Let me introduce you to the best birthday present I ever received: Henry!
As an animal-lover, I’ve always loved going into Petsmart on Saturdays. Well, loved and hated it at the same time. You see, Saturdays are adoption days at Petsmart, which means the store is filled with adorable little critters in desperate need of a loving home. Visits to the store would play out like this:
CCK: Mom, can we please adopt a dog? Pleeeease?
Mom: Katie, we have a dog. Molly would not be happy if we forced her to share the limelight with another dog.
CCK: But otherwise they’ll go back to the shelter, and many of them will be put to sleep!
Mom: Don’t think about it; it’s too sad, and we really can’t adopt another dog. Your dad wouldn’t allow it.
About a week before my eighteenth birthday, Molly needed dog food. A trip to Petsmart was in order. And it just so happened to be a Saturday. By now, I knew not to even ask if we could adopt one of the wide-eyed, tail-wagging pups at the store. Resigned to my one-dog life, I silently cuddled with an especially-spunky puppy. So my jaw almost fell through the floor when:
Mom: Would you like to take him home?
CCK: That’s really mean. You know how much I want to save one; why would you joke about something like that?
Mom: What if I’m not joking? It’s almost your 18th birthday.
CCK: (Still not letting herself believe it.) You said Dad wouldn’t go for it. Nor Molly.
Mom: I don’t know, Katie. He’s really cute. Your dad couldn’t stay mad at a face like that for long. And I bet Molly would at least tolerate him, if not learn to love him.
And so…
It always makes me sad to see all the dogs for sale in pet shops (mostly from puppy mills). Why buy a puppy when you can rescue one as cute as Henry? It’s cheaper and you’re saving a life! Henry came from an abusive home, so he was terrified of people, animals, and especially feet when we first brought him home. In fact, it was months before we even knew he could bark. But the poor (well, not anymore) guy has come a long way. Nowadays, he is the ultimate lap dog, ad you can’t stop him from giving you kisses!
My best birthday present? That’s so hard! I have had so many meaningful ones, I don’t think I could choose!
Henry is ADORABLE!!!!!!
<3 jess
xoxo
Awww Katie, he’s so cute! I miss the pups and kittens at Mum and Dad’s place (they have two dogs and three cats) but I live interstate now in a share house so I can’t have pets.
I do have a fish called Eddie though – that’s as good as it gets for me at the mo!
Katie!! I miss you so much! I’d been gone for so long … hah! but now I’m back 😀
Yessss I wanted a dog SOOOOOOOOO badly, but my parents absolutely REFUSED to go through the process of losing another dog again 🙁 Ne tips?
I’m going over to ya coconut contest right NOW
Jen,
I hope you see this message! I’m not ignoring all your sweet comments. But every time I send a reply email, it comes back as undeliverable 🙁
I adopted my little pup, Matilda. I am so lucky to have stumbled upon her.. but I really think it was destiny because me and her are a perfect match. I agree with you on adopting being the way to go. So many puppies need wonderful homes.
Best birthday present? My dad walked into the room when I was watching TV and announced that he booked us a flight to spend a weekend in NYC for my 16th birthday 😀
Best Birthday Present = Love <3
Corny but so true.
Awww, Henry is super cute, and I’m so glad that he is in such good care now 🙂 He is obviously well-loved by the chocolate covered family!
I never got a puppy for my birthday (it was just a random day, hehe), but this year, I received so many wonderful cards with heartfelt messages. I really felt so thankful for the amazing messages people sent me and truly felt their love shining through (as cliche as that sounds!). Messages, notes, letters, and cards really make me happy =)
Henry is adorable!
I can’t think of my best birthday present ever – that’s such a hard question – I always love what I get! I’ve never gotten anything as cool as a dog though 🙁
OMG Your dog is so cute! Dogs are just about the best kind of pet in the world =) I love mine <3 haha
Hm…best birthday present? I never got my dog as a present, but I did get to go to Disneyland for my birthday so that was pretty much the highlight of my year haha The happiest place on Earth =)
What a cute story! I am so glad you brought Mr. Henry home–I love seeing his pictures on your blog:)
There is NO WAY I could top your birthday present…but I gotta say, I was pretty psyched when I got my Magic Bullet for my 16th birthday…