From Stray to Stay
I have heard the saying, “Dogs are a man’s best friend” hundreds of times throughout my life, and I never questioned the validity of the statement, but I did not think that declaration would ring true for me. I will be the first to tell you, I am a cat person at heart. I have always had trouble bonding with dogs. My father says it’s because I don’t make a fuss over them. He’s right. I don’t mean to gravitate towards cats—I love all animals-- but cats are more easygoing and require less upkeep than dogs. They also vibrate when they’re happy, which is an adorable bonus for me. Though I already had two cats at home, something—someone—was missing… a dog. The feeling of adopting an animal in need and giving it a warm, loving home is euphoric to me. It puts me on cloud nine every time, which explains why I wanted another four-legged friend so badly despite my preference for cats. Also, I had major surgery on my right leg in the summer of ’13 that left me unable to walk on my own for several months. As motivation, my parents promised me we could get a dog if I learned how to walk again. Walking without assistance AND a new furry friend? I couldn’t think of a better deal if I tried! Slowly but surely, I began to walk again, and soon enough we were headed to the nearest animal shelter.
