"Gracie, meet Fiona. Fiona, meet Gracie." Wagwagwagwagwagwagwagwagwag.
Casey
Bailey
Ranger
Ghillie
Gracie
and now Fiona
Back in 1986, a few weeks after moving to our merk spanking new house in a still-under-construction neighborhood, my husband and I brought home our first Irish Setter, Casey.
A few months later, new neighbors strolling by our house stopped to delightedly stare at our red-headed pup. "An Irish Setter!" they beamed at us. "We lost ours a few years back. Right now we have a smaller dog but you know what they say. 'Once you fall in love with a Irish Setter, you'll never be happy any other breed.'"
Sure enough, within a few years, the Andrews added a new Irish lass named Bailey to their family.
This afternoon, the Andrews were just returning home from picking up their new setter when they realized they were following our car into the neighborhood. As I pulled into my drive, they pulled in right next to me, and out from the back of their van popped this adorable little face.
And in all the thirty-plus years from that day to this, between the Andrews and the Streichers, there has always been at least one Irish Setter on the block and usually two.
Given that we live just a half-dozen homes apart, this is quite remarkable. Though they were wildly popular in the 1960s, you don't see that many Irish today. Well. Unless you're on our street.
What's more, our dogs' lives have been interwoven in such a way that when one of us has lost our beloved pets, the other family has carried the baton alone until a new dog came on board. It's been a lovely, special bond between our families and quite a treat for our neighbors to feast their eyes on not one but usually two charming Irish Setters prancing along the sidewalks or lying like mahogany-colored jewels upon our green grass lawns.
From inside the house, my two younger daughters heard the commotion - which consisted mostly of me gushing over sweet Fiona - realized a new dog was in the mix, and came rushing out to greet Fiona for themselves.
Sadly, our perfect streak was broken for a few months back in 2017. After living a long, full life, our Ranger went to his reward in January of that year, and poor seven-year-old Ghillie suddenly fell ill and was gone by March.
These were sad days. But they didn't last long.
By July, a new dog came calling. The Andrews called me one Saturday morning to say they had just got wind of a homeless Irish girl who needed a new home. They would love to take her but the timing wasn't quite right, so would we like her? We quickly said yes. And that is how we got our Gracie.
Like Gracie, five-year-old Fiona was shuffled from one home to another too many times in her short life. But those days are over, and this sweet girl has found her forever home with the Andrews.
Within a year, the Andrews sent out word on the local Irish Setter grapevine that they were now ready for their new pup.
They waited.
And waited.
And waited.
No Irish Setters to be found.
Until today, when their daughter found a listing for a five-year-old redhead at a shelter in Tacoma. Off dashed the Andrews to pick up their new dog, Fiona.
So tonight, once again on our street, the Streichers and the Andrews each have a beloved Irish Setter curled up and dozing at our feet, and all is right in the world.
We are so happy to meet you, Fiona. Welcome you to the neighborhood!
* * * * *
Here are some stories about how we got Gracie. Spoilers: The Andrews helped.
Surprise!
Red Beauty
Two Weeks In
Hunting Dog
Irish Inspiration
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