Animals
I’ve always had a soft spot for animals, but even more so for dogs. Dogs' goofy personalities, big hearts, and those irresistible puppy dog eyes make every day a little brighter. Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to have two dogs of my own. Lucy, my sweet childhood dog, and Harley, my current dog. But there was another dog who left a lasting mark on my life as well. Her name was Zuni, and she deserves to be part of my story, too.
Lucy
I got my first dog, Lucy, when I was very little, and I honestly don’t remember a time without her. We got her for free from a farm a few hours away, and she quickly became part of our family. Lucy loved belly rubs and playing fetch, and she was incredibly protective of my three siblings and me, which started a problem. She would never hurt a person, but if another dog came near our yard, she reacted instantly.
That protectiveness eventually led to a moment I’ll never forget. One day in 3rd grade, my neighbor was outside with his small white dog. My friend and I went over to pet it, and I asked my older brother Cullen to keep an eye on Lucy. A moment later, I heard him yelling. I turned around just in time to see Lucy sprinting toward us. She ran straight to the dog and bit it right in front of me. I started screaming, and my friend’s dad rushed Lucy back home.
After seeing the medical bills for the neighbor’s dog, my parents made the heartbreaking decision that we had no choice but to put Lucy down. She may not have been good with other dogs, but she was loyal, loving, and wonderful to us, and we all still miss her.
Zuni
In elementary school, my favorite summer activity was visiting the Humane Society with my nanny. I loved taking the dogs into the playrooms, giving them treats, and imagining one could come home with me. After losing my first dog in 4th grade, our house felt empty, and no matter how much I begged, my mom always said no to another dog.
Then one day, I met Zuni. She wasn’t even a year old and looked so much like my old dog that I immediately called my dad and begged him to meet her after work. He agreed, and we were out the door the second he got home. Before we walked into the shelter, he told me, “Even if this isn’t the dog you get, I promise I’ll get you a dog,” and I burst into tears. We played with Zuni and placed a 24-hour hold on her, but after talking with the family, we ultimately let her go. She was adopted soon after, which made me so happy for her that she found a loving family.
I’ll always be grateful for Zuni. She opened the door for me to finally get Harley, the dog I’m lucky to have today.
Harley
My current dog’s name is Harley, and she’s the puppy my dad got me after we didn’t end up adopting Zuni. We found Harley through a breeder about an hour north of Anoka, MN, and she was just 8 weeks old when we brought her home. I was so upset at first because we got her over Labor Day weekend while I was at a cabin up north with my cousin, so I didn’t get to meet her on the very first day. But the moment I came home, Harley and I clicked instantly, we became inseparable right away, and have been for the last 7 years.
Having a dog of my own, especially a puppy, was a dream come true. Harley brought a kind of joy and excitement that Lucy, who was older when we got her, could not at that age. To this day, Harley truly is the best dog ever. Even my boyfriend and his mom, who were never really “dog people,” absolutely adore her, and that’s just who Harley is. She has a way of winning everyone over. She’s cute, funny, full of personality, and somehow still bursting with puppy energy even at 7 years old. She has her little quirks and her goofy habits, all of which make her completely one of a kind. I feel so lucky to have Harley in my life, not just as a pet, but as a true companion who makes every day brighter.
“Happiness is a warm puppy.”
― Charles M. Schulz