Puppy Love

I'm not a dog person.

When I was little, my parents had a St. Bernard, who scared me. She died when I was five, and shortly thereafter, my parents got a basset hound, another big dog who terrified me. Fortunately for me, the basset hound had a number of issues, and my parents had to get rid of him. For the next several years, we had fish and a few hermit crabs, and that was it. Then, when I was 11, we got two cats, and it was, at that point, that I became I cat person. Ever since, I've always had a couple of cats. We currently have two fabulous felines, Chloe and Pearl.

Gregg, however, is a dog person, and for years, he has said he would like to get a dog. Pre-diabetes, I always said that if we were to get a dog, we would have to get a cat-sized dog, who didn't shed. Big dogs still scare me. Little or medium-sized dogs I can handle. But, really I didn't want a dog. I was perfectly content with our cats.

After Jack's diagnosis, I learned about diabetes dogs, and I changed my tune. I began to seriously consider getting a dog. I'd do anything for Jack, and if a diabetes dog would help him or keep him safe, then I'd be willing to get one of these service animals, despite the fact that they're usually big dogs, like labs or retrievers, who shed. Over time, I learned more and more, and I got to the point where I wanted one. Yes, I, the one who's never really liked dogs, actually wanted a dog. A diabetes dog, that is.

So last weekend, we were at the mall, shopping for kids' school uniforms. We needed to pick up some clothing I'd placed on hold at Gap Kids. Next to Gap Kids is a pet store. Madeline, Jack and Max all wanted to go into the pet store to look at the puppies and kittens with Gregg, while I went into Gap Kids.

Ever since they were really little, our kids have enjoyed visiting this pet store. We've gone there countless times, and it's never been a problem. The kids have never once asked to buy a puppy or kitten, and Gregg and I have never been tempted to take home a new pet. We've always been able to say good-bye to all the darling animals with ease...until last Sunday.

When I joined Gregg and the kids in the pet store, I found them playing with two dogs, one of which is the cutest dog I've ever seen. He is a malkie, which is 1/2 Maltese and 1/2 Yorkshire terrier. We spoke with a saleswoman about him for a while, and we learned that malkies don't shed and only grow to weigh between 8 and 10 pounds, like a small cat.

The saleswoman asked whether we'd like to take this adorable puppy into a private room to play some more. In the past, we've always turned down those offers. On Sunday, we jumped at the opportunity.

In the private play room, this puppy charmed us. He wagged his tiny tail with excitement, and with his big brown eyes, he gave us that look. You know the look I'm talking about, the one that made him irresistable. The kids picked him up and pet him, and he sat in their arms and licked them. They threw him a ball, and he brought it back for more rounds of fetch. The kids squealed with delight.

"Can we get him?" they asked repeatedly. "Please, please, please," they begged.

Gregg and I aren't exactly impulsive people, and getting a dog is not something you do on a whim. Getting a dog equals a major, long-term commitment. And, if we were going to get a dog, we were going to get a diabetes dog. Or we were going to rescue a dog from the pound or research breeds and get one from a breeder. Or we'd hear about a friend's friend who had a litter of puppies that needed a good home. We were not going to be asking, "How much is that doggie in the window?"

For some reason, however, neither of us could resist this dog. Gregg and I were just as smitten as the kids. Even I, the one who doesn't really like dogs, fell for this fetching five-pound fur ball. We told the kids that we needed to think about it. We also told them that getting a dog is expensive.

The saleswoman offered to place a courtesy hold on him. Without hesitation, we gave the gal our names and number and drove home.

On the way, we talked nonstop about this precious pup. "What did we just do?" I asked Gregg. "Why did we give the saleswoman our names and number? Do you actually want that dog?"

All I could think was that, at this point, I need a dog like I need a hole in the head, except for a diabetes dog. That'd I'd consider. I have three kids, two cats, one disease and a very full life...and I'm not a dog person. Yet, I found myself saying to Gregg, "I think I want that dog. He's the cutest, sweetest thing I've ever seen, and he'll never be big and he'll never shed. And he was so good with the kids."

Shortly after arriving home, Gregg and I found Madeline, Jack and Max in the playroom with their piggy banks and change spread out all over the floor. They were counting coins. Madeline presented us with $10.43, Jack handed over $4.15, and Max ponied up $0.28. They gave us all their money and asked, "Is this enough to pay for the dog? If it's not, we could do chores or something to earn enough money to pay for him. Can we get him? Please say 'yes!' Please, please, please!"

We said "yes," and the following day, we returned to the store and purchased the puppy.

We named him Alex, and we are all head-over-heels in love.