Get a Dog, They Said

Day 1287.

After Luke died, our kind friends and family encouraged us to get a dog.

It would be an emotional support for us all.

It’s true that Ludo, my sister’s dog, has seen me through some dark days.

It is also true that in the days of family therapy that was part of Luke’s recovery treatment, our therapist would constantly note that when we spoke of our animals from our English country life - we would all light up.

It was true that our life of horses, dogs and a ton of kittens brought a plethora of stories, filled with humor and comradery. It was the one thing that united us.

But here, where we live now, we can not keep a dog outside, as we had done before. Coyotes are everywhere, and will, and do take even large dogs for their prey.

Adam is violently allergic to dogs. Even with the dogs outside, he suffered.

George has not been in a great place. He longed for a dog and he begged and begged.

To Adam’s credit he finally decided to try the allergy shots again. The homeopathic option worked the best.

We took baby steps, visiting our bedogged friends and it appeared to be working.

I nixed the fancy weimaraner of our previous life (Coco was lovely but our house is tiny) and went in search of a Ludo, the paragon of emotional support, who still acts differently whenever I am visiting.

The lukelove magic found us just the puppy on the web and we went to visit.

She was tiny at just 4 weeks old and as George held her, their souls tangibly melded.

Adam, it turned out, had never petted a dog. George and I laughed as he met the Mum and the sire and awkwardly interacted with beasts he had never been able to pet.

No sneezing, no wheezing, no rashes.

We put our deposit down.

As the Covid lockdown fell, we picked her up and brought her home.

I can not describe what she has done for us all, but I can tell you that everyone was right!

Of course she doesn’t replace Luke, but she puts another soul into our family dynamic and it is bliss!

Adam surrendered his attachment to his allergies, took a bunch of testing medicine in order to help George and in so doing, has set himself free. He is besotted!

By her mere existence, we are lighter by the day, as she works her unconditional magic.

We are now those crazy dog people who are enchanted by her every action.

And it is a joy to listen to Adam and George as they work together, building her a coyote proof dog run.

So yes, from the bottom of my previously resistant heart, and Adam’s - get a dog!