Year of the Dog

One year ago today Ryan and I said hello to Sally, and said good-bye to ever owning nice things ever again.

Sally was a pound pup, brought to our attention when she was featured on the noon news at the station. Temma, the animal lady (her job, not her lifestyle, her fiancee is very nice) had been trying to get me to adopt a dog for some time, and this one, at that time christened "Chloe," seemed perfect. Medium size, good disposition, house broken, good with cats and kids. I took a picture of her with my cell phone and told Ryan he had to meet her. After a "get to know you" visit at the pound we were sold. I went to pick her up after work the next day.

Sally did not want to go in the house that first night, so Ryan had to carry her up the stairs. Then she didn't want to leave the living room, so Ryan carried her from room to room, giving her a tour of the house. Thankfully, there was a lot less of her to carry then, before she discovered the joys of cat food and adopted the nickname "chunky butt."

It was about a week later that we discovered she was a canine garbage disposal. The first thing she ate was the television remote. Then a book. Then a magazine. And then she started in on the big stuff. Here is a partial list:

• A couch
• A thermometer
• Cell phone charger
• A cell phone
• A cordless phone handset
  
• 12 pairs of shoes , including three pairs of Crocs.
• A 3-foot high Santa Claus doll
• Four Christmas ornaments
• A copy of "Marley & Me"
• Two computer cases
• A purse
• A pea coat
• 3 pairs of underwear
• A pair of jeans (same pair, two times)
• A yoga ball
• A pile of Political Science reports to be graded
  
• 3 remote controls
• 2 pairs of sunglasses
• Part of my mother's couch
• 7 decorative pine cones
  
• A collar
• 2 leashes
  

Of course, just as a person is more than the sum of their parts, Sally is more than the sum of what she's destroyed. She is a fishing buddy, a foot rest, a sled dog, a comforting presence in the time of need, a co-pilot, and a jester. She also is a beg hog, a snorer, a beggar, and spoiled brat. Luckily, the good parts seem to outweigh the bad.

I just hope having kids isn't this hard... Well, at least they won't chew the furniture.