Dogs, the Best Kind of People

Several weeks ago my daughter wrote about her darling German Shepherd named, Atticus. He really is a sweetie pie. He is my Grand-dog. There! I said it! I’ve become “one of THOSE people.” You know what I mean: the kooks that worry about their dogs when they are away and ask the dog-sitter to send pictures, the kooks that buy special dog food (even though dogs will eat their own vomit), the kooks that buy birthday and Christmas gifts for their dogs. Yep, that’s me. Or should I say, “that’s us” because all my family is deranged when it comes to the care and love of our pupsters!

What is it about dogs? Is it the way they look at us with such unconditional love? Is it that they are excited to see us every time we come in the door, whether we’ve been gone a week or we just went out to the mailbox? I am not sure what it is, I just know that I love dogs.

I wrote a post several weeks ago called, Patches, the Wonder Dog about our beloved mutt/beagle who lived to be 17.5 years old and today I’d like to share the virtues of our Zoey (a 12 year old black lab) and Shelly (a 2 year old German Shepherd).

Sweet Zoey came along when Patches, the Wonder Dog was 10 years old. Patches was an only child for 10 years and enjoyed her singular place in the family. We were not sure how keen she would be on a puppy coming into her territory. And really we did not intend on getting a puppy the day we visited the animal shelter. HA! Fast forward about 15 minutes …..

We adopted Zoey from the animal shelter in a very weak moment, that I do not regret. My daughter had been home sick with mono for weeks and she was bored and tired of looking at the walls of our house all day, so we went for a drive. When I called my husband and told him we were going to the shelter “just to look around” he sighed loudly and said, “Just don’t get more than one.” That sounded like an invitation to me!

The animal shelter had just received a box, a whole box (!!), of female black lab puppies. When we walked by the cage the puppies were in, one of them got off the bed they were all sleeping in and came to the door of the cage. She looked up at us … and the rest, as they say, is history! Of course, she went home with us. How can you resist a tiny girl that looks up at you with perfect sleepy brown eyes? I am not strong enough to turn away from that kind of cuteness.

We named her Zoey and she endeared herself to Patches, the Wonder Dog, eventually. They were reluctant but kind pals. On the day we buried Patches, the Wonder Dog, Zoey sat vigilantly by her grave, in our backyard, and grieved. It was one of the most heartbreaking and beautiful things I’ve ever seen. There is something about the genuine simplicity and honesty of her grief that touched me deeply.

Two years ago, for my 60th birthday (HOLY MACKEREL, I am OLD!) my husband got me a puppy!! (In case you are curious, he is a gem of a person and husband!) I was deeply in love with my daughters Shepherd and decided I had to have one too. (You’ll notice a theme with us – that we do a lot of the same things!) German Shepherds (GSD’s, as they are officially called) are virtually impossible to adopt from shelters because once a family gets one they never give them up. They are delightful dogs. So, we went in search of a breeder that we trusted.

Boy, did we get lucky! We found a lovely family in Florida selling their first litter of GSD’s. We made all the arrangements with the family and went to pick up our sweet girl! I was about to bust on the drive south and could not wait to get my newest family member.

The family had a beautiful farm and when we drove up the puppies were all on the porch wrestling with their two young daughters. It was like a Norman Rockwell painting! My husband stopped the car and as I got out one of the puppies came off the porch, right towards me, so I just had to pick her up! The mom of the household came out and said, “How did you know that one is yours?” I told her that I didn’t know but that she seemed to know. She was mine!

We brought her home and named her Dr. Sheldon Lee Cooper but we call her Shelly. She has been a delightful addition to our family. Zoey is 12 years old now and not as tolerant of Shelly’s childish behaviors but they are sleeping pals and Frisbee catchers and secretly enjoy their days together.

I find myself saying things about my dogs and wondering if I’ve finally lost my mind. I never thought it was sane or normal to love a dog this way and now, here I am doing it. I suspect there are worse things in life than loving a dog and having that dog love you back!

PS: Two weeks ago, at 12.5 years old, our beloved Zoey had a massive heart attack and passed. I am truly heart broken.