I get a lot of teasing from the family about Owen. I met him while I was volunteering for a local pet charity, when I was asked to provide a foster home for a dog from the local shelter.
I agreed, and went to the shelter, trying desperately to figure out how on earth I would take only one home, even to foster! Luckily, my sister-in-law was with me, and she pointed out one I had walked right by – a small terrier mix, relatively reserved, sitting out of the spotlight created by his clamoring brother and sister.
I took him out of the cage – and it was love at first sight. He snuggled up to me, and continues to be a snuggler – he just LOVES being close to his humans.
When he arrived home, my husband and son immediately laughed at the idea that he was “…just a foster dog”, and that he’d only be with us “…until a good family was found…”. They clearly realized what I was refusing to admit – that Owen was already home, and that we were his new family.
By the time Owen arrived, Jasmine was a mature 7 years old – so she wasn’t quite sure what to make of this terrier who became less and less reserved the more comfortable he became. Soon, he was stealing shoes (as you’ve seen on our Facebook account and other entries here); shredding toilet paper off the roll; and showing a nearly inexhaustible ability to chase a tennis ball.
Slowly but surely, they became family. She now treats him with relative tolerance, much like a big sister. And he teases and “pokes” at her just like a little brother does!
Every night, he sleeps at my feet in our bed. And I can’t help but feel that he is grateful when he looks at us – as if he knows that things could so easily have turned out differently.
He has taken to the Sleeping Dogs Studio lifestyle like a true champion…and can give Jasmine a run for her money in the snoozing category!
Frankly, he’s now been in our lives for five years, and we wouldn’t know what to do without him…
