I’ve always wanted a dog. As a kid, I wrote “puppy” on every Christmas list slideshow and birthday wish list I made. I even hoped for a puppy to be in my basket in the morning after the Easter Bunny came. Though 21 years have gone by without that wish coming to fruition, I can say with absolute certainty that I am definitely still a dog person.
Growing up, even though I didn’t have any pets of my own, I was still very close to the pets around me. I’ve been privileged enough to love so many dogs in my life.
One of my favorite places in the world as a kid was my Aunt Shannon’s house (I couldn’t say “Shannon” when I was little, so to me, she’s “Chachi”). Chachi’s house was always like a tiny zoo, and I loved it!
She had other pets–like a snake, tarantula, parakeet, bunny and two ducks named Cheese and Quackers–besides what felt like a million dogs. They were always the favorite part of my visits.
Over the years, Chachi has had quite a few dogs: Shih Tzus named Grover (after the Muppet), Daisy and Dolly; a Maltese named Penny; a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Bailey; a Golden Retriever named Dory (from one of her favorite movies, Finding Nemo); and a Corgi-Huskie mix named Nittany (after the Penn State Nittany Lions!). There are countless photos and memories of my sister, my cousins, and me with the dogs.
but she crawled right into my lap the first time we met.
Seeing the variety of dogs on the National Dog Show on NBC each year on Thanksgiving Day has always reminded me of all the different dogs I grew up around. After watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (and even marching in it one year), I’ve loved seeing all of the beautiful show dogs walk the blue carpet since I was little! It even helped me decide what dog’s I’d want to have someday.
Even when I couldn’t make it all the way to my aunt’s house, other dogs I loved lived a lot closer. My friend Elaina, who I’ve known since the third grade, had two Dachshunds named Twix and Snickers, who were excited to meet anyone and everyone involved in our dance class carpool. My next-door neighbors had a German Shepherd named Coach. I was terrified of him at first (he was much bigger than six-year-old me), but one lick won me over forever.
The dog I’ve been closest to came into my life when I was a little older, during my high school years. My friend Justin (my sister’s boyfriend) had a dog named Robo, who was a Lab-Huskie mix, with all the looks of a Lab and all the sass and attitude of a Huskie. Our families are very close, so I had the privilege of getting to know and love Robo. Robo had a difficult life, having spent nearly 6 years moving between homelessness and animal shelters. However, he spent his last three and a half years surrounded by unconditional love and support. Justin and his mom, Kim, gave him a nurturing, happy home where he was loved by absolutely everyone who knew him.
Though it took Robo some time to warm up to people at first, once he loved you, he loved you forever. Every time we walked through the door, he was there, waiting for a big hug and to give us kisses!
Robo’s passing was my first experience losing a dog I was very close to. But, it showed me my capacity to love so much more than I ever thought I could.
Regardless of the unfortunate fact that I’ve never had a dog myself, I’ve been lucky enough to be close to some of the most loving, adorable, beautiful animals in the world. However, I’ve had my pets’ names planned since I was a kid. Someday, when I have my own home, I want to have a pug named Meatball, and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Liza!
Until then, I’ll be meeting and loving the dogs of friends and relatives and I’ll be angling to get to the National Dog Show this coming November 15-16 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. It’s open to the public as one of the most popular attractions in Philadelphia every year. Tickets will go on sale in early June on the National Dog Show’s website. And I will surely be watching The National Dog Show Presented by Purina TV special from noon to 2 p.m. on November 28 – Thanksgiving Day!