Happy Birthday, First Baby
This is an archived blog from 2011. Return to the blog home to read other posts from In the Family Way.
Today is Tasha's first birthday. She's now beyond her "toddler" year and into pushing her independence, just like a child. She is very friendly and loves to go to the dog park or dog beach and play with other dogs, usually the ones bigger than her. She's obsessed with birds. She has a "big girl" bark she uses only when she's startled by cats or inanimate objects, otherwise she uses her yappy, "play with me" yelp. She hates water - the ocean and the baby pool actually scare her. She is also afraid of her bed and terrified of the vacuum cleaner. And the sofa pillows. She's got a second personality we named Edgar who is a groaning, creaky old man. She's just learning to catch a ball and retrieve a stick, and I am training her to walk off-leash without chasing leaves or kids on bicycles. She fits perfectly into the back of my MINI. She puts herself to bed every night at 9:00.
Tasha is our first baby, the sweetest, most wonderful little mutt I've ever known. She was a rescue puppy we got from Second Chance Dog Rescue, saved from a life on the streets of Rosarita, Mexico. Getting her was an impulse decision that took four years to make.
Tasha and her rawhide birthday card.
Rob loves to tell the story of how I "freaked out" the first two weeks after we rescued her. Yes, I was a little high-strung about the responsibility, not because I didn't think I could handle it, but because, honestly, I didn't want to disappoint her. I know, she's a dog; give her food, shelter, and discipline and she's happy. But I owe her a great, happy life. It's my responsibility to raise her to be a loving, trustworthy pet who is well-balanced, well-exercised, well-socialized, and well-disciplined. In return, I get to live with this wonderful, furry beast who follows me everywhere, looks at me like I rule the world, and makes sure that I start and end every day with a smile. I am definitely the winner in this deal.
So, T-Bear, my sweet Baby Puppers, happy birthday! You will always be my first baby!
This is an archived blog from 2011. Return to the blog home to read other posts from In the Family Way.