How My Pet’s Love is My Holiday Gift

Trupanion Pet Insurance launched their “Pawliday Blog Contest” and I just couldn’t resist entering. The topic was the perfect subject for me! We hope you enjoy PetsBlogs contest entry, the story of how my pet’s love is my holiday gift . . .

Holiday gifts are often either really easy or really hard to pick out for the ones we love. There are so many great gift ideas to choose from ranging from small to large and inexpensive to extremely expensive. When I look back on the holiday gifts I’ve received, there are only a few that were so special that I know I’ll never forget them.

Let me just say that all of the holiday gifts I’ve ever received from loved ones over the years are always meaningful and appreciated, though sometimes more easily forgotten . . . like the beautiful boxes of candy that seem to disappear before the bells stop jingling or the gorgeous bouquets of flowers that were a beauty to behold but soon had to be thrown out.

Truth be told, all the gifts in the world could never compare to the single most memorable gift I’ve ever received. The funny thing is, it started out as an unwanted gift.

It all began when my daughter, the avid animal-loving child who drove me half crazy bringing home strays and begging for every kind of pet imaginable, was working with a woman who’s brother was moving due to a job transfer. The family was desperate to find their 4-month old Cocker Spaniel a good home since they wouldn’t be able to take her with them and they weren’t having any luck at all.

My daughter begged me several times to please offer Billy a new home and I refused each and every time. She told me how cute the puppy was and what a great pet it would be for me, but I stood my ground. I was adamant about not wanting the responsibility of a pet.

But my daughter kept trying. She was pretty adamant, too. So adamant that she pulled out all the stops and played dirty. That’s right, she set me up. She knew if I laid eyes on the lovable little canine I’d crack. But much to her chagrin, I again refused to open my heart or home.

I was hoodwinked from every side that day. There’s my daughter and her friend from work playing with the cutest little puppy that every lived on the planet who, incidentally, comes with a ton of pet supplies the family had already purchased and were sending along with the puppy. And our pest control lady who just happened to be performing our quarterly service, absolutely NO help at all, commenting on what an extraordinary puppy she was and pointing out that our current pest control package already protects against fleas. Billy was as cute as a button and my heart was quickly melting. I was beginning to crack.

Then my husband came home from work and went goo-goo over the pup. And I cracked. Needless to say, my daughter had accomplished her task and found a new home for Billy.

Looking back, it’s hard to remember why I was so adamant about not wanting the responsibility of a pet, though I suspect I had formed my hard outer shell as a defense mechanism. I’ve suffered the loss of beloved pets before and I think the latest wound was just too fresh for me to easily allow the thought of loving another.

Whatever the reason for my reluctance, it doesn’t matter because the right thing happened. I opened my heart and my home to this darling Cocker Spaniel in need of a new family and we renamed her Sophi since we’d recently lost a dear friend named Billy. The new name, and home, seemed to really suit her.

Sophi was the most loving puppy imaginable! I was able to take her to work with me every day and what a privilege that was. She won over the attention of everyone and quickly became quite popular. She was my shadow for 14 years and I loved every minute I had with our loving canine companion. The joy and happiness that unwanted gift provided me with are irreplaceable. I can think of no other gift that could hold a candle to my sweet Sophi’s unconditional love. My pet’s love continues to be my holiday gift forever in the wonderful memories I hold so dear.