My dog my BFF

Chiquita “my best furry friend” came into my life unexpectedly. Some would say, a dog is just a dog, and perhaps that was true for me before I knew “pets are angels, messengers of love and joy.”

One sunny afternoon a pet adoption event caught my eye, “let’s go see the puppies” I thought. The rescue organization was set outside a pet store, they had two playful puppies – and a sad one cuddled up in a mat in the back.

I overheard two people talk about fostering and someone asked if I needed help, I had never considered fostering and so I was curious about it — a friend of mine once told me “fostering is like having a pet but you can change your mind if you don’t like it.”

With a big smile, they said, “Great! Please take her”  bringing the sad, scruffy dog my way. She’s a good girl, we’ve had her for six months and nobody has adopted her. Sign there… Here’s a leash, food, and her bed. Do you want one of these, pointing to a crate? Hmmm… a cage – I don’t need a cage, thank you!

Off we go

I was amazed at what had just happened, so simple and unexpected.

My life was different, I now had this strange furry being with me. As I got to know her, I discovered her amazing sense of self, her wonderful disposition, her bouncy ears, and her proud prancing.

We began walking the neighborhood and discovered a dog park nearby, we made many friends, the furry and humankind. — I had lived here for years and never met as many people as I have since Chiquita came along.

After three days, I received a phone call: Someone wants to adopt “Cobija” (what they used to call her) can you bring her back? — I was heartbroken, she had already conquered my heart! — something my friend failed to mention about fostering.

I learned that since I was her foster human, I had first dibs on adopting her – I wondered if I could commit to care for her and keep her until death do us part… Boy, this was a huge decision! I realized I couldn’t make this choice for me, it had to be for her.

And so I did

What an unexpected blessing! One of the most amazing relationships I have ever experienced.

She eats with such gratitude and gusto, never asks for anything and she is always there, willing, and ready to go. — She has brought much joy into my life and she has filled a space that I didn’t know was there. She has been a silent witness to my life, from my single days to pregnancy and motherhood, she has been through it all with me. Together we have shared many adventures.

I Love Chiquita

She is the most loyal being I have been blessed with in my life. She taught me to open my heart and welcome true love.

Back then I would pray: “Dear Universe, Thank You for delivering my soulmate, yet I feel the need to specify – male, human species, please!”

Chiquita is now 7 years old, in human years that’s somewhere mid 40’s, I can only hope we still have many years ahead to enjoy together.

❥ Namaste

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