We are Tom and Sherri Cousins, and we’ve had Whippets for over 30 years. We love the breed. They are super speedy couch potatoes. Kaya (Karizma’s Perfect Cadence) and Brie (Atlantis Under the Crescent Moon) came from breeders in GA.

 

THE STORY BEHIND THE NAMES KAYA & BRIE

Kaya is our white Whippet. The name Kaya comes from the Old Norse word krr, which means "clean" or "clear". In ancient Scandinavia, purity was a highly valued virtue, and Kaya was a name associated with strength, righteousness, and noble birth. Her nicknames are Ky Ky, Kookster, & Pretty Girl.

 

Brie, our brindle girl, we got from a breeder who was “thinning the herd” and she only asked that we keep her name as Brie. Her nicknames are BrieBrie, Brie Cheese and Feathers McGraw.

 

TALENTS, QUIRKS & FUNNY STORIES

Whippets are not big barkers so that is a blessing. If they're in the yard and someone walks by, all bets are off though.

 

Kaya is "the baby" and insists on sitting on the sofa between us and sleeping in bed... between us. Brie can be aloof and sometimes just goes upstairs to be by herself. Kaya loves to sit on her throne on the 2nd or 3rd-floor balconies and just survey her kingdom below.

 

WHAT WE LOVE MOST

Kaya and Brie travel well and love hotels. We drive them out to AZ at least once a year to spend a month or two with our other son. They love having new adventures along the way and they really love being able to go to lunch and dinner with us in AZ with so many outdoor eating dog-friendly restaurants. They have traveled to St Simons Island, GA; Jekyll Island, GA; Chattanooga, TN; Highlands, NC; White Sands, NM; Sedona, AZ; San Antonio, TX; Scottsdale, AZ; and so many other places.

 

Whippets are very clean and easy to keep. They never get baths (unless they choose to roll on a dead lizard or frog) and hardly shed at all. They just get periodic wipe-downs with baby wipes.

 

THE SOCIAL LIFE

Kaya and Brie don't have many "friends" in the neighborhood as they're not overly social (except with other Whippets). They always welcome foster pups we may bring in or our grand dog, Mabel, the Lab, but they prefer not to interact with them much. Kaya has two litter-mate brothers who live in the neighborhood as well.

 

THE SPOILED FACTOR

On a scale of 1-10, our dogs are spoiled to about a 15. Their Grandma Judy comes over every day during the week around noon to let them out and give them treats.

 

Dogs can easily fill the void of becoming empty nesters. Brie, and especially Kaya, came into our lives during a very dark time when we had tragically lost our 4-year-old Whippet. Nothing heals a heart like the unconditional love of a dog.

 

ABOUT TOWN OF TIOGA

We currently live in our fifth home in Tioga (not including the 2 rental homes we lived in here, either). It’s our favorite place to live because it's easy to get anywhere in town and because the neighborhood is so well taken care of. There are plenty of places to walk or ride bikes. And, just as important, we've been through the past two hurricanes without losing power at all!