Ryo is the newest member of the RRR family and is a Bichon Frise. Although there was much debate on naming her, Ryo is the Japanese word for excellent and is also the American derivation of the Spanish word Rio meaning river. We thought the name fitting. She was born on June 1, 2005. She is typical of her breed; she’s playful, alert and a bundle of love. She reminds all of the RRR staff of a squeak toy. She adores her big brother, sometimes more than Patch would like. The Bichon Frise is of Mediterranean ancestry. Bichons descend from the Barbet or Water Spaniel and are related to the Maltese and Havanese. They have been around since the 1400s.

Patch is a Bearded Collie. The Bearded Collie is a descendant of the Polish Sheepdog (the Polski Owczarek Nizinny or PON) which was first introduced into Scotland in 1514 by a Polish sea captain who traded three of his dogs to a Scottish shepherd for a valuable ram and ewe. Beardies, as they are called, are natural born herders bred to drive sheep and other livestock. Patch was born on February 11, 2000. He will turn six this winter. He is not only Scott’s best friend, but endears himself to almost everyone he meets. He may seem aloof at times, but don’t let that fool you, he’s very bright and will cajole you into buying him a dog cookie from the vending machine. It’s as if he telepathically tells you to deposit .75¢ and push E1 or E8.