I Didn't Want a Dog...

I am not a dog person. Dogs, in general, smell, bark, poop everywhere, etc... I grew up with cats but I'm allergic and I have become less of a cat person too. I had reached the point where I thought we would never have a pet, even though my son is dog crazy and has told me that the first thing he will do some day when he moves out is get a dog!



And then...



The day before Easter, I went out for my run. I was about two miles away from the house when this little dog trotted out of the gutter and began to run along beside me. I yelled at her at first, thinking she'd go home, but she didn't. She was perfectly quiet and continued to just trot along, ignoring the big dogs who would run up to their fences and bark at her. I took her picture and sent it to my husband, telling him I was being followed.

She ran right up in our driveway, where the kids had a conniption over her and we gave her some water. Convinced she would go on home, Daniel left for the church egg hunt with the kids and I left to have my hair cut. Two hours later, she was curled up on the porch of my neighbor, who loaned me a scoop of dog food. I gave her a bath and decided to care for her until we found her owners. Interestingly, I am also allergic to dogs (I have the allergy test to prove it), but when I petted and bathed her, I had no symptoms.

As the day wore on, this little girl followed me everywhere. I was baking a cake for Easter at my mom's house and she layed on a towel in the kitchen as I baked. If I left the room, she did too. When I came back, she came with me. If she was alone with my husband, she hid under the bed, but when I was around, she was right on my heels. All this time, she never barked. The kids began to call her Beulah, named after Hank the Cowdog's lady love. Daniel bought a collar and leash and told me to go back to where I found her and walk her door to door. Carter went along and cried the whole way. I harbored deep hopes that no one would claim her. As opposed to dogs as I was, lady Beulah had found a spot deep in my heart.


No one claimed her, so we returned home happily, but I continued to remind the kids that she was not ours, that we would watch for signs to go up. When night came, she curled up under our bed and slept peacaefully. Still no barking.




Easter morning rolled around and we got ready and left for church. While in the backyard, the neighbors dogs were throwing their bodies against the fence and howling (one of the reasons I do not like most dogs, or actually, dog owners who don't take the time for their animals -- these poor pups are attention starved), and Beulah gave one short yip at them. We were amazed -- she had a voice! According to my husband's wishes, we left her in the yard with a water bowl for church and lunch at Mom's and headed out. We have a privacy fence so I assumed all was good. Not so.

I checked on her between church and lunch and she was fine. But when we returned home two hours later, she had dug out and was gone. I entered into mourning. Without this little girl around, I realized that while she was here, I had experienced no anxiety and that the overarching sense of gloom I carry around with me had lifted. I read articles about dogs and depression. They really do help, and I think her sense of calm is a huge part of the reason for me.

Carter and I wept and wept. I posted about it on my facebook. Lo and behold, the next morning, one of my friends had facebooked me, saying Beulah had been found! She had wandered one street over, and a great family that fosters cats for the Animal Rescue Fund of MS had taken her in, taken her picture, ARF had put it on their fb page, and I claimed her!





That very day, we went to the vet, got shots, went to PetSmart and got tags. She has officially been christened Beulah Maxine Elliott and here is what she likes to do:


She drops the kids off at school...






And picks them up...



She is quite literary and loves to be read to...




She prefers females and does pilates alongside Addie and me...





Although she prefers females, she is learning to love the men, and she gives and receives hugs in any and all forms...







And she sleeps hard when the day is done.

So, I didn't want a dog but I have one and she's wonderful. So often, the biggest blessings are ones we didn't ask for, and didn't even want. But God created all creatures and they are good, especially my dog! :)

PS: I'm still allergic to all other dogs, just not this one. Now, did God plan this or WHAT?

"The more people I meet the more I like my dog." - Unknown