A Boy and “His” Dog

Shiloh is in love. Her name is Lacey, and she’s the puppy that lives around the corner.

That’s funny, because I’m not a dog person. I’m probably the antithesis of a dog person. An unpredictably noisy, smelly, hairy, slobbery perpetual infant/toddler in need of care for years and years? No thanks. I understand I’m in a minority when it comes to this consideration of “man’s best friend”, and I’m fine with that. I just know they are not Katie’s best friend.

Until recently, Shiloh had been viscerally afraid of dogs, stemming from an incident a few years back when a corgi who was exactly Shi’s size pinned him to the wall with her paws on his shoulders; a clear gesture of friendship on her end, resulting in sheer terror on his.

Sandy’s worked to desensitize him around dogs, which has finally brought us to this point of absolute affection for Lacey. And even I, for all my indifference to canines, have to admit she’s quite a beautiful dog. She lives up to her name – she’s small and delicate, with long soft ears and orange-brown spots on her petite white body.

We passed by her house on a walk, and Shiloh was delighted to see her watching us from the picture window. Then her owners happened by with her last week after supper while Sandy was outside with the boys. Shiloh played with her for several minutes, and when he came inside for bed, it was, “Mama, Lacey gave me besos all over my face. Mama, Lacey played fetch with my sticks. Mama, do you know what Lacey likes to do? She likes watching the birds and squirrels. Mama, I love Lacey. She’s my best dog.”

And finally, “Mama, I want a dog, just like Lacey.”

And like millions of mamas before me, all I want to do is give one to him. A boy and his dog – a tale as old as time, right? I know we can’t have a dog right now or maybe ever, but it’s sweet watching my little boy being such a little boy and catching puppy fever.