When we adopt a dog or any pet, we know it is going to end with us having to say goodbye, but we still do it. And we do it for a very good reason: They bring so much joy and optimism and happiness. They attack every moment of every day with that attitude. ~W. Bruce Cameron
This weekend I celebrate one year with my furry buddy, Frankie. On the day before Thanksgiving last November, my granddaughter talked me into going to a Humane Shelter to look at a dog she’d seen online. It had been about a month since I’d lost my super dog friend, Oscar, to bone cancer. And it was the first time since I was around eight that I had been without a dog I could call my own. I had thought to wait a few months. I wasn’t sure I could replace Oscar and I was right about that. Oscar was an unusually good dog. But you don’t replace dogs. You just find new dog friends.
That’s what happened when I went to the shelter that day. I looked at the dog my granddaughter had seen on the shelter’s Facebook page. He was cute and very energetic, but didn’t seem that interested in getting to know us. So we looked around at the other dogs in the shelter. So many dogs that just pulled at my heart, but then we saw a furry black dog with brown markings. The people at the shelter didn’t know what kind he was or how old he was. They had picked him up as a stray a few weeks before. He had just become available for adoption. So they gave us a leash and let us take him out to a fenced in visiting area. He was very friendly. Wanted us to pet him. And then he laid his head on my chest as you can see in that first picture my granddaughter took. That did it. I’d found my dog.
Since the next day was Thanksgiving and we were going to my son’s house out of state for the day, I didn’t take him then. I said I needed to check with my husband. I’d be back. They were closed on Thanksgiving Day but open on Friday after Thanksgiving. By the time I got home I wished I had loaded him up. What if someone came in after I left and got MY dog? So Friday morning, I headed to the shelter early. My dog was still there. I paid the fee, clicked my leash on him, and the adventure began.
The shelter lady estimated Frankie’s age at two or three. No. He was still very much a puppy. Maybe a year old. He wasn’t happy about getting in my car. I had driven our old van. I finally got him in the car. I should have taken help. I thought he would stay in the back, but seats were no challenge for him. Soon he was in the front seat with me, panting crazily, obviously very nervous. I held him off me with one hand and drove with the other. It was a long ride home. But I did come up with his name on the way home. Frankie.
Since then, we’ve had plenty of other adventures. He still lacks some in the obedience column but he is much better than he was. Those first weeks, he chewed holes in my walls and door facings. He worked on a few shoes. He would take off and pay no heed to a come here call. He did always come back, but I didn’t want him roaming the neighborhood or chasing across our road. So we hired somebody to build a fence. I love the fence. On leash, he would take off and pull me along whenever he saw something exciting to chase such as a deer or a rabbit. That is what dogs do. But I couldn’t run as fast as Frankie. So he had to learn that he couldn’t always chase what he wanted to chase. He has learned that. Sort of.
Once he jerked away from my granddaughter when a fawn jumped up in front of him in a hay field. That wouldn’t have been a major problem except he was still attached to that expandable leash. I finally located him totally wrapped up in some bushes. Another time when I didn’t have him on leash, he went across the road to explore around an empty house. I was watching him and saw him go under the garage door that was stuck partway open. That was lucky because when I also slipped under the door into the garage, he was no longer in the garage. I knew he hadn’t come out, but I couldn’t imagine where he was. Then I heard his toenails clicking on the floor inside the house. He had pushed open the door into the house that had then closed behind him. I would have never found him if I hadn’t seen him go inside.
So I quit trusting him off leash. I still put him on leash when we go out of the yard unless we’re walking back on the farm. He’s good then. Loves running trails but always eventually checks to see if he can still see me and then comes running to catch up. And while he still hasn’t gotten that come here command down, he no longer runs away when I go to him to attach his leash. That’s a major plus.
He does love people. Any people. The grandkids. My kids. My sisters. The UPS man. Anybody who shows up. He wants them to pet him. He insists on them petting him with much too much energy. He knows he’s supposed to sit for somebody to rub him and he tries. He sits trembling all over. They pet him and then when they quit, he’ll leap up on them for more. So that’s still a work in progress.
He’s also a hunter. He’s dug up a number of moles. He caught a chipmunk, a rabbit and two half grown turkeys. I don’t know how he caught the turkeys since they can fly. He captured a bird that flew up in front of him and has nosed out some mice under the grass.
I always said Oscar was more person than dog, but Frankie is all dog. But while he’s not perfect the way my sweet Oscar was, Frankie is fun. He’s helped me get more exercise. A lot more. He’s always ready for a new adventure and he’s a sweetheart who can give me that look that says surely you can stop staring at that computer screen for a while and come play with me. So I’m celebrating the one year adoption birthday this weekend. Who knows? In another year, I might even teach him to come when I call him. If he isn’t on the trail of some poor unfortunate critter who has crossed his path.
Have you ever celebrated the birthday of one of your special pet friends? Frankie didn’t get any special treats, but he’s okay with that as long as we take a walk.
I sent out a newsletter last week. If you didn’t get it and would like to, just let me know. I’m doing a giveaway in it and I’ll be glad to forward you a copy to check that out.
As always thanks for reading. And Frankie says hi too, or would if he wasn’t so sleepy.
Comments 20
I just love this blog post. It brought tears to my eyes. We have a lab, a Schnauzer, and a mutt. Every dog has his own personality, for sure. Even now, with Lucy, our Schnauzer who is blind and aged, I worry what I’ll do when she’s gone. Of course, I should still have Bertie (the mutt) who loves me best, and Bamboo our lab, but each dog is special. Hugs and Merry Christmas.
Author
You’re right, Shelia. They are all different. In the past, when I knew I was going to lose a sweet furry friend soon, I’d be sure to get another dog before the loved one passed. But with Oscar, I couldn’t do that because Oscar didn’t really like other dogs. He endured them when the grand dogs visited, but he was very happy when they went home. So I waited until he was gone over the Rainbow Bridge before I got Frankie. Frankie would be happy to have a dog friend, but I’m not sure I have the energy for Frankie AND another dog. So he may just have to go solo and look forward to those other dogs occasionally visiting. Hope you have a little longer with Lucy.
You spoke of a lab’s temperament being wonderful. I couldn’t agree more! Our last dog, Pepper, that we buried in 2008 ( wow 10 years! That doesn’t seem possible), was a mix between a lab and a small terrier. She looked like a full blooded schnauzer and weighed about 25 lbs. She was undoubtedly the very best dog either of us have ever had and to this day we have not been able to adopt another dog. Pepper lived to be 16 and died of kidney failure. Then last year on the day after Thanksgiving we buried our beautiful and delightful cat, Dude, at
the age of 15. True, we had them both for many years, but not long enough. For the past year we have been petless. We both love animals but somehow can’t bring ourselves to get another. They both spoiled us so! And they weren’t our first. Up until we got them we always had a dog, cat or both. I still tear up when I think about them. 😢
Author
Oh, Karen, it is so hard to lose those special pets. But both Pepper and Dude hung in there a long time for you. I don’t think I’ve ever had a dog that lived that long. I’ve never had a small dog, those generally lives longest. I did plan to wait a while before getting a dog after Oscar but my grandkids were readier than I was for me to get a new dog. And Frankie has been fun. Irritating at time, but a real sweetheart at the same time. We’re never ready to see our pets go over that rainbow bridge.
We’ve been tempted to get a pet but haven’t. I’ve had a dog since I was in 3rd grade so it certainly is different not having one. Maybe….someday. 😊🐕😊
Author
I’m sorry, Karen. I know how you feel. I still think about the cockerspaniel I had that was the first dog we had inside. He was a great dog. Made you feel as if you were the best thing ever whenever you came home. Jody’s been gone for a very long time. Several dogs lost between him and now. Each one of those can bring a tear with a memory. But I do like having a pet. And even though there is pain in the losing them, there is joy in having them for however long we’re given. Perhaps you will be ready for another pet someday.
Love to read about your walks and adventures with Frankie. The year has went by fast from the time you got him.
We got our yellow lab puppy “Dixie” when she was about 6 weeks old, so I know she was born sometime the first week in June. She is 5 years old now. She is more my husband’s dog than mine. He works outside a lot, so everywhere he goes, she goes.
Author
Those labs do like to be outside and moving, Connie. At least while they are young. I do love a lab because they have such sweet temperaments, usually. I think Frankie is probably part lab but he’s part something else too. Glad you enjoy reading about his adventures. We just got back from a very chilly walk, but Frankie didn’t mind at all. He likes the snow.
My dog Sonny, bless his heart, was in a bad situation when I got him. (I let him keep his name). I had a vets paper that said he was three years old…(maybe a guess?) But I had no way to know when he was born or when to advance his age. Finally it came to me, my granddaughter was also three years old and I would use her birthdate, July 23 as his also. So every July 23 they both are a year older. It’s easy-peasy to remember and it works. Plus granddaughter likes that he shares her birthday 🙂
PS I wonder about his age because now at the age of nine years old his head has been fast turning white. He sleeps more during the day. But I accept that he is nine.
Author
Some bigger dogs do start showing age at nine, Loretta. My previous labs before Oscar only made it to ten or eleven. Little dogs generally live the longest. Really big dogs like St. Bernards live the shortest time.
That was a good idea to let him share your granddaughter’s birthday. Fun for her too. I might not have remembered Frankie’s gotcha day if it hadn’t been on Thanksgiving weekend. I don’t remember the day we got Oscar. Well, I do remember getting Oscar. Just not the date of that day.
Frankie is a beautiful dog and sounds like a lot of fun with never a dull moment. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and adventures on his birthday. 😊
Author
Glad you enjoyed reading about Frankie, Karen. I’m planning a different type of post about him soon. And oh dear, he caught another bird today. There must have been something wrong with it since it didn’t fly away and escape. After Frankie caught it, there was definitely something wrong with it.
I love reading about Frankie ‘s advenrures. I suspect he has a personality much like my Ollie. I rescued Ollie after someone dropped him near my son’s farm. He was a little squirt, about 3 months old, with one ear upright, and one ear down. I was going to name him Toby, but on the way home, he slid off the back seat. I said, “are you ok back there, Ollie?”, without a clue where that name came from. It stuck. He’s the delight of my small neighborhood on the lake. Everyone loves him, so he has the run of about 6 yards. He goes out every morning, nose in the air to see what’s for breakfast. He’s guaranteed a treat from nearly everyone. I’d been dogless for nearly 10 years, but I’ve been his human since Oct 2015. Life is a fun adventure since he came into my life.
Enjoy your week, Ann. This chilly wind is heralding winter in fast today….stay warm on those walks with Frankie!
Author
I almost froze on that walk with Frankie today, Lavon. He, of course, didn’t have the first shiver. Maybe if I had run hither and frither the way he did, I might not have noticed that icy wind so much. 🙂
Dogs are the best friends. It’s neat that you have a dog Ollie. My first, my very own dog was named Ollie after the man who gave him to me. I may have already told you that. The man was not as complimented as I thought he would be. What a lucky dog your Ollie is that he got rescued by you.
Happy adoption day birthday to Frankie! He’s such a cute guy! Hopefully y’all will have many happy, healthy years of fun together.
Author
I hope so, Robin. Wouldn’t want to have to say goodbye too early to Frankie the way I did to Oscar. So thanks for the sweet wishes.
Happy one year “Gotcha Day” to Frankie,Ann! My family and I celebrate Willie and Shamu’s birthday every year on August 10th! I hope you had a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving and merry Christmas, Ann, my friend! 🙂 🎉Psalm 111🎉
Author
I like that “Gotcha Day,” Emily. I tried to think of a good way to say it and I think you just did. Thanks. It’s fun to celebrate with your friends, even when they are furry ones. I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving too and are looking forward to fun and joy throughout the Christmas holiday. I need to get going on wrapping presents. I think I’ve been buying out the stores for the grandkids.
I didn’t receive your newsletter; but, would love to get it! Thanks ahead of time for sending it to me!
Your choice of names for dogs is funny to me! The reason? My ex-husband’s first name was “Oscar” and my oldest brother’s name is “Frank” whom we called, “Frankie” when we were little!
I would love to have a small dog;
but, my apartment complex doesn’t allow pets.☹️
I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you are having fun getting ready for Christmas! Tell Patricia I said, “hi!”
Talk with you later, or, I guess I should say, text you later!
Author
Seems I was looking at your family for name inspiration, Linda Dianne. Well, not really since I didn’t know them. Sometimes I have a hard time naming a pet, but Frankie just seemed right for Frankie. Oscar was already named Oscar by the first people who rescued him from beside a highway where the poor boy had obviously been dropped. They couldn’t keep him and so that’s why we ended up with the best dog ever. Except for him dying too soon. But Frankie is a best dog too.
Thanksgiving was good and I hope you had a blessed day too. I’ll send you that newsletter.