Señorita Rita

I grew up with an inescapable allergy of cats. Why? Because I was cursed as a baby. I'm not quite sure if my great, great grandparents did something unforgivable or if there was just a biological defect, but it is cruel, nevertheless. Whenever I see a fluffy cat, I just want to rub my face in their face; It is often followed by watery eyes, sneezes, and a sad soul. That was until I came across this magnificent creature, Rita.

Rita is a Black mouth Cur that my family and I rescued from 'Austin Pets Alive!'. This lovable, sixty something pound doggy lived most of her life as a shelter dog, which you could never tell because she is the sweetest thing...most of the time. I'm almost convinced that she has the ability to "mind control" when her hazel eyes make contact with yours. I find myself giving her items that I wouldn't normally share, like bacon. Why on earth would I give this dog bacon when I knew she would just come back begging for more? I have yet to learn from this.

There are multiple reasons why individuals should go to their closest shelter and rescue a dog. The first reason is that they are very loyal and protective. This dog saved my life from so many squirrels and countless numbers of crickets. Rita will bark at just about anything, including the "empty darkness" (it is not at all terrifying when you are trying to sleep). She enjoys chasing her Texan deer in the morning, just as much as I enjoy some peace and quiet. I can never stay irritated at her for too long though because when I come across those hazel eyes again, I forget why I was even mad.

The second reason why you should go rescue a dog today is because you will be guaranteed a best friend that will love you, no matter what. This dog has seen so much of me, such as me with no makeup on or while I watch multiple romantic comedies and start bawling my eyes out. She looks at me like I'm insane sometimes, but she loves me, nevertheless. Between you and I, I believe "The Notebook" is one of her favorites.

The third reason why you need to scurry to your vehicle right away, put your keys in the ignition, and drive to your closest shelter is because you will never need a blanket or socks every again while you're sleeping. The reason for this is because dogs are like "traveling heating pads". Whenever I finally decide to go to bed, she will follow me. Not only will she lay right next to me, she'll lay on me. There is no such thing as personal space. She is perfect for cuddling, but god forbid if I wanted to lay in a different position on my bed that requires her to move. Rita is way smaller than me, but she will end up taking about ninety percent of the bed. If there are some nights where I give up and just transition from the bed to the couch out of frustration, she will follow me. She thinks it's a "fun game we play", yet, she always wins.

There are so many reasons to "love thy dog" as stated in the bible, but one of the last reasons to truly get a dog is because you need her more than she needs you. She will eat everything on the floor, she will poop in the most inconvenient spot in the whole house, but you will forgive her because she is your best friend. Whenever you find a rat in your house, she will chase it. Whenever you have too many hotdogs in your fridge, she will eat it. And whenever you don't want anyone to come over, she'll bark at whomever tries to walk through your front door. Rita really is the best pet anyone could ask for and I can't wait to spend more restless nights with her.