National Love Your Pet Day

Today is another a busy day for me working in my office updating software, working on my website, editing photos plus leaning how to use new album designing software. By my side as I work is my faithful dog Max. I adopted Max from the shelter over thirteen years ago. My German Shepard Gypsy had just died and I knew I wanted another dog. Not to replace her but to give another shelter pup a good life like Gypsy had had in my home. The shelter told me Max was about two but he acted more like a puppy under a year than a two year old adult. His age doesn't really matter unless I'm looking at how much more time I have left with this sweet dog. I can see him slipping a bit in the last six months. He seems confused like not wanting to go through the door to my office or waiting by the wrong door to come in from outside. He still has his appetite and hasn't lost his mobility except he's now hesitant to tackle the stairs to the bed he loved to lay on.

As an adult I have always had a dog, always a shelter dog of mixed heritage. Max is the best natured, loving dog I have ever owned. He is very sensitive dog, aware of my feeling. If I'm happy or especially when sad he seems to know. He decides to curl up on the couch with me when I sob through one of those Humane Society commercials with all the animals that need to get adopted. Even after years of walking together he still always walks in front of me, encouraging me to pick up my pace. As for disposition he doesn't have a mean bone in his body. I lost my other shelter dog, Ruby several months back. I fondly called her my "devil child" as she acted like a two year old instead of her actual age of ten. She would push Max out of the way at the water bowl, or moved in for that one piece of food that had jumped out of Max's bowl. He never snapped or growled at her. Ruby could be at the far end of the yard and she could still be the first to get thru the sliding glass doors as Max got pushed aside and waited patiently to enter last.

I'm reminded today of how lucky I am to have handsome Max in my life. Those of us who know the love of a dog are indeed blessed.