For most of my life I was a cat person. I guess I liked the aloof independence that most cats have. You can go a trip for a day or so, leave enough food and water for the cat and when you come back the cat will say. "Oh, I didn't realize you were gone." It was a way of having a pet and some company without a huge time investment. I guess that was the appeal in addition to cats being super cute and having personalities.
Growing up in the country, we had dogs that were family dogs. They stayed outside for the most part except when it was super cold. They followed me and my sisters around, but I don't think I ever bonded to those dogs. My sister who grew up to become a vet tech trained and bonded to the dogs in a bigger way.
It wasn't until I got Bart the border collie that I understood what it meant to have a dog that was my dog. My 13 year old son at the time
wanted a puppy, so we got Bart at the shelter. Bart and his mom had been abandoned in a rental house. I don't know if he had any brothers or sisters. My son did do obedience training with Bart through 4-H but guess who ended up potty training and feeding Bart? Me. And because my work as a writer means I'm home all day, guess who Bart bonded to?
He became my dog sort of by default. I had no idea the richness he would add to my life. To be loved by someone who is always glad to see you,is pretty special. I love that he never complains about the TV show I pick out to watch at the end of the day. He just hops up on the couch and sits beside me. After my husband died, Bart was what got me out of bed in the morning because he'd be scratching at my door to go pee outside. He is a good listener and I am amazed at how tuned into my feelings and moods he is. He is my best friend and constant companion.
I still like cats but you never know what you are going to get when you pick out a cute kitten. Sometimes you get a cat with a dog personality which is the best of both worlds. All I know is that I don't know what I would do without Bart. He is definition of unconditional love. I can't help but think that when I arrive in heaven, the people will greet me in the same way my dog greats be now when I come home, overjoyed and delighted that I made it home.
How about you? Do you have or have you had an important pet in your life? Tell me about it. Leave a comment and your email address. I'll pick two people to get one of my Love Inspired K9 books.
no pets
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Right now I kind of borrow the neighbors dog. His name is Ralph. He is a big, beautiful chocolate poodle.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I have a cat named Trouble. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteleliamae54(at)aol(dot)com
DeleteSnickerdoodle, a chihuahua puppy, picked us on January 1, 2004. He was barely 6 weeks old. We fell in love at first sight. He's been special for so many reason for so many.
ReplyDeleteHe immediately became my Dad's buddy. The two of them would nap in the recliner while Mom and I cleaned house. Dad loved dogs, but I'd never seen him get so attached to one like he did with Snickerdoodle. In July my Dad went on to his heavenly home. Snickerdoodle went to stay with Mom for a while so she wouldn't be so lonely. Six months later she said he was ready to come home. Skip forward a few years. Mom had cancer surgery and the onset of Alzheimer so she came to live with us. Snickerdoodle was her buddy giving her love and accepting her changing love. He was the one Mom never forgot and told she loved him the night she went to bed (first conversation she had had in some time) before she went to join my Dad during the night.
For his, he's given us some to give our love and attention do. There had been a long spell that we hadn't had a dog. The last one we had was our daughter's who had went on to heaven at the age of 17. It was like he knew we needed him as much as he needed us. He's been a little lover all his life. He's now 17 years old, almost completely blind, very hard of hearing, on insulin twice a day and has heart problems, but still seems to give more than he takes each and every day. He is our little boy in a fur suit that we love dearly.
LOVE your books! Thank you for the chance. Shared and hoping to be the fortunate one selected.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
My family had a dog when I was growing up. His name was Dingo and we had him for 17 wonderful years.
ReplyDeletedianah7272(at)gmail(dot)com
I had dogs as a teen, but now I have cats. The best thing about dogs is they are always glad to see you. :-)
ReplyDeleteI have had many dogs, w/ some fun personalities! I love reading K-9 suspense books! Badawson16 at aol dot com
ReplyDeleteI have had dogs, cats and all kind of animals since I grew up on a farm. but since we sold the farm, I have one cat named Salem who is spoiled rotten. sheliarha64(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteMy sister and I combined households a few years ago. Here is her dog story that includes how I have a dog now (and wouldn't have it any other way).
ReplyDeleteMy sister .... We never had any pets when I was growing up but over the last 20 years or so I have actually had several- all dogs. The first was a stray who turned out to be Mommy Dog and we kept one of the puppies, giving the other three to trusted friends. The Mommy Dog eventually died from a sudden stroke so I had only one dog for a while. When a friend at work had to move and couldn't take a stray dog she'd taken in with her, I took that one and was back to two dogs. These two got along well most of the time. A few years later the "puppy" I'd kept died from cancer.
I was back to one dog. Then a friend who had stopped by the house one day held out her hands to me when I opened the door and she said, "Is this your puppy?" "No." Of course that one wound up being number four and I was back to having two dogs again. Some years later that one died and I was back to one who eventually died when about 19 years old. A month or so after that, one of the workers at our Vet asked if we wanted another dog because they had a client who had found a dog but couldn't keep her. Yep, This one is number five and she's now about eight or nine years old.
Each dog added love and laughter in abundance to the daily routine. This one is still quite spry and loves to run in the yard as well as roll around in the grass after having found "just the right spot". She is very inquisitive and also listens as if she understands my every word.
Yes, dogs truly do add positivity to each day along with their unconditional love and gratitude. Would that there were more people like our dear dog family members!
Suzan B email is livinginjoytogether@gmail.com