VIDALIA — For some, one dog is plenty while others who are dog lovers feel you can never have too many.

When The Dart landed near Viking Drive in Vidalia Friday afternoon, Patricia Grant was puppy sitting for some friends who were on vacation.

Grant also has a whole doggie family all to herself, she said.

Grant, who calls herself “the dog lover,” said she has four Chihuahua dogs and regularly keeps two of her boss’ dogs at home with her.

“Really, I have six dogs,” Grant said. “I’m never alone. They are with me everywhere I go. I can’t even watch half the shows on television, because I have one that barks at every animal that comes up on the screen.”

Grant said she is surrounded by animals pretty much every day of her life and is used to all of the company.

Grant works as an assistant at Dunkerron Animal Hospital on Highland Boulevard in Natchez.

“I do pretty much everything there,” Grant said. “I got into it for the animals, but I’ve also started filing paperwork and answering calls. I’ve been at it for 30 years.”

For Grant, loving animals just comes naturally to her, even when she was too young to remember it, she said.

“I got my first Chihuahua when I was 1 year old,” Grant said. “I guess that is why Chihuahua’s take to me so. I had one friend bring hers over and I immediately picked him up. She looked at me and said, ‘Huh, he usually bites strangers.’”

When Grant walked outside her house Friday afternoon, her whole family started barking at her.

“That’s the separation anxiety,” Grant said. “They do that every time.”

Ellie, a small Yorkie Grant kept for her friends, seemed content to nuzzle up to her temporary mommy while her parents were away.