Oasis: my boyfriend at the time (long gone, thank goodness) had a friend who was in a metal band. We would go to his house to watch them practice. One day, he had a collie mix puppy tied to a truck in his backyard. I asked about him and he said his neighbor took him from a home that was abusing him. He told them, "you obviously don't want this dog, let me take him off your hands." and just took him even though he had nowhere to keep him. My bf's friend asked if I wanted him, and I untied him and walked him home. The only song that this band played that I liked was a ballad called "Lost in Oasis". I was at a really bad point in my life at that time (possessive boyfriend, emotionally abusive, etc.) and this dog was a ray of light for me - my own personal Oasis so the name fit. Soon after, I kicked bf out!!
Rocko: since he was an Australian Shepherd we wanted an australian name. Since we don't know much about Australia, but the cartoon "Rocko's Modern Life" featuring a cute little wallaby was popular at the time we picked that. Sorry, not as exciting as the first story!!
Buster Brown: I am known in my neighborhood as the lady who takes in strays. I had just adopted out a terror of a little dog who had chewed up several doors, shoes, papers, etc. (but, admittedly was awfully cute) when a neighbor came knocking on my door and said, "there's a dog running around and I wanted to know if you want it?" Not really, I thought, but instead replied "what kind of a dog?" "Well, I think it's a collie? No. It's not really a collie, it's more like a... like a Buster Brown." I stepped outside and running past my house was the skinniest, most pathetic beagle I had ever seen. I called to him and he flattened out, ears back and looked at me with such a scared look on his face. There are woods behind my house where people often hunt. I suspect he wasn't much of a hunter and KNOW he was beaten quite often (it took him almost 2 years to start playing with the other dogs - he'd just sit back and watch and if you made ANY kind of sudden movement he'd cower. Even now, he flinches if I go to kiss him on the head.). He was so full of heartworms we had to treat him twice, but now he is sweet and beautiful and oh, so happy. "Buster Brown" just seemed like the perfect name.
