We have reached the end of the dog days of summer, that time of year around the conjunction of Sirius, the “dog star”, with the sun and what better way to commemorate them than with the story of a real dog?
The dog in question’s picture is at the top of this post. That’s Ziva, the newest member of our pack. Ziva is 6 years old, Nola’s half sister and Kara’s aunt. We picked her up on Saturday and brought her home. She’s a very sweet, gentle dog and is already quite attached to Nola and Kara.
She’s still a bit confused about this tremendous change in her life but I think she’s settling in nicely. My wife and I are committed to seeing to it that she has the happiest, healthiest, most fulfilling life we can give her.
That’s a commitment I don’t know that other dog owners feel as keenly as we do. We don’t think it’s enough that we own the dog. We believe in taking a dog into our home we are making a commitment to that dog not only to feed her and care for her but for her life. We want her to have a worthwhile life that means something and will do our best to make that happen.
Your dog family is very fortunate to have you and your wife as their “parents.”
That picture was taken in our kitchen right next to the back door. What it doesn’t show is that her butt is right next to an air conditioning vent. It’s the favorite spot for all of our dogs.
She’s lovely, and your comment about the air conditioning vent made me laugh because my Aussie claims that same spot in our house. Sometimes he just stands over it and does his Marilyn Monroe impression.
It depends on whether one sees their dogs as persons rather than pets. If you think they’re people then you feel the urgency of making their lives the best they can be; if you don’t then you don’t give them the attention they need.
Probably the same dynamic at work with good vs. bad parents.
Probably the same dynamic at work with good vs. bad parents.
Good point, Ben.