Friday, November 20, 2009

Canine Blessings



When I was about 7 years old, my best friend Pam and I decided that we wanted to open a veterinary practice together.  We talked about our uniforms and where we'd open our office, and who our clients would be.  (For instance, would we practice on horses and hamsters?  Or just limit it to dogs and cats?)  Then some relative had to go and burst my bubble with the following comment: "Uh....Jenny?  You can't be a veterinarian.  You're allergic to animals!"  

Despite my allergy to dogs, we had one living with us.  Caeser was a black cockapoo who was trained early on never to leave our property.  His job was to keep the squirrels from touching down in our (unfenced) front yard in suburbs of Largo, Florida.  He would sit in the grass by the edge of the curb, looking longingly at the squirrels playing in the yard across the street.  Sometimes he would forget himself and dash over there and begin barking.  Then, when called, he would return to the yard with his tail between his legs.  Back to his special spot under the oak tree.


Miss B. has similar squirrel catching aspirations.  She gets more affection from me than Caeser did, because  I've been loading myself up with antihistamines, leukotrine inhibitors, and inhaled steroids daily so that I can keep her.  To me, it's worth it.   When I hit my mid 40s and realized that we weren't having any more kids, Miss. B. took the sting out of that realization. She's small enough that I can hold her in my arms like a baby, and she'll look deeply and earnestly into my eyes and, mercifully, say nothing. 

Old Age means realizing you will never own all of the dogs you wanted to.
- Joe Gores


Animals are such agreeable friends. They ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.
- George Eliot


All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
- George Orwell 

 
Grateful that I have you, today and always, Miss. B.

15 comments:

Ronda Laveen said...

Oh, she's so cute! She almost doesn't look real. I love dogs!

Joanne said...

What a happy face on your pup :)
She seems very content in the adventurous life your family provides for her!

tina said...

Spoken like a true animal lover. Miss B is a sweet little dog that will forever love you and enrich your lives. I wish I could have 10 like her!

Anonymous said...

I love your post. I am going out to look at dogs, and I'm getting one for my mom.

LazyMom said...

I love your little dog. So sweet and soft. And I love your nick-name of the month

Wendy McDonagh-Valentine said...

I just love your Miss B!!!!! This was such a great post!! :)

~ Wendy
http://Crickleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

Pam J. said...

She's a sweetheart! Glad you found each other.

Pix E. said...

Dogs always look at me longingly.

Anonymous said...

I've had the pleasure of meeting this dog and she is a special little character-- VERY VERY sweet.

PamHMG said...

Betsey is like a baby. I would hold her and cradle her all the time if she were mine. Dogs are such great creatures and they really do add such a richness to you life.

mayberry said...

She's so sweet. I came late to being a dog person, but now I'm a convert.

Unknown said...

She is just adorable! Well worth the pills, in my mind!

JGH said...

Thank you all for the nice comments about Miss B! I'm sure she feels the same way about you.

TALON said...

Miss B is adorable! Animals add a really beautiful dimension to a life. I can't imagine mine without my critters! I'm impressed that you would go through all that to have a dog and Miss B is a lucky pooch to have you!

Anonymous said...

Precious---just too precious my friend.

Yesterday--I cried with a dear neighbor who lost their pet after 15 years. We just stood in our front yards and cried.