Puppy Fever and Copper the Bagel

I have puppy fever. My rational side is fighting an uphill battle.

I have the time, space and money for another dog. The only thing holding me back is that I’m afraid I’ll hurt Daisy’s feelings. Don’t laugh.

As an only child, I know how it feels to think for a second that your momma would love another child (dog).

That may be silly, but it’s true. She doesn’t share well. She pouts. And above all that, she’s been with me through a lot.

By in large, I blame Sarah McLaughlin and her awful commercials for my puppy fever. I want to rescue another dog. Daisy was a rescue. She was abused, starved and beaten before I got her. The person beat her so hard she has brain damage. I’m serious. A vet actually told me that. What if the other dogs out there are just as sweet and just need a home?

This is recent, too. Maybe the past three months my heart has been breaking thinking about orphaned little dogs. Moreover, I'm really an animal rights activist. I'm not even a vegetarian. That's what makes this feeling so strange.

Then came Copper. My parents’ neighbors in Alabama found a Basset-Beagle mix, something I was told is called a “Bagel,” two days ago. It’s probably not irresponsible if the dog actually finds you.

When I last spoke to my dad he was thinking of a new name because he didn’t like “Copper,” the name their neighbors gave her. After taking in dozens of stray puppies over the years, I know that as soon as he names the dog, it’s going to be ours. So Copper is spoken for.

Then yesterday I ran into my neighbor who had another puppy after her two dogs had accidental babies. This one is a Maltese-Beagle mix and it’s so ugly it’s cute.

I have another problem: I don’t know how to take care of a normal dog. Daisy has never barked. She doesn’t chew anything up. She only wants to go out once a day. I don’t know how to house train a dog.

So here’s my rationalization. There are a

1. The dog has to be older and it has to be already house trained. It also needs to be Daisy-sized or smaller.
2. If an elderly person has a dog that she can no longer take care of but wishes it had a loving home, I will take it. Particularly this applies if it is a widow because Christians are called to take care of the orphans and widows, and taking care of her dog would totally count on that one.
3. If a veteran, police officer, fireman or soldier needs to go somewhere and do something to protect the US, I will give his dog a loving home.
4. If someone is terminally ill and the dog is the love of his life but he can no longer take care of it, I will adopt it. Plus we will come visit regularly.
5. If a dog has been abused and is missing an eye or leg or ear or something, I will take it in. There's a three-legged Yorkie in my apartment complex that I love. I've always loved the broken things.
6. I’m not opposed to fostering a dog, either. But who are we kidding? I would never give a puppy back. I had trouble giving library books back when I was a kid. What can I say, I get attached.
7. Or maybe a family just adopted a few kids and need a home for their animals. Since I can't adopt kids yet (I've looked and I will one day but I legally can't right now), I could help by giving their dogs loving homes.
8. Or maybe someone is moving overseas to help starving kids somewhere and can't take his or her dog.

So, there are my options. If one of the six above options actually happen then I will assume it is another sign from God and I will take the dog. I don’t take that lightly, either. After how much Daisy has gotten me through, I firmly believe that she is a blessing.