Birthday Dog

Constant, the Wonder Dog, turned 4 this month. Connie is my constant companion, which is how he got his name. 

I grew up with animals (my father was a vet), and we always had a dog and a couple of cats. But then as an adult, I was moving around, back and forth across the Pacific Ocean, and working, and so I waited a long time to have a dog of my own. 

Younger Son got his Golden, GB, when he (YS, not the dog) was 11, and I still didn't realize how much I wanted a dog. Then Connie came to me as a "foster puppy" from the Animal Talk Rescue, which usually sends me kittens to bottle feed. 

Connie was only a few weeks old, and I thought I would foster him until he was 8 weeks and then give him back to the rescue to find a permanent home. 

Fat chance! By about the time the photo in the right column was taken, I knew I could never send Connie back. Connie was 6 weeks old in the photo, and as round and fuzzy as a little bear. 

To celebrate Connie's birthday, I asked my friend Monica, the photographer who shoots all the photos for my jewelry blog, to take a portrait of Connie and me together. She got some great shots of us in the park, including this one of Connie knocking me on my butt ... I'll be using them on my blog whenever I write about my lovely dog. 

One thing about dogs and cancer: Almost all the cancer bloggers I know have dogs. Lisa. Teri. Laurie. Amorette.

Another interesting thing about cancer, my dog, and me: Before I adopted Connie, I talked to my therapist about whether or not I was being selfish to adopt a dog when my life expectancy was not so great. (Two to three years from the time of metastasis is the generally accepted prognosis for metastatic breast cancer.)

So that conversation was four years ago, and I'm still here. And the past four years have been greatly enriched by sharing them with my dog. 

Oh, my therapist's answer: "If you need to find another home for Connie, you will. You won't abandon him."  

And that is true. 

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Comments

[Tracey]

Dogs are the best aren't they? I have 2 now but when i was diagnosed i just had the one and even now he looks after me.

They understand when we're feeling down and don't ask much in return do they.

Your photos are lovely xx

[Nat]

Happy birthday Constant!!

Due to my work schedule, I can't have a dog. But I do have four cats. They are not 'pets', they are companions.

Thanks for your therapists answer. Very true!

[jeanne Sather]

Nat--cats are great too! We have one right now, down from three a couple of years ago. Plus the foster kittens, although I don't have any right now.

[Miranda]

Jeanne
I've got 4 dogs and had 2 cats, one died in january, I love them to death...I totally agree that one needs to make sure they find a lovely home in case one has to go earlier...I am sure you have taken care of that, too...Their love is endless...Isn't it?

[Anna Rachnel]

My dog and my vegetable garden keep me saner and feeling more hopeful and alive than any pill, doctor or therapist can aspire to...Lovely post Jeanne

[Christine]

I went through the same thought process before adopting a dog, given my shortened life expectancy. After some soul searching I came to the decision to adopt an older dog. Katey recently came to live with me and I'm in love! Read about Katey at http://chris-theedgeoflight.blogspot.com/2009/07/update-on-katey-wonder-dog.html.

[jeanne Sather]

Christine--that was a good idea, to adopt an older dog. Regardless of her age, I'm glad you found the right dog.