Posts tagged "kate plus 8"

More than a year after returning her family's two German shepherds to their breeder, Kate Gosselin surprised her brood in a "Kate Plus 8" special episode yesterday with the return of Shoka, one of the family's dogs, according to TV Squad. Gosselin told the kids that Shoka had gone through training and was back permanently. The family's other dog, Nala, was not shown in the episode, and it's not certain when she'll return home, reports RadarOnline.com.

Just as the family has made news headlines over the last few years, the Gosselin's pets have also had their fair share in the limelight. Kate previously confessed that she wasn't really a dog person and the pets took too much time and attention to care for. Shoka and Nala were returned to breeder Jeff Christopher after Jon and Kate's divorce. Kate and the breeder both insisted that she was simply trying to make sure the dogs were trained, while Jon claimed that Kate wasn't looking after the dogs properly.

While it's yet to be seen if Nala will return to the family as well, we sure do hope that this time around Shoka gets the love and attention she deserves and that Nala isn't missing her sister too much.

For more on Kate Gosselin check out her info page at Popeater.

One of the many headlines Kate Gosselin made this past year had to do with the family dogs. Specifically, Gosselin caused some commotion in September when she adopted a pair of German Shepherds, then returned them to their breeder. (At the time, Kate said, "They'll come back, but for now I needed a break."

And in case she didn't make her feelings about the furballs clear from the start (In the video of the family getting the dogs, Kate states, "I could go my whole life without having a dog."), she's setting the record straight now.

In her TLC special that aired on Monday, Kate answered viewer questions, including some about the pooches. She said that she "never intended to give them back," but found that the dogs, Shoka and Nala, "needed more than [she] could give them," reports USA Today. In the end, it came down to choosing "between the dogs and the kids and the kids come first."

As sad as it is that the Gosselins weren't able to keep the animals they adopted, it's understandable that their children had to take precedence. The real tragedy is that a highly publicized television family brought home pets without thinking it through. Dogs, especially when they're young, require lots of time and attention. Is anybody actually surprised that this chaotic family wasn't able to properly care for two German Shepherd puppies?

Moral of the story: If your time is stretched thin already (like Kate's) and you don't really like dogs to begin with (ahem, again like Kate), perhaps you and your family should consider a lower-maintenance pet instead.