Birthday blesssings from man's best friend

I must confess…. I could never get to grips with how people celebrated their pet’s birthday, complete with cake and candles. A week ago, all that changed. (Yes, this is a very late post) On the 22nd of July, our dog turned one and we celebrated in exactly that way, with a juicy bone wrapped in a pretty pink ribbon too!
Before I am judged for my opening statement, let me clarify that I have been a dog lover all my life. But, when you love and lose your faithful animal friend, the pain runs as deep as the loss of a family member. I have been through that process three times in my childhood and teenage years. The hurt is still there. So when the idea of getting a dog as a pet was first suggested a few years ago, my reply was that I was not ready to take on that responsibility. What I really meant was….. the only way not to lose another dog was not to get one. Simple, right?
The pressure though was mounting. We had several break- ins at home. We became good friends with the local police who said the best crime detterent would be a dog. I didn’t budge. Instead we increased our security with outdoor beams, more sensors and cameras.
It worked for a while. Until my son used his charm. “I want a dog for my birthday”, he declared. Hmmmm. I questioned if he was ready to take care of the dog, from cleaning poo to taking walks. Of course, this eager soon-to-be six year old said yes, as he does for anything that sounds like an adventure. Reluctantly, I said we could start looking for a dog.
We visited the SPCA to adopt a puppy. There were many beautiful dogs, but most puppies were already booked for their new homes. If anything, I bought myself time. I needed more mental preparation to accept that sooner rather than later there would be a dog at home. My best friend, a dog lover of note, sprang into action, searching websites and Facebook for a puppy that would tick all the boxes for us.
He didn’t disappoint. Two days after my son’s 6th birthday, at six o clock in the evening, he sends me a picture of an adorable puppy and then makes that call. His neighbour’s dog had a litter six weeks ago and this little one was the last one in waiting.
And that’s how Misty became ours. A cross between a Labrador and Alsatian we were told. But all we could see was a chubby Labrador. For my son, it was love at first sight. And so began those crucial first weeks… we kept her indoors as our area was gripped by a pet-napping trend at the time. Coming home everyday was literally a mess! But the most fun we have had as a family. Watching her learn to run and bark was no less than the joy I experienced for my son’s milestones.
Soon, she was ready for a kennel. Hubby and son built the perfect wooden one from scratch. We made it comfy and warm with cushions. But that also meant we would come home to cushion covers and pillow fluff scattered across the yard. Again, it was fun. Running after Misty and cleaning up has become second nature to us. And we spoil her with doggy treats and chews whenever we can. My sisters tease me that Misty is my daughter… they’ve given her an Indian name too – Mishti!
She is as alert as an alarm and looks totally Alsatian now. Her different barks tell many tales. I have never felt this safe. Misty completes our world. And so there was no question about it…. we had to celebrate her birthday to honour her role in our lives. More than man’s best friend, a dog is also man’s best teacher. My son has matured in the past year and understands his duties towards Misty. As his 7th birthday looms, there’s no doubt that he already has his best birthday present ever!