7 years ago Morgan and I were dating, and he was talking about how much he really wanted a dog. But not any dog. A small terrier. Young, but not a puppy. Housebroken, well traveled, happy. Morgan didn't believe this dog really existed.
I love LOVE dogs. And while visiting Morgan, I would encourage him to get a dog. And on one fateful visit in March of 2005, I convinced Morgan we should go to the shelter and just "look" at the dogs. We went to the Golden Valley Humane Society, walk in, and (I still remember this moment so clearly) Lynette 'Nettie' was the very first dog, in the very first cage on the right side of the kennel. I think, Morgan knew instantly that she was perfect.
We brought her into one of the family rooms to play with her. And she was wild! I've never seen a dog more happy to be at the shelter. (We would learn later that Nettie get so wild around little animals - so a shelter full of cats, bunnies, and other small creatures is her kind of place.) We played with her for a long time. She was 4 years old, housebroken, a Westie mix, loved people, traveled well in the car, and was used to being left alone for long periods of time. We also learned she was abandoned for lack of time by her previous owners, she slept in the kitchen, and had no experience with other animals or children.
Morgan filled out the application, put down the deposit, and we left her overnight to think about it. I'm not sure what Morgan thought about that night. But there was no doubt in my mind that Morgan needed that dog. They were perfect together. The next day, March 8, 2005, Morgan brought Nettie home.
Nettie and I have had a complicated relationship. I was awesome for awhile. I was the fun person that came every few weekends to love on her. Than, after I moved to the Twin Cities, I was the "other woman." I was officially competition for Morgan's attention. She would bite me. Ignore me. Eat my clothes.
Overtime, she grew to love me. But it took a long time. Nettie became, and still is, my baby. She's just so loveable. And, yes, she can drive you insane, she is a terrier after all. But then she flashes you that dog smile and I melt all over again like I did the first time I saw her.
This morning Nettie jumped on to the couch, and into my lap, to cuddle. She rarely does this during the day, shes too busy following Hen around hoping some food will drop. She looked at me so sweetly, almost as if she knew what today was. And, of course, I immediately start bawling like a baby; her work done, she jumps down and goes about her day.
Well, Nettie, I know you will never read this, but I love you. We all do. Happy Adoption Day!
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| My favorite Nettie picture of all time! |
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