with Petunias. We met a lot of people because of the dogs.

My friend Trudy noticed where we were on Facebook and wrote to say she’s met nice people from there in the Bahamas and would we like an introduction. So, we met Leslie and John at Le Bouchon Wine and Tapas Bar in nearby Daphne. Brenda and Jeff other friends of Trudy’s were there as well. Brenda was singing and playing the guitar accompanied by a base guitar and a lap steel guitar. John and Lesley were able to come to the house for a visit a few days later and meet the four-legged gang.

Yes, we managed an attraction. Tom went to see the Alabama battleship and the USS Drum in Mobile. Well worth the entrance fee.

On Christmas night, we left the crew dozing, and went downtown to take pictures of the beautifully lit town. Leaning against a trash can was a large framed piece of art with a new $184 price tag on the back. Weird. Was it in the garbage on purpose? I put it in the car, to take it back to the Antique store when it was open next. “I know you like finds like this, but this art is truly ugly” said Tom.

This is a town, where people don’t lock their doors, and store owners leave merchandise outside, unlocked after hours. “No,” said the owner, it didn’t come from here. You might like to use the frame, it is rather nice.”

We stopped at a McDonald’s on the highway to arrange the car, and left the art under a tree. Five minutes later, it had found a new home.

I think we have too. We loved the town, and fell in love with the critters.