“You don’t understand what it’s like! I miss them!!!”, I would wail at Mister while he agreed. No, he didn’t know what it was like. One of the worst things about The Prairie City I’m from is that there are no animals allowed in apartments, and while you can sneak a hamster (his name was Jack) or a cat past your landlord, you can’t very well sneak in a dog. So, like a chorus inevitably rounding the corner after a verse, whenever I would get upset in the first three years of our relationship it would eventually bubble up: I missed living with dogs, and it was kind of breaking my heart.
To say I’m an animal person would be an understatement. I was riding horses before I could walk, could harrow a paddock before I could drive, and would nap in the dog house with our family’s huge German Shephard until I couldn’t fit into it anymore. When I was six I stopped eating meat altogether, it was because it seemed profoundly wrong somehow, and that decision has lasted 18 years. Being with animals is just such a part of my life that coming home to a house without animals was like coming home to a house where someone had died. There was something profoundly missing from my life. I would wonder how other women could possibly deal with the feeling of wanting children when this is how bad wanting a dog is. How do they cope?? How would I cope?!
When we closed on our house last year, I just about went through the roof. We could get a dog!!! We looked at the humane society, in classifieds, and at rescue shelters and eventually we found our puppies. We bought Ash (named for Ash in The Evil Dead), waited until we took possession of the house, unpacked that day, and brought him home the next. Two weeks later we decided we wanted to go through The Puppy Thing just once, and brought home his brother Mal (named for Nathan Fillian’s character in Firefly).
The past year has been wild. They’ve made so frusterated I burst into tears, they’ve have had me up in the night, eaten remote controls, eaten chalk and pooped pink for days, broken off leash and scared me to death. But most of all they’ve comforted me. Ash’s stiff, proud little personality and Mal’s dopey, silly grin and willingness to just flop and let me cuddle him have made me so unspeakably happy it’s hard to articulate properly. No matter what is going on, being around these little black puffs of teeth and badness and wanting to please is good for my soul.
They’re full grown now and will start to get the Schipperke mane (or “Ruff” as I call it) over the next year, but they won’t get any bigger. They are perfectly to scale with our Little House, and they are all I could have asked for. They’re my rough and tumble loves.
The Maiden Metallurgist
Puppies- Murph was a terror but he’s almost 8 now and the best dog I could hope for. But I don’t miss that puppy stage.
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Janie
they are so cute I could die (I read a book about a Schipperke pup when I was little, something about a secret garden and a girl who wants a dog) and ever since I’ve loved them. My boyfriend would love the name inspiration for Mal too – he’s a Firefly geek. Meanwhile I’m a Raimi geek so it all evens out ;)
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mandy
I love dogs! When we lost our first dog, coming home to an empty house was terrible. They bring so much personality and life to a home and really are members of the family. They drive us crazy, make us worry, but one cuddle with my dog and I know that everything will be ok. I truly believe they are the greatest animals.
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Elle Bee
I love that they look like such big dogs until you see them to scale with either you or Mister. It seems as though, for now, they round out your little family and your little house — so perfect. I’m so happy you got the animal love you were missing.
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Andrea
Oh Kyla – too sweet. I admit, sometimes I want a dog. But J is such a cat person.. *sigh* So, we’re waiting for a cross breed. Dats and Cogs my friend, Dats and Cogs.
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Doniree
They are SO adorable! And honestly, much smaller than I had thought! I know how frustrating, but how absolutely rewarding the companionship of a pet is. I can’t wait to get a dog someday, but city living has always kind of halted that. I’ve had my Roxy (my black mutt cat) for almost 6 years now and she’s my BABY. :)
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Shelley Greenberg
Aww, they are so precious! What a sweet homage to your puppies. I should write something about my Milo…
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Marie
They are SO cute! I didn’t have any pets growing up, well except two birds but I actually got bored of them quickly.
I’ve always wanted a dog and I hope to get one whenever it is I can afford to have my own place (which I think won’t be for a long while).
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MinD
So adorable. I couldn’t have a dog in my previous apartment either, but as soon as I was renting a house, it was off to adopt a pet as soon as possible.
They bring so much to our lives and I just hope your dogs and my puppy girl know that.
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Amber from Girl with the Red Hair
I usually don’t like little dogs, but yours are REALLY cute!
Right now we only have a cat because we live in an apartment, but I love him to death!! He is so my baby! I can’t wait until we live somewhere where we can get dogs!
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kage
How cute!! Our apartment doesn’t allow pets and we can’t even sneak a cat in….getting a house and being able to have dogs must have been a great day for you guys!! I’m still waiting for mine…
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hillary
This post just reinforces my feeling that if we lived in the same city, we’d be real life friends :)
It is almost impossible to find a rental in Vancouver that allows pets. Shawn and I lived in a rental for two long years. We lasted in our condo for six weeks before bringing home Stella (to a not-entirely-unpacked home.) Living with dogs can be frustrating and stressful and heartbreaking but it is so rewarding. All the puppy cuddles make up for the puppy evil.
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Renee
All your boys are just so handsome! I grew up with a little dog and would give anything to have another. But for our apartment, big ol’ Gus the Cat is more than enough and I wouldn’t trade him for anything.
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Miss Dallas
wouldn’t give up my two sweet boys for the world, even though Hornsby ate my two favorite pairs of sandals and Fitzgerald was a bitch to housebreak! Best cuddle buddies ever!
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Rachel
i LOVE this post. how adorable are they?!
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Megan
Your dogs are lovely!
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SoMi's Nilsa
I love how animals seem to be an extension of who you are. And without them, it’s like you’re without a limb. I grew up with dogs. And while I lived without them for over a decade, now that we have SoMi, I’m not sure what I’d do if I came home and wasn’t almost knocked over by her wagging tail, “bumping” butt and smiles galore.
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Nora
Too bad dogs can’t read because I’m sure they would love this ode to them! Mister is super cute, by the way (not like you need me to tell you that!) =) It’s amazing what a difference dogs do make in our lives, isn’t it? I don’t know how I would get on without Jack. I missed him terribly when I was in New Orleans and the greeting he gave me when I got home was amazing! Happy one year to the puppies and the proud parents.
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Lys
we can have any animal in our apartment, but j’s deathly allergic to anything with fur, so we’re stuck with an albino corn snake that has a hankering for the taste of flesh. we’re trying desperately to sell her before we move, but where on earth do you sell a snake?!
once we move, however, i’m bringing my cat from my parent’s house to live with us. i can’t stand not being around furry creatures. i grew up with dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs…i need that in my life. we’re just going to have to find j a good allergist, ha.
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Mermanda
I can so relate to your dog fever. Living away from animals feels so empty. I did it all through college and the first two years I lived with Andrew. Needless to say I was WAY more excited about getting a dog than I was about closing on our house. But I know you don’t blame me. :)
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andhari
You have such cute dogs, and I have no idea that’s how you became a vegetarian. That’s really awesome, I mean 18 years? wow. :) I always want a puppy myself, but everyone seems to think it’s bad or my asthma and allergy.
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Sarah
Kyla, I just found you through Mommy Holly’s blog, and I LOVE YOU. I cannot tell you how much I adored your comment on health care reform in the U.S. Big mwah. xo
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Meghan
They’re adorable as can be and I’m so glad you share puppy stories and pictures with us. I’m a cat woman but if I swear Ash and Mal even melt my heart for dogs a bit.
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Elly
Oh! They are so adorable! And I totally understand, I wanted a dog FOREVER and in the end, and when I moved out of the apartment and back in with my folks I snuck a tiny tiny pup (a little bigger than my palm, so he was pretty easy to sneak) in with me. And it’s been brilliant ever since! Yay for animal ♥
:)
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Allie O.
I’ve never had a dog in my life, but I’m on the same page when it comes to wanting a pet around. I’m about a year in now with Romulus (cat), and I think I’m a little obsessed sometimes.
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shannon
I know exactly what you mean.
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kissmequick
awwwwwwwwwwwww HOW CUTE
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Andy
Honestly? I already miss my dogs. Knowing I’ll be without them for 5 years (taking away the summers I’ll be back) makes me SO sad.
I’m SO buying my own single house after that. I need dogs with me.
And I need my big black lab. To frustrate me and to love me. To scratch me and to lick my face.
And I need my scottie. To be neurotic but who loves to sleep on my legs.
And I need my old mixed dog that’s grown up with me like a sister.
I’ll miss my dogs.
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Allie
They are so cute! And I’m also a big Firefly fan, so I love Mal’s name!
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