I believe in the power of a dog’s philosophy to life. Dogs live in the here and now and aren’t worried about what they are going to do tomorrow or what happened the night before. Dogs just show you how it is. They are truly your best friend, reminding you everyday to live your life to the fullest with no regrets. My 17 week old Rottweiler, Annie Mae, has shown me how to cherish every moment and live spontaneously with my eyes wide open, willing to take chances and ready for anything.
With so many things going on in my life, getting a dog was the last thing I needed. But when my boyfriend’s family had to give theirs away because he snapped at his younger brother, my boyfriend, Nick, was convinced that we had to get a puppy. I glanced at the classifieds one day to find an ad that said, “ROTTWEILER PUPPIES $500.” I knew that Nick had always wanted a Rottweiler just like his grandfather once had. The opportunity was just too perfect to pass up, even though I knew it was irresponsible and “crazy,” as my dad put it. Two college students raising a puppy doesn’t really sound like an ideal situation.
A few days later, I called Nick and told him I was taking him out to lunch. When we stopped at an unfamiliar house, he became curious and demanded to know where we were. However, it became quite obvious when a man appeared from the backyard and asked, “Are y’all here to look at puppies?” I will never forget the confused smile on his face as Nick turned to look at me in sheer disbelief. I simply smiled back and said, “Happy Valentine’s Day!” The first one I picked up was the one. She was licking my face and she fell asleep in Nick’s lap. We put a small collar on her and kissed her goodbye; we had to wait another week until she was ready to leave her mom.
The next day, Nick and I went to Care-A-Lot pet supply and bought everything she would need, including her dog tag with her name, Annie Mae, on it. It seemed like forever until it was finally time to pick her up, but when we did, it was most amazing experience ever. I was going against the boring day-to-day schedule; it felt great. I was truly happy and 100 percent satisfied with my spontaneous purchase. Annie Mae was a sweetheart right off the bat, which was perfect considering she was a Valentine’s Day gift.
Getting Annie Mae was the first real “crazy” and “in-the-moment” thing that Nick and I have done together. Since then, she has shown us how important and how much joy living in the moment, as she does, can bring. Annie Mae helped me to realize that this is why dogs are so happy all the time. If people could just live in the moment and do something on a whim once and a while, they could relax, if only for a moment, and feel true happiness and excitement. Although the scenario may differ for each person, one thing remains true to all: a dog’s philosophy to life never fails. This I believe.