My Puppy Days

I love my pup.
Growing up, I had a shelty (Sheena) and a golden lab (Shilo). Sheena was my dog; I took her on walks and spent most of my time with her. Shilo had to be put down when I was 9 or 10, she had a lot of health problems and lived in a lot of pain. Shortly after, my parents got their first miniature dachshund, Sophie, who became my dad's dog.

Sophie was a new puppy when my family brought her home and as much as I love puppies, I never stopped paying attention to Sheena. But then my grandfather passed away and grandma was by herself on the farm. My parents decided that to keep my grandmother company, they would give her Sheena. I was devastated and I hadn't been asked. As far as I was concerned, Sheena was my dog and she had been taken from me.

But it worked out for the best. Grandma took home Sheena where she was able to live on the farm, then later grandma's house in Dallas, Oregon before she had to be put down because of health problems. To fill the gap at home though, my parents brought home a second dachshund puppy, Maggie, and she became my dog.

We were inseparable. Maggie would wait for me by the door to come home from school, she would follow me around the house, sleep in my bedroom, and take car trips with me. Maggie was my pup, I'd had her since she was a pup, and everyone knew it. Then I graduated high school and became a resident volunteer at the fire department. Of course, Maggie couldn't follow and to this day, she hasn't forgiven me for leaving her. She doesn't show me the same kind of attention when I visit my parent's house.

My parents brought home two more dogs during the time I lived at the fire station and after Meghan and I were married. All that Meghan and I wanted to do was bring home a pup, but our landlords would never allow it. Last year, Meghan worked out an arrangement with her mother to keep a dog at her house, a board collie named Lillie who we rescued from the animal shelter. What a fantastic dog for my wife; she was mild mannered, well trained, and loving (the dog, not my wife). But all I wanted was a puppy.

Two weeks ago, we brought home Boomer, a black lab mix from an animal rescue in Longview, Washington. Meghan had been checking out rescue shelters online when she saw Boomer (named Asia at the time) and showed me her picture. On a whim, I told her to fill out an application. Less than 15 minutes later, we'd received a response and made an appointment to drive up the next day. I fell in love with her at once.

Meghan said I was a little gushing puddle of puppy love and it's true. We brought her home and as with all puppies, there have been some growing pains. But, the reason I love my pup so much: I know the she won't be taken away from me and I know that I won't leave her. She will spend her whole life with me, in a good loving home. I'm very excited about that and I look forward to the next 10 years.