Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Puppy Love by Milou Koenings




Is there anything as sweet as puppy love? And I do mean puppy as in doggy. I've always been a little bemused by those people who talk about their pets as if they were children. In fact, it's been a long time since I've had a pet and when I did, I always favored cats. When it came to dogs, we'd had two when I was growing up and they were huge: a great dane and Russian wolfhound. Little yappy doggies? Ugh — no thanks.


And then three weeks ago, my youngest daughter walked in with a puppy.


puppy

I was so not ready for a pet. We have kids to take care of, including two with very intensive special needs. Who needs anything else to take care of? Now, this tenderhearted child has come home with stray cats before, which we've duly found other homes for. But a young puppy? And not even a great dane puppy that would grow into my idea of "real" dog. Buddy is Chihuahua-dorkie mix—he's tiny!


But this little bundle was two months old and already on his fourth home by the time he was carried through our door. How could I not feel sorry for him, being shuffled off from one person to another—all of them teenagers who had no concept how to take care of a dog.


"If we can offer him a good home, which he's never had, don't we have an obligation to do that?" my daughter asked, pointedly quoting my own words back at me. I was talking about children, not dogs, I retorted, but that didn't get me very far.


It's been a hard year for our family. We lost several people we loved dearly in a terrible car accident this summer and everyone is still grieving and trying to adjust. When Buddy came, it was the first time I felt a spark of joy stir again among the kids. He's been delicious and funny with every one of them. And I'm not going to lie — ending the evening by collapsing on the couch and having a puppy jump up next to me and lie there happily chewing away on his toy feels pretty sweet and, dare I say it, healing.


Looks like Buddy is here to stay.


So here he is, the newest member of our family. Not only is he the sweetest dog I ever met, but he is frighteningly smart. And he doesn't bark — except to say Amen when we say Grace. Which I admit is a little weird... who taught him that?




I'm glad to introduce Buddy to you, because now that I'm spending most of my writing hours with a little furry bundle curled up on my lap, with his head resting on the desk between my hands as I type, I strongly suspect you might spot him in one of my next tales.

Christmas Tales and Celebrations!

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Milou Koenings is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes romance because, like chocolate, stories with a happy ending bring more joy into the world and so make it a better place.






Her other Green Pines sweet romances, I Love You Three, Reclaiming Home, The Kampala Peppermint Twist and Sweet Blizzard are available on AmazonAmazon.uk, iBooks, Nook, Kobo and all your favorite e-book retailers.








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8 comments:

  1. Aww, Milou, your new puppy is adorable and just what you and your family needed at this time. Enjoy!

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    1. Yes, as much as he needed a home, I think we needed him too!

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  2. Buddy is adorable. I'm glad he found a home with you.

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  3. Glad you were able to give Buddy a home.

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  4. Wonderful post, Milou. So happy you kept Buddy!

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  5. What a sweetheart, Milou! Enjoy your new Buddy. :)

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  6. What a sweet story! It sounds like your family needed Buddy in your lives as much as he needed you.

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  7. Oh, Milou! I think I've fallen in love with Buddy, simply through your words; fully intended as the compliment it is! <3
    Hugs,
    Kristin

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