Oxford husband and wife Realtor team, Mark and Lauren Cleary, met as students at Ole Miss. Our July Pet Family of the Month share their home with rescued feline Boo and a Poodle-Doberman mix, King Louie.
Louie had an unfortunate and common start in life with some unknown adventures out on the county roads. Volunteers courted the handsome fella for six long months before a local Vet was finally able to lure him to safety and get him into the hands of the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society. Shelter employees named the timid dog, that appeared to be a Labradoodle with a cropped tail, ‘Raisin’. Perhaps because he was so scared and shy, he had an unusually long reign at the shelter before being recognized as royalty and re-christened Louie. He was named for King Louie XIV of France, the longest ruling King of a major European country in history. Unconvinced of his Labradoodle heritage, the Clearys commissioned a DNA test to confirm Louie’s lineage and discovered that he is indeed part Poodle, but also from the house of Doberman. Both breeds are known for their intelligence, certainly befitting a dog-king. The new forever home, new name and confirmation of his obviously fine breeding gave Louie a new outlook with a personality and mannerisms to match.
Louie may rule the Cleary castle, but Boo was there first. Lauren rescued Boo as an adult, aware that the many kittens at the shelter were more likely to be adopted. When Mark married Lauren, he knew he also married the domestic long hair with the pretty round face. Boo, a likely mix of Tabby and Seal Point Siamese (naturally superior and regal) is almost twelve now and doesn’t play much with toys. Although – like her mom — she loves her bling. She is drawn to shiny, jewel-like things. Highly allergic to her own dander, she sometimes sports a ‘lion’ cut with her fur shaved down with the exception of her paws and the tip of her tail. This may make her appear more like the King of the Jungle than a member of House Cleary.
Louie has welcomed Boo as a member of his court and the two spoon every morning as the rest of the kingdom comes awake. He may adore his Boo, but a King has his limits. Mark and Lauren tried to foster a Labradoodle puppy thinking Louie would enjoy the canine companionship. He would have none of it and unceremoniously banished the puppy from Clearyland. Despite his unwillingness to expand his animal kingdom, Louie’s generosity of spirit shines through in his official capacity as a certified Emotional Support Animal (ESA). Does this signify he gets to go everywhere, kingdom-wide, his subjects venture? Clothed in an official outfit? Does this mean he gets to travel with his people in the passenger cabin of the aircraft? But, of course!