I love dogs. I’m much more of a dog person than a cat person, but we do love our new neighbor’s friendly feline. He looks like a puffy cloud of smoke with his thick, gray coat, and he puts up with my daughters’ constant attention.
Hopefully, soon they’ll have another animal to kiss and pet and chase. We’re in the market for a dog. Both my husband and I grew up with dogs (I grew up with lots of pets – a horse, hamsters, parakeets, dogs, one cat, a turtle, hermit crabs, all of Creation; Mom, you are a saint), and we’ve been waiting for the right home (one with a yard) and the right time in our family life to add a new and a critter who requires more than occasional water changes and a pinch of food here and there like our beautiful Beta. My husband has been scoping out the adoptions held on Saturday at our local pet store. He’s been reading about various breeds. We’re working on getting our yard situated; we had to plant some sod and it needs stronger roots before introducing a potential digger to it. The girls wish we could just hurry up and get them their pet. A fish is nice, but they want a playmate, something to hug. I understand, but I also know what a big responsibility introducing a dog to a family is and that it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Our dog will be with us for a long time, and we’d better be ready for more than the extra love and companionship it will bring but also the tumbleweeds of fur lingering on our wood floors and all the extra work a dog brings.
But that work is so worth it for a family pet is more than a companion. It can be a lesson in responsibility, compassion, and unconditional love.
I’m over at Faith & Family LIVE remembering Sweetness, a beloved Lab I grew up with, and how she helped me survive my tumultuous teen years and how she taught me a thing or two about the love of the Almighty. See you over there!
