MaryPat McManus is a senior at Penn State interning for the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and the National Dog Show. MaryPat is a member of the Women’s Club Lacrosse team. She will be featured next month as a Dancer during the renowned Penn State “THON” fundraiser, the largest student-run philanthropy in America. The 46-hour dance marathon raised nearly $18 million for pediatric cancer last year. MaryPat is thrilled to share this blog about her favorite furry friends.
Dogs are a girl’s best friend, or anyone’s best friend for that matter. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t learn this fact until later in my life. If you grew up anything like me, you understand the feeling of yearning for a pet. Growing up, all of my friends had a pet. Whether it was a dog, a cat or even a hamster. I felt so excluded and like I was missing out on a whole fun side of life that comes with having a four-legged friend.
It wasn’t until I reached the mature age of eight that I realized why I lived in a pet-less household. My older brother, Ryan, had a bad allergy to all things animal fur, so a pet was completely out of the question. I suppose it would be bad parenting to choose a puppy over your own son? Anyway, it wasn’t talked about a lot because my parents didn’t want to make my brother feel bad for being the reason we couldn’t have a pet. When I was younger, it made me sad because I wanted a pet like all of my friends, but as I grew up a little bit, it just became the new normal, and a pet didn’t interest me anymore.
My lack of encounters with animals such as dogs and cats eventually turned into a mutual unfriendliness between me and anything furry. It wasn’t that I purposely didn’t get along with dogs or cats, etc., it just became a natural instinct for me to keep my distance. Whether it was a dog I encountered on the sidewalk, or a friend’s pet, I was never great at getting them to like me, or vice versa. That is, until one day when it all changed.
In 5th grade, I made a new friend named Reese. She was like sunshine in a person and she came with a plus-one everywhere she went. Her plus-one was named Zoey. Zoey is a medium-sized, female Cockapoo. Softball game? Zoey was sitting on the bench alongside the team. Girl Scouts meeting? Zoey was in the front of the room assisting. Fast forward to senior photos, Zoey was front and center of the camera next to Reese. Becoming friends with Reese meant becoming friends with Zoey. I didn’t rely on it at the time, but this would be the friendship that taught me a dog was a girl’s best friend.
As time went on and one play date led to another, I grew quite fond of Zoey. She was one of the friendliest puppies I knew, and the first dog I felt comfortable around. She didn’t bark at me or run away when I put my hand out. Instead, she would be patient and friendly. She had a sparkle in her eyes that showed she was kind and simply wanted to be around people.
Thanksgiving is a big day for my family and friends. While I spend the late afternoon and evening with my family, it’s tradition that I spend time with my friends beforehand. For as long as I can remember, my friends and I have spent Thanksgiving morning preparing for our high school’s annual Thanksgiving Day football game. The preparation includes a pancake breakfast and a viewing of NBC’s National Dog Show Presented by Purina.
The game doesn’t start until 3 p.m., so it gives us at least an hour to enjoy a cuteness overload of dogs and pick out our favorites each year. This year, while watching the competition on NBC on Thanksgiving Day, we started to discuss the idea of attending the in-person National Dog Show hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. The show takes place at The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center and is located in Oaks, PA, just 15 miles west of Center City Philadelphia. Each year, hundreds of breeds and varieties will compete for the title of Best in Show. It is an unforgettable day, and a tradition that my friends and I have decided to add to our holiday season.
This show is one you won’t want to miss. The National Dog Show in Oaks, PA, is a family tradition beloved by many. Tickets for the event go on sale in June and are available for purchase at nds.nationaldogshow.com. Admission is free for children 3 and under, so get the whole family involved!
I would be lying if I said I was Zoey’s best friend or she was mine; that is a relationship for Reese and her to share. Although I can confidently say that Zoey has made me realize that a dog can be a number one companion, or even a partner to cuddle up with and watch the National Dog Show on NBC.