Dog lovin'

For the past four and half years I have been cultivating one of my most important relationships of my life: my dachshund Carmela. The residual of a broken love got me the most pure, happy, unselfish one. At the beginning it was hard getting to have a dog in an apartment. She was so needy, I used to run and hide just to get out of my house. Long minutes of crying from her part made me feel like the worst mother. During the early years the amount of money due to her obsession of swallowing stuff was insane. Prescription medicines, earrings, paper, used cotton pads, are a few of her conquest. A MAJOR scare for her, mom and me taught her a lesson ( some a-hole set up a trap of tres pasitos, an illegal venom used to poison cats,dogs and a occasional drug user with huge debts). I was away working and spend my way back praying and crying for my cuculita ( my nickname for her). I cried some more when I saw the vet's tab but she was worth that and more. Having a dog, a dog who is as lovely as Carmela, has made me a better person. I rush home to walk her ( thanks to my friends who honk their horns on our famous walks in San Patricio). I have become more aware on animal rights issues and the importance of birth control, vaccination,puppy mills and I applaud the judicial system for stiff sentences to animal abusers ( take that motherf***ers!!!) .

We have become a family unit.We even share the bed, which in my talks with weiner dog owners is very common. And even if I loose my patience with her ( she picked my living room as her weewee pad spot-not nice, not nice at all) she knows my moods and accepts them. She licks my wounds and tears,she scratches my arms in rough play, she naps with me and defends me from TV dogs. Her intense barks can be heard miles away making people believe she's a pitbull. She's feisty and antisocial with other dogs, but the gentlest with children ( Mia and her: another story ) and caring with strangers who greet her in our famous walks.I have learned that this person ( she will talk any day now) comes with major responsabilities and feel proud when people acknowledge that I'm a good dog owner.

I know that when I get home, I have some love waiting and I'm not afraid of solitude because I'm not alone, I'm with her. My daughter dog.And even if I find it hard to some babysitting when I'm away ( yes, Mom I'm looking at you,) I know that when I get home I will be received with the purest form of love: dog love.


Writer's note: Carmela was with me while typing this post