When I was little, the family went to a local shelter. This little black puppy came up to me, sniffed me and I was in love. I said "this one." Mom asked me what I wanted to name her, I blurted out "Miss Piggy" because she had a snout. My parents laughed and I said "Lady." She was a German Shepard/Collie bundle of love.
Lady and I became best friends. We danced. We slept in the same room. We snuggled. She physically held me in her paw arms. I only have a few memories of her because she ran away due to my own stupidity. I opened the door to check for the mail and out she went, and she never came back. I cried day in and day out!
Then daddy took me to the shelter again. I originally opposed the notion of getting another dog. Then I wanted a dog that looked like Lady. Then this tan, black and white German Shepard/Collie baby woof started to undo my shoelaces. She looked up at me with these beautiful brown puppy eyes as if to say "Take me home." And we did! On the way out of the shelter the lady said that Lady II (as I named her) was left in box with her brothers and sisters on the side of a road. This made me sad, still does. Then the lady said that Lady was born around the 18th of February. Well, guess what? My birthday is February 18th. Every year on our birthday we split a plain doughnut.
LadyII and became best friends quickly! We hugged. We kissed. We danced. I rubbed her belly button. She ate popcorn or dog treats out of mine. She could count to four. She always allowed me to cry in her fur when I came home in a bad mood because I was bullied at school. She gave good advice too! We spoke like people speak. We laughed. We had fun!
I can't go through every single story as there are so many memories, I could fill books, BUT I am going to tell you a few humorous stories. Lady I and I would watch Lassie on the weekends together. Lady II , mom and I would watch The Planets Funniest Animals on Animal Planet, but it wasn't always like that. She didn't like that we were laughing at other dogs. She thought we thought that they were funnier than she was! Once I explained to her that it was okay, and we found her to be the comedian of the family, we watched religiously.
Now, Lady II was part German Shepard and part Collie. Occasionally I would watch dog shows and root for the German Shepards and Collies! Well, Lady wouldn't have any of that! She would walk off in a huff!
Lady II was also quite musical. No, she couldn't sing, but she could play piano. She used to walk across the keys as I tried to play. When she got older she sat with me on the piano bench and then put her paws up and hit the keys.
Lady II and I also played 5 Card Stud. We played face up, but she always won. She was able to tell me which cards she wanted to throw out! Very smart puppy!
When Lady died in 2003, I was a wreck. I had to go for grief counseling, which really helped. It helped because there were horror stories in this support group that I went to, and I will not relay any of them. I went for about a month and a half. The parts that helped the most I was able to remember when my daddy died in 2005.
After Lady II died, I was at my aunt's house. She had two dogs at the time, Sweetie and Tippy. Sweetie was a beagle mix and Tippy was a black lab. Sweetie didn't like people much until Tippy came along. Anyway, Sweetie who never really kissed anyone, kissed my hand. I hugged her. A commercial came on with a dog in it and I broke down in tears. Tippy came over and put her paw on my shoulder. I hugged her and she kissed me.
My aunt now has a black lab mix named Pepper or as we call her Pepper, Pepsi. Pepper Ann, Pepper Annuals, Pepper Ann Bear (I had a lot of nick names for my Lady dogs as well). She talks. Well, not quite, but when she wants to go out for a walk she sounds like she is talking. I am also convinced that on more than one occasion she's said "I love you."
As you can see I love dogs! I have not wanted to adopt another woof for years. Mom had convinced me to put Lady II down after a bout with severe arthritis,etc. I refuse to ever have to do that again. I am not G-d. It's not my decision. It's his. I still have nightmares of that day. One day though, perhaps, I will adopt again.
DOGGIE LOVE!