Pet Project

We lost Bongo, our very favorite border collie, about two years ago. Courageous and loving to the very end, she quietly passed away in Steve's arms after 17 long years as our loyal and faithful furry friend. Without getting too sappy here, she left an irreplaceable hole in all of our hearts.

Growing up, I've always had a pet. Tiger (named for the Brady' Bunch pooch) was my first dog love, a fat and sassy cockapoo and my constant companion in my early elementary years. Fred the cat came along during that era, too.

But Bongo was different than any animal I'd ever had. Smart and sensitive, she'd shoot you look of gut-wrenching sadness if you even thought about leaving the house without her, regardless of the outing. She loved the UPS guy and the neighbors with equal fervor. That's one of the reasons it's been so difficult to even think about getting another dog. What four-legged creature could live up to Bongo?

But another reason? Diapers.

Jack was deep into potty training when Bongo passed away, and as the resident chief of poop and other icky substances, Steve was less than enthused about the idea of taking on a puppy and the cleanup that goes along with that. And while I've been the one pushing for getting another dog, even I've had to admit that I'm not all that eager to tackle the responsibility and challenges that come with adding a new family member.

But every dog park I've passed and every furry face I see grinning from a car window only makes me wistful for the feeling of a cold nose in the morning and the click of toenails on the hardwood floors.

I'm happy to report, however, that Steve and I are once again open to the idea of adding a dog for our family fold. And like our new president-elect, we're trying to decide where to go and what to get. A pure-bred pooch seems a bit extravagant in the these times, and I've always been a fan of the mutt. Bongo came from a shelter, so that's an option. Or maybe a rescue operation? 

Stay tuned as we begin the search ...