I’m headed out-of-town for a couple of days on another college visit(!) with my son. Here’s a favorite post about our favorite dog…
Originally posted: June 25, 2008
Lily seems to bring out my daughter’s maternal instincts. “Mom,” she remarked last Saturday, “Lily needs to get out more.” I reminded her that Lily goes walking or running with us at least once each day and that I’d already taken her swimming up at the dam twice this week. “No,” Hannah explained, “she needs to hang out with other dogs more. She needs to socialize.”
Hannah joked about making a “play date” for Lily but was sincere in her concern. And so, we ended up at Alum Creek Dog Park later that afternoon…
Lily is our first family dog and my own “first dog” as well. In my youth, I certainly begged for my share of puppies and kittens but always ended up with turtles and baby sisters.
My youngest sister was the one who finally wore mom down to dog ownership (the month I left home for college!), and Bijou, a scruffy shi-poo, became her devoted follower. I tried to “bond” during infrequent weekends home, but she was decidedly Kathleen’s dog. For Kathleen alone, Bijou would roll over and endure dress-up sessions in baby clothes (albeit with reluctance and a pronounced aversion to lace-trimmed bonnets). Bijou and I just didn’t have that sort of relationship. It felt more like a “friend of a friend” thing between us.
My daughter Hannah did the whole “we need a dog” campaign in a more focused and timely fashion.
When she “identified the need” a few years ago she started forwarding me informative articles on the psychological benefits
of dog ownership. I received e-mails on the advantages and disadvantages of specific breeds and links to amazing stories of doggy heroics. All accompanied by air-brushed photos of winsome canines, of course…
It still took meeting a particular dog, Lily, to take the plunge however. Lily’s owner had succumbed to cancer and his widow hoped to place the two-year old puppy in an active home. With three kids and an outdoor-oriented lifestyle, our family qualified in an almost excessive way.
And in the end, we didn’t so much “get a dog” as bring Lily home.
Nice blog post, keep it up!
Ahh… Your daughter sounds like a very resourceful young lady Heather:) My boys are always hankering after kittens and puppies; I hope they don’t mount such a serious campaign! I’ve managed to put them off for years because we already had 3 elderly cats but now we are down to one my resistance is lowering:) I think maybe a visit to the taxidermist is in order – with a bit of luck I maybe able to fool them a little longer!
I love the sentence about Lily ‘needing to get out more’.
I love this story about your dog. I was brought up on a farm and surrounded by dogs. Now I am determined not to get a dog until I am old and alone because of the way they bind you to a routined lifestyle. Our cat died a few months back and that tie was bad enough but we loved himr so much and that is the problem. We do love them too much to leave them for long periods with others or in a kennel. A cat is much easier but I could never send him to a cattery. We always had to get house sitters to live in while we were overseas so that he wasn’t too put out.
But I can still see a dog in my doddery old age when I need a companion – if hubby goes first of course. Otherwise he will be my pet.
Bejing: Thanks very much!
Good luck Jane! A dog will definitely liven things up a little. Lily was a good choice for us. She’s well-trained with a completely engaging personality. ~But I always have to double-check the driveway before backing out of the garage. She like to drag trees there. Bet your cats never did that!!
Graham: Pretty funny, huh? Hannah takes dog ownership quite seriously!
Suzanne: Being tied down was my greatest fear too, Suzanne. I definitely have to plan ahead a little more but find I can still be fairly spontaneous with travel. A “pet husband”, huh? Not bad at all… ha!
These funny “creatures” easily become part of the family.
I had an amstaff for 12 years, i bought it when it was a little puppy, and trained it myself. We had some wonderful moments together. Unfortunately, he died last year. It felt like i’ve lost a son…
UK Traveller: I had no idea how attached we’d get to Lily! There’s something very comforting in hearing the jangling of her tags when I’m alone in the house. ~Very sorry about your dog. That’s a tough loss.
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I own a black labrador named Lily!! Today is my dog’s half-birthday. Yay! She’s half a year old. P.S. Awesome blog!