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Food and water bowl
Toys for enrichment and fulfillment
Treats for training
Bed
Jackets/sweaters for different types of weather
The last one made me giggle. Sure, I had seen dogs dressed up in the past, but given her size it not only made sense, but seemed mandatory, just as my mother said. She would need at least a coat when she was outside. Just leaving the shelter, she was already shivering. I would try to find something practical.
I let her get a drink and sniff her food for a while before we got ready to leave again. Her harness was still on, so I just had to get her leash ready, and I went for the carrier. Before I could even put my hand on the carrier handle, she had gotten inside. I was impressed by her training.
“Good girl!” I exclaimed.
We got down the steps and made a pit stop on the grass before we went to the pet store. I took Dolly’s leash and found that she knew just where she wanted to potty, quickly doing her business before loading herself back up again. I was smiling ear to ear when one of my neighbors, whom I’d never met, came running over to me.
“What a beautiful dog!” She hollered loudly, bringing unwanted attention from everyone else outside.
“Thank you…?” I wasn’t sure how to respond. I didn’t pick Dolly out of a lineup, nor did I make her with my own hands, but I felt that response was appropriate regardless.
“I’m looking for another dog.” She stated. I jumped right into telling her about Newtown Animal Shelter being full to the gills, and she had an urgent call to action written all over her face. “Thank you for telling me! I will go there!” She ran off and I let out a small sigh mixed with a prayer.
“Dear Jesus,
Please help the animal shelter.
In your name,
Amen.”
We loaded up into the car as easily as before, and in seconds we were off to the pet store. I took Samantha’s recommendation and found the one on 29th Avenue but it was much,muchlarger than I was expecting.
Staring up at the towering super store, I wondered if I would need to tap into my savings before I walked in. “How much can one little doggy need?” I looked back at Dolly, half expecting an answer.
I was about to find out justhow mucha dog needed.
From the pages of Katie’s Dictionary:
High Maintenance
high-maintenance
adjective
The smaller the dog, the more it requires to survive.
I grabbed my purse and list and decided to take Dolly in on just the leash so we could try on things, and she walked excitedly into the store. I was immediately greeted by a young staffer, name tag readingMitchell.He dropped down to his knees and put his hand out to introduce himself to Dolly.
“Hello, miss. My name is Mitchell. Do let me know if I can help you,” and to my surprise, Dolly lifted her paw to shake.
I gasped at the revelation of hertrick.With my lack of knowledge, I certainly hadn’t considered the fact that little dogs that aren’t in shows can learn them. Mitchell laughed at the delight of Dolly, just nodding to me, and walking away, not giving me even an introduction.
As I strolled through the store, I quickly learned the rules of the pet world. Everyone we met greeted Dolly and would ask questions I didn’t know the answer to.
“How old is she?” “Is she purebred?” And I only had one response. “‘I’m not sure. I got her at Newtown.” To which they would always smile.
“That's wonderful. Congratulations.”
