Happy Birthday to You

 When I was in my second year of university, away studying in the nation's capital, I really wanted to get a dog. I knew nothing about taking care of a dog, never really owning one as a kid, and I wanted the biggest dog possible, a long haired, hundred plus pound golden retriever. Luckily, someone talked some sense into me and made me realize that in a tiny apartment, a big dog like that would be terribly unhappy. Big dogs need big open spaces. So after about a month of going through the Classifieds, I found a breeder ready to sell me a little 12 week old girl, a Bichon Frise.

The day I was supposed to get her, I called the lady from the Classifieds and she said she had an emergency and was going out of town, but then she referred me to a petshop that had other Bichons from the same litter. I was a bit upset, but the only vision I had was of a tiny dog cradled in my needy arms by the end of the day. So I had a friend drive the hour it took out of the city to the small town where the petshop was located.

I walked into the petshop and saw three tiny precious little bundles of cuteness in a cage. I think there were two girls and one boy. The only one jumping up and down and going absolutely ballistic for some attention was of course, you guessed it, the future Keiko-to-be. At first I ignored Keiko-to-be and focused my attention solely on her quiet tranquil sister who didn't so much as let out a peep. I wasnt interested in the boy dog so I let him stay lying curled up into a ball not too far away. As Im trying to get this quiet sister to respond to me, come near my hand, and give me some attention, Keiko-to-be is going mad crazy, standing on her hind legs and jumping up and down, whining and chirping, and just bursting with energy and love. She wanted so badly to be mine.

Some other customers were in the shop too and they pointed to Keiko-to-be and said in their broken up English "That one." I said "Yeah" and so I picked her up; there was no other option really, she had already chosen me. And she licked my face and snuggled into my arms, never actually settling, but moving around in circles smelling every crevice of my face and neck and plastering me with wet kisses. She was so absolutely tiny. I was instantly in love. I didn't stay long in that shop. I paid for her and took her home and this my dear loyal readers, is how I became acquainted with the lovliest companion ever. She has been the sweetest thing in my life. I cannot imagine living anywhere without her, which is why she bore the trip to South Korea with me, and unlike the unfortunate men in the history of my life, I will take her with me wherever I go always. She, and her new sister Beats, are my forever family.

A friend in TO said to me "Loving an animal makes you more human. Or more humane. Whichever."

There is nothing like the love of an animal. Keiko is always happy to see me even if I abandon her for 24 hours, or if sometimes I forget to feed her, or if Im lazy and don't want to take her for long walks, she is always there at the foot of my bed at night and licking my hand in the morning. Its been four years since the first time we met, but she still goes ballistic when I come home from work wanting all my attention. I wouldnt have it any other way.

Happy Birthday Dog.