“Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. Difficult standards for people to live up to.” Alfred A. Montapert
I wanted a family pet well before Melissa and I were ever married. I was so obvious in my desires that when I would buy her stuffed toys to win her affections, I would name each toy in the notes that accompanied each gift. Each one was named Biscuit. Where the originality was lacking, the love in my heart was more than evident...even if she rebuffed every hint of us getting a pet. This last well into our marriage, too.
Year after year I would drop hints, and outright blurt, that I wanted a pet. She said "I'm not ready for a pet!" She did break, a little, when we bought Caleb some fish. "You never get close to fish." she would say, which was good because I killed the first two...and the next three. Maybe there she was on to something?
After many more years, and several more fish, Melissa's anti-pet shell began to crack. Caleb and Meagan were probably 7 and 4 years of ago when she said, "Maybe it's time to think about getting a dog...BUT we're not naming it Biscuit!" I didn't care if she named it Walter the Farting Dog (a children's series about a flatulent canine)! I started searching for the perfect pooch!
I looked at pet adoption agencies, SPCA's, etc. searching for our family pet until one day I stumbled on a Kijiji ad. A lady in Cambridge Narrows was selling puppies (it was allowed in 2010). I told her which puppy we wanted, only to hear back from her saying she had given that one away. She did, however, still have the runt of the litter. After seeing that face we all fell in love. She was OUR dog!
We were living in Nova Scotia at the time so we asked Melissa's folks to pick her up for us! On July 5, 2010, Gracie Dawn came home to live with the Whittier clan! Over the past twelve years she has peed on our floors, barked at crows, made friends with other dogs, and has even made a Mastiff yelp! She is a member of our family. She has watched over the kids when they have been sick. She has travelled with us most everywhere we've been (she's not a fan of the Grand Manan ferry).
The first time I ever saw her dream I thought she was having a seizure. Now we affectionately call it "creepy sleeping." She has stolen Meagan's pancakes, ate Caleb's Terry's chocolate orange, and has been a faithfully devoted friend to us all!
She turns 12 this year. We have had 12 great years of memories with her. She's currently sleeping on the floor as I write this and I cannot help but smile through the tears. I'm not sure how much longer she will be with us, but I never want her to be left with love, hugs, and as many belly rubs that she can handle!
Gracie, thank you for the years of kisses, tail wags, gentle (and not so gentle) nose nudges to get my attention. You were never going to be a Biscuit...you're far greater than that!!!
