It’s Doggone Time

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I want a dog. I’ve always wanted a dog, and with the exception of few weeks in third grade when a stray lived with us, I’ve never had a dog as a pet.  

            A little backstory here. My mom and dad were amazing parents, but they just weren’t into dogs or any kind of high-maintenance pet. Dad would always say we traveled too much, which worked as an excuse until I grew old enough to realize that we didn’t travel all that much. My husband, John, who grew up with a dog (Sam) and loves dogs, consistently points out the responsibility involved and references how cats are so much easier. 

            I love cats. I love our cats, but I want our family to also include a pet that can do things with us (especially me) outside of the home. (I’ve tried walking a cat on a leash, and it doesn’t work.) Plus, The Tots are getting to the point where they want to be with their friends more. That’s understandable. That’s normal. And that’s good, but that doesn’t stop it from hurting a little. 

            For the past 10 years, my children have been my sidekicks. When I go anywhere without them, I’m constantly looking over my shoulder to see where they are. As much as I want them to explore their independence and grow, I also want to keep them with me forever. I know that’s not how it works, so don’t chalk me up to one of those crazy helicopter parents who follows their children around the country during every phase of their lives. It’s just that their tweendom bloomed during COVID, and we all know that this stupid virus makes everything worse. 

            Their growing up coupled with my father-in-law’s rapidly declining health, the loss of my mom, and the nervousness The Tots and I have about remote learning has created the need for a tremendous bright spot. I know that you’re thinking to yourselves, “Hey chick, you’re the one always telling us to look for goodness in small and surprising places, so go find it.” You’re right, but sometimes you have to create your own goodness. 

            Case in point. When 9/11 happened, I was going through a horrible break up with a guy who was nothing but trouble. So while I watched the towers crumble on television, I was also nursing one of the worst broken hearts I’ve ever experienced. I remember curling up under the covers of my bed with my teary eyes glued to the endless coverage of the attack. Scared and hopeless, I decided then and there to adopt a cat, my first furry pet. (I’m the kid who had hermit crabs for pets.)

            Adopting Azalea, a tabby with eyes as green as grass, turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. No, she wasn’t warm and fuzzy, but she was there for me when no one else was, and that means something. 

            I feel like our family is at a similar crossroads and that the timing might be right for a canine. That said, I’ve spent the past week scrolling rescue sites looking for “the one.” I usually search the web for purses or shoes when I’m stressed, but these days I’ve gone to the dogs. 

            Although I’ve dreamed of having a corgi, I’ve since learned that they might not be the best breed for cats. That discovery has opened the search to any small, young female dog that likes cats and kids. I hear beagles might be good for that. Who knows? Whichever dog can fit in with our feline flow is welcome because we have two fantastic cats, and I don’t want to rock their world too much. 

            Regardless, as I look at pictures and read bios of precious doggies, I fantasize about the adventures we’ll have. We’ll sit on the back stoop reading together, take walks in the park, go on boat rides, run errands and become the best of pals. (Insert sappy montage here with Queen’s You’re My Best Friend playing in the background.) Sure there’s the maintenance of it all, but that doesn’t seem so bad if we could find the right fit for our family, so the scrolling continues.

            I’ll be 48 in less than a week, and as weird as this year has been, I don’t see reverse aging (think Mork & Mindy) becoming a reality. If anything, this year has shown me how important it is to live in the moment, and if that means adopting a dog, so be it. It’s doggone time.