When We Got Our Dog

I knew I had to do something because I was so envious of anyone with a dog.

Photo by Lisa Daum

I was driving home after Run Club one Saturday morning and had to stop at a red light. On the sidewalk was a woman with long dark hair motoring along in a red electric wheelchair. She had a red leash in her hand. The other end of it was attached to the collar of a black lab who was trotting happily along beside her. I watched them for a moment and then burst into tears.

I missed my old dog so much. SO MUCH. She was nearly fifteen when one day she could just no longer stand.

There was nobody beside me at the light and the woman and her dog had turned the corner. Their backs were to me and the distance between us was increasing. Nobody saw my ridiculous tears, which was a tiny consolation.

Even though it’s hard to be objective about your own thoughts and feelings, I knew being so envious of anybody who had a dog was kind of nuts. Six months without a dog was too long.

I was in my late thirties when my husband and I got our dog. I had always wanted, craved a dog when I was a little girl. I visited pet stores and begged my parents, all to no avail. I read everything I could get my hands on about the different breeds. I played with the dogs in my neighbourhood. I tried working on my…