Sirius is a Maremma sheepdog, a livestock guardian breed from Italy. They are usually solid white dogs but not Sirius. He was born with spots. When Sirius was two months old Mercury was born on the farm. Mercury is a blue-eyed miniature horse. He has spots too and an unusual color pattern with three white legs and one dark leg, one white ear and one dark ear.

Mercury and Sirius are the characters in a book called Mercury & Sirius from Simply Pets Press. It is the story of their special relationship. They share their book at Gentle Carousel’s Reading With Horses literacy programs.