Two Dogs?

It's been almost four months since Ellie died. I still can't go to the cemetery without missing her, or a dog park for that matter. I was walking to my gym today and walked past a park I spent many hours in throwing a ball to Ellie; Maggie and Andy chasing after her but having no interest in the ball.

This past weekend, I took the Maggot and AndDog to visit friends of mine who are trying to decide what type of dog to adopt. He wants a miniature dachshund and she wants a boxer. Hmm...needless to say, they don't have a dog yet. They wanted to go to the dog park to play with Maggie and Andy. At first the park was empty, but when other owners and dogs started showing up, Maggie had to be restrained since it was a small fenced in area. Andy, on the other hand, only wanted to sit and get petted by the other owners. Brian and Keri had brought a ball to play with the dogs. I tried to inform them that the dog who would really appreicate a ball was no longer here. And while Andy wanted nothing to do with the ball, Maggie half-heartily would run after it until something better came up to occupy her. Hence, I ended up retrieving all the thrown balls. Pangs ran through me as I thought of my ElBell and how she could focus on a ball for hours, chase a ball for hours, flip for a ball for hours, and then hold that same ball in her mouth falling asleep. I still miss her.

But that said, Maggie and Andy have created a peaceful existence together. One that was not possible with Ellie.

Hmm, maybe Malie and Sasha will choose to take a chocolate lab to the white house...

2dogs or 3dogs?...that is the question

It has been a month since my beloved chocolate lab Ellie had to be put to sleep. It still aches when I think of her. Or when I take my other two to play and neither of them want anything to do with a chuckit or a ball or a stick. It's just sniff and walk with 2dogs.

So the question has come up whether or not I should get another dog. Specifically, another Chocolate lab. There is the camp that think 2dogs is quite sufficient, especially considering the beast. This is probably the majority of my friends, family and co-workers. There are, however, a fleeting few who believe another chocolate lab is in my near future.

Yes there is the expense; and yes, there are logistics; and yes, of course, there is the beast. But there is also something missing in my household. It is hard to explain. Andy and Ellie were companions. Maggie and Ellie were playmates. Ellie and I were playmates...well, insofar as I held and threw the ball. Ellie was the glue between us all. Maggie, Andy and I are lost without her. Andy doesn't have anyone to snuggle with at night. Maggie tries to play with Andy, but Andy doesn't go for her four times my weight plus a mouth that can engulf me rough housing. Teeth get bared, separation following closely afterwards.

Every one's response is "isn't two dogs enough?" Personally, it has nothing to do with enough. If I was worried that all my money was going to the dogs, or that the logistics for having three dogs was too much, or that it was just one more pain in the ass to be responsible for...well then, I probably wouldn't have one dog, let alone three dogs.

So my answer. Definitely 3dogs. Am I going to run out tomorrow and get another dog. No. But I predict within six months there will be another little chocolate lab pup bouncing around the house, bringing us back to our original 3dogcache.

Eleanor Roosevelt Curry

Eleanor Roosevelt Curry

"Ellie Bellie"
9 December 2003 - 17 July 2008

Remembering Ellie

5:30am body slams and kisses

wake up, I'm hungry
hanging on to Andy's ears
Where's breakfast?
I'm hungry
Where's the ball?
I'm still hungry

Cecelia and Mark always have treats when they say hello
Dewey Beach

Trying to Drown Mommy...save me, save me

The Wells'

Heavy fast tail wagging

wet kisses

jumping high

Congressional Cemetery
serenading the firetruck sirens with my off key howls

riding waves

Amhearst, NH
chuck it, finding balls & fitting as many as I can in my mouth

Cocoa, Lydia and Olivia

settle, good girl, settle
wanna flip, wanna flip, wanna flip
are we there yet?
wanna run, wanna run, wanna run
shaking off mama's kisses
throw the ball already, wanna run, wanna flip

Deer Isle, Maine

The Papsters
Maggie, yikes

Teaching Cocoa hot dogs and dog doors go together

Banco, Va

CAL!

Always something good to eat at The Smart

16th Street with Maude & Tucker

hmm, they can fight --- I'll just go over here and eat what they are fighting over
sleeping tight next to mama's curved back, gotta get closer
one leap onto the kitchen counter to get that cat food

Climbing Old Rag

a fourth dog?

Melissa & Booker

Ellie COME, good girl

the synthetic nipple

who's that white fuzzy puppy?

Kuma

Who's that yappy girl dog named after my boy cat?

Madison

Hopewell, Virginia

Cashiers at Pet Smart...always a cookie in hand

Making Myrtle run after me down the sidewalk with nothing on except an m&m in hand...hehehehe

Yeah, I'm a food whore

I can find anything that smells like it might be edible

I'm still hungry
more food please

She loved her mama
Her mama loved her

I miss you Ellie Bellie

Spoiled Dog...

Sleeping peacefully

Excuse me, that flash doesn't bode well with my shut eyes

Ugh, go away...this is soooo irritating

What's a big dog s'pose to do?