DOG LOVER

If you know me I am sure it is no secret that I love animals, especially dogs. 

Our first dog, Tumbles, was with us from before I was born until we moved in 1989.  I don't remember much of him, but I'm sure I liked pulling his tail and other things little children do to pets.  Soon after we moved into our new house we got Spiffy, an american eskimo, or spitz.  She was my childhood dog.  I loved her so very much.  She was a part of our family.  She saw everything, knew everything, accepted what I'm sure was torture to her when I was young, and was still there to wag her tail when I would come home for a visit from college.  She was incredibly lovable.  I'm honestly not sure I had yet experienced anything so heartbreaking when she died.  I didn't want to go home without her in the house because it was a strange and almost uncomfortable feeling.  This was a reality check of just how much of a dog person I was - I felt the need to have a dog in the house.

Within a year my mom got another dog, Corky.  A couple years later my dad got a dog as well, Maggie.  In that time frame my now sister-in-law got a puppy, Pongo, and when they moved to Denver they got another dog, Perdi.  So I had several dogs in my life!!  My last year in college I was even blessed to have Pearl, my roommate's dog, in our house.  So when I moved into my apartment and got a job I knew I wouldn't be able to last too long without a dog.  It was high on my list, but I wanted to make sure I got the right dog for me and for my lifestyle.  I wouldn't have lasted near as long without all these other dogs in my life!  After a year, I found him.  I had been looking off and on but was finally ready to get serious about adopting in the fall.  I had asked about one dog that was online but she was already taken by the time I found her.  Within that week I found George online as well.  I thought, well, he's not exactly what I was looking for and he could be cuter, but he sounds like a pretty great dog.  I adopted George from a shelter south of Emporia on November 6th and couldn't be happier.  He is such a great little dog.

George brings even more joy into my life.  There is nothing better than seeing a tail wagging when you get home from work every day.  Dogs never fail you, they never judge you, they only know to love you.  They even seem to forget that you've left them in their kennel all day, or all night.  Forgiveness is immediate.  I can't imagine how people couldn't be dog lovers.  I can't imagine where they would get this feeling from!  However, I am sure this all sounds strange to someone who is not a dog lover. 

Cheesy or not, George has reminded me just how much I am capable of loving and just how big my heart can be.  He brings pure joy and goodness into my life every single day.  It brightens my day to see him run around in circles in excitement to see me, to see him zoom around the living room chasing himself, to throw his toys in the air, or to see him hop around outside in the snow.  Although I have always loved dogs, to have George be my very own dog that I am his one "master" is a whole new feeling.  After a long hard day he helps to keep things in perspective.  Even after a great day he just makes it end perfectly.  I love him so much and I can't even begin to imagine how much love will overflow from me if I am ever blessed with children of my own. 

I'm sure it sounds crazy, he's just a dog after all!!  If you are like me, though, I am sure you can understand.  There is nothing like the unconditional love of a dog, especially your dog.

We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults.  Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment.  ~George Eliot