Puppy Love

I’ve had a few furry friends throughout my life, and each one has left a special mark on my heart. Growing up, my parents weren’t too keen on getting a dog, so we had guinea pigs and rabbits instead. But when I was a senior in high school, we finally got our first family dog. 

Annie was a tan cocker spaniel and, oh boy, she was definitely not the brightest pup around. But she made me laugh every single day!  Our main living space was on the second floor, so when Annie had to go potty, she had to take the stairs down to the backyard. But she didn’t always want to go, especially when the weather wasn’t perfect. If it was hot, cold, snowy, rainy, or anything else inconvenient, she’d try to trick me into thinking she was doing her business. She’d go down the first couple of steps, stop, and just stand there. She was convinced if she couldn’t see me, I couldn’t see her either. Of course, I always saw her little fluffy tail and butt just hanging out. She was a goofball, and it made me giggle every time.

Annie was extremely food motivated. One time, we were having a big celebratory chicken dinner, and she managed to snatch a leg right off the table! We chased her all around the yard, and when we finally got the bone back, the meat had come off in one perfect chunk. She had sucked that chicken leg clean, leaving only a bone behind. That’s just how she was – 100% heart and 200% mischief.

Then there was her obsession with women’s underwear. As a teenager, I bought the fancier kind and Annie thought they were delicious. She would sneak into the laundry, pull out my undies, and chew the crotches out! We’d always find little fabric tubes in her poop the next day. I’m still amazed she never clogged up her colon!

Next came Jasmine, an 80 lb overweight mutt we adopted from the pound. She had a tough life before we got her. She’d been a mama dog at the shelter, then spent the rest of her time guarding food from the other dogs. She was so sweet but a little broken when we brought her home. She cowered at loud noises and would go “boneless” when she got scared, plopping down wherever she was. Despite her rough past, she always found comfort with us, and we gave her the love she’d missed out on for so long. We spent a lot of money getting her the care she needed, and with her thyroid medicine, special food, and regular vet visits, she became the happiest dog. Sadly, Jasmine passed away when my little one was just a week old. It was a tough time, and after that, I decided I needed a break from dogs. I told my husband that he had picked Jasmine, so it was my turn to pick “no dog” for a while.

But then… COVID hit. The world shut down, and I was so anxious and overwhelmed. I couldn’t work, my kids were home all the time, and everything felt like it was spinning out of control. After weeks of frustration, my husband told me I needed a “better attitude.” In a moment of impulse, I jumped in the car and drove three hours away to pick out our current dog, Libby, a mini Australian Shepherd.

She’s absolutely adorable but… let’s just say her brain might be the size of a walnut! 😂 But Libby is the sweetest, most loving little dog. She’s full of cuddles, always there when I need her, and she loves my boys so much. There was even one day last summer when a couple of neighborhood dogs broke out of their yard and started chasing my kids. Libby immediately leapt into action, putting herself between the dogs and the kids. She took a little scratch from one of them, but the kids got safely inside. She’s our little hero, and I am so thankful every day for her goofy, loving spirit.

Libby may not be the smartest dog we’ve had, but she’s the most loving and loyal companion. She’s made our family whole again, and we couldn’t imagine life without her.