Lori’s Book Sense

Sadie Girl

We weren’t really an animal family. Growing up we had two
dogs. Muffin was a Lhasa Apso, and the cutest little lap dog. My brother then got a dachshund that he named Chili – a chili dog – who was adorable,
but also a pain in the butt. That dog would bark at the wind.

I’d never really had much of a desire to have a dog of my
own. I am out of the house for work 12 hours a day, and it wouldn’t be fair to
leave a dog locked up all day like that. About nine years ago my parents got a
little Maltese puppy and named him Max.
For about a minute I thought about getting a puppy myself. But again,
the work issue came up. I just couldn’t do it. And my parents had been pushing
me to get a puppy for a while. Because I
live with a treatment resistant type of clinical depression, my parents felt it
would be wonderful for me to have a little companion around. Someone I could
take care of and that would love me back unconditionally.

One weekend about four years ago, my parents needed me to
take care of Max. I had a blast with
him. And by the time Tuesday rolled around, I realized I really missed having
him around. Dad and I sat down and talked. I told him how surprised I was to
find myself missing have Max there. (Now
mind you, since Dad had been after me
for a while to get a puppy, I just got the “I told you so” look.) I again reiterated my concerns about leaving
the dog alone for 12 hours a day, and I got this in response: “Lori, you work for
me. You’ll bring the dog to work with you every day.” Well, that was easy. The next day he called the breeder who he got
Max from, and she just happened to have two puppies left from her last litter, each
about six months old. She had a boy and a girl (Max’s niece and nephew). We set
up a time on Friday night to go and meet with her. Before we even got there my
parents were insisting I take the boy. “Boys are easier, you want the boy!” Well, the three of us took one look at the
two puppies, looked at each other, and said ,“ We’re taking the girl!” And since Dad was being so generous in
letting me take her to work, I named her Sadie, the name he had planned to give
the girl puppy my mother wouldn’t let him get.
The next day I brought her home.

Never in my life did I think that something so little in
size would have such a big impact on my life. From day one, she was stuck to me
like glue. Every single place I went, she went.
I should have named her Shadow, because she still follows me everywhere.
If I get up to turn the light on, about three feet from where I’m sitting, she
hops off the couch and follows me. Even though she can see me right from where
she is sitting. She’s got to be right
beside me at all times.

I would always hear
people talking about their “fur babies” and not really get the attachment. Now
I do! She’s my baby, and I would be lost
without her. She’s playful, happy, and such a snuggler. Not only did Sadie change my life, she also
saved it. She gives me unconditional love, covers my face with kisses when she
knows I’m down, and loves to hold my hand while she sleeps. I
can’t imagine my life without her.

Here are some dog related series I think you’ll enjoy!

Andy Carpenter Series (with a golden retriever named Tara)

David Rosenfelt