So this week we brought home a new puppy. I know what you’re thinking…”Claire, you have three kids, you both work, and aren’t you supposed to be building a deck? Are you crazy?!” Well, the short answer is yes, I’m crazy about this puppy! It’s been a little bit fun, a little bit exciting, and a lot bit stressful this week as we’re working on housebreaking and also encouraging our two youngest to brave puppy kisses and belly rubs, but I think it’s totally worth it. Our oldest daughter spent twenty minutes sitting with the little guy, talking to him about the house rules and simultaneously forgiving him for any infractions…he’s just a baby, after all. The level of cuteness in my home has done the impossible and risen even further, and I halfway expect a bluebird to land on my shoulder every time we step outside and sing me a tune.
That being said, we did consider more than the cuteness factor when deciding to bring home a furry family member. We researched good family dogs. We considered our travel and vacation plans. And of course, we looked at the money. Even if you bring home a dog for “free”, there are plenty of costs involved, from vet visits to food. We named him Moose, and based on his appetite, he’ll soon live up to the title. Yesterday, I headed out with the kids and our new pup to pick up those items that we didn’t have on hand when we brought the little guy home.
Do you know how popular you become just by having a puppy with you? I’m surprised more political candidates don’t take advantage of the natural charm of our canine friends. We stopped by Afena Federal Credit Union to drop off some shredding and enjoy some baked goods as they celebrated opening up their lobby on Saturday, which is a huge bonus for anyone who works a 9-5 schedule. I think I could have gotten enough dog treats from the tellers that I didn’t even have to buy any! We then headed into the pet store to look for food bowls, doggy shampoo, and chew toys that I don’t actually want to wear on my feet the next day. The people there offered to watch Moose while we shopped!
Finally, we headed over to the park for a walk and for the kids to burn off some of that energy they seem to have in endless supply. While they played, I chaired the first meeting of the Moose Fan Club; there were so many people who came over to say hi. I love that in this part of the country, we still make eye contact and say hello to strangers, but I do fear that we’re losing some of that unity with each other. Taking our new pup out into the community helped me soothe some of those fears and I realized people are looking for a reason to connect with each other. Sometimes it just takes a little Moose. I’m Claire, the Afena blog mom. Thanks for reading.