Mi Perro

This picture of my dog is a couple of years old. I have other photos of her and I can't find where I put them, but this is my favorite because it looks like she's smiling.

Before Scout we had a little pound puppy who lived to be 18 years old. When she died I wanted no more pets. It's inevitable that they will die because of their short life expectancy and I didn't want to go through losing another beloved pet.

Getting another dog was taken out of my hands when my daughter and my ex came through the door holding a little white ball of fur. She looked like a baby polar bear. Almost from the get-go I thought this dog would never have the chance of becoming a "beloved" pet. She was a holy terror/escape artist/bully. I would swear the movie Marley and Me was based on her. The only good thing about her was that she basically house trained herself thanks to the doggy door we installed.

She's still a royal, bad-mannered pain in the butt. Don't stand in an open door because she'll be out the door in an instant to lead you on a merry chase. She still bullies me to give her extra treats. She's a good watch dog but I wouldn't trust her to guard a bloody thing because she doesn't know a stranger. I don't know what I'd do without her. She is beloved in spite of it all.

Sometimes I fear I am turning into one of those people who talk about their pets as if they are their children.