He Was Meant To Be Ours

Back around Christmas, as my family was struggling to figure out the best gift for me for the holiday, my daughter came up with the idea of a puppy for my gift! 

When the holiday arrived my husband pulled me aside and told me that I should pick out any puppy I’d like and it would be mine. What should have been a tender moment turned into a moment of confusion. Who the heck said I wanted a puppy?  Did I look like I was losing my mind? Ahhh the moment of realization….my daughter wanted a puppy and fed that information to my husband under the falsification it was for me. 

In the weeks after Christmas while the snow was piling up and the kids spent more time inside, my clever child perused the petfinder.com site for the perfect pet to add to our brood.  Although she would have liked to adopt them all, she settled on a cute Rottie/Lab mix that she thought would make a new addition to our pet population.  I was determined to resist, but then she showed me and I was a goner!

We chose a puppy and filed an application. Yes…you have to apply!  We then waited to hear if we got the golden ticket or were  rejected.  All of our references were checked and the woman from the rescue informed me that our choice puppy was spoken for but his brother was available.  We decided to take the brother despite our disappointment.

The whole family anticipated adoption day but it was not to be. The weather was hampering the transport and would be delayed three more weeks, so we calmed the kids and waited.  A new date was set, only to be delayed again due to a parvo outbreak, causing tears and sadness amongst our kids.  I started to believe maybe this wasn’t meant to be and we should back out. By the time we got the puppy he would be almost 16 weeks due to the many delays, and didn’t we want the whole tiny puppy experience?

With adoption day again approaching, the excitement built amongst the kids and we decided to proceed. Then the phone call that shook us again….our puppy was sick! He had been injured and he may be blind in one eye.  We could back out and the rescue would understand.  Looming medical bills for his care were something we hadn’t counted on. 

I sat the kids down and explained.  I asked for opinions and the youngest daughter spoke, “If I were sick would you have given me back? If I didn’t arrive on time would you have changed your mind?  He’s already one of us and he needs us.”  I knew I couldn’t leave that puppy behind before we talked about it but her words hit home. 

Family doesn’t abandon family and that puppy was one of us from the moment we saw his picture! We voted on a name and our oldest son suggested CHOOCH.  Since his longtime friend FOZZIE, our 14-year-old yellow lab, had gone to heaven several months before we felt his choice should be honored and CHOOCH was the name our new puppy would have!

Finally adoption day arrived and the kids were ready hours before our appointment!  We arrived early and the kids were permitted to walk the puppies after their long trip never straying from their puppy. 

I noticed immediately that our pup didn’t seem okay.  He was droopy and tired and I brought it to the attention of the woman running the day. 

We hopped in my car and took him to CARES near Oxford Valley only to find out his eye injury hadn’t been attended to before making the trip and he was in severe pain due to his eye pressure. The docs suggested I have them administer a shot to make him blind in one eye and relieve the pressure permanently. I asked for options. Didn’t I owe it to the puppy to give him a chance? Wouldn’t I do everything possible if it were my child?  The docs reminded me this wasn’t a child…it was a dog and I told them Chooch was family and for family we go above and beyond!

For weeks we tried medication and maintained vigilant care of his eye only to be told several months later the pressure was no longer responding to the meds and he had no sight in that eye.  We had to give him a shot to permanently remove the pressure. 

Today our Chooch is as feisty as ever and gives us a run for our money every day! He’s full of puppy energy and tuckers our other dogs out long before he runs out of energy! Jake, our six-year old lab and Benny, our three-year cockapoo, entertain Chooch as long as they can before napping and escaping his antics for a bit!

Chooch seemed to know the moment our eyes met that he was MY dog!  He is constantly at my side.  He’s one of the best gifts I never asked for!  While I may not appreciate his chewing on my couch, eating all the flip flops in the house, pooping INSIDE for what seemed like forever, attacking every roll of toilet paper he sees, jumping on me while I’m sleeping and taking over most of the bed, his endless counter surfing and all the other mischief he finds, I do appreciate all the love and joy he’s added to my life!  He’s a handful to say the least but what would I do without him.

A pet can bring joy you never knew you needed to your home!  Even if you thought you were happy enough….a new addition can bring even more.  Sometimes it’s just meant to be!