Oh, Saaed. I felt a pang in my chest because on April 1st, as I sat in a vet's office laying on the floor next to my dog and pet partner of ten years as he was being laid to rest, someone in the universe was bringing a new pup baby home for the first time. I felt that... and so many other parts of this piece. Thank you for penning it and sharing it with us!
My favorite line (because I get so into my own head): "Dogs don't care about your existential bullshit." I literally spit out my coffee laughing when I read that.
"to overly obsess about what we think we deserve only ensures that we will dampen the happiness and prolong the hurt" is a sentence i didn't know i needed to read until i read it. and now i'm crying at my desk so grateful for your words. thank you.
This touched me deeply not because your dog is so amazing (which he is) but because of these words: "I’m still learning that joy isn’t a right any more than grief. Our losses and gains are simply realities that act upon us regardless of whether or not we feel we deserve them..." A dog is a wonderful teacher. I speak as a student re-learning the grief part. Your words helped.
Just read this today and it made me re-commit to being the person my dog thinks I am during the gray hours of Columbus Ohio. Thank you for writing this and I am so glad you’re finding joy with Caesar. Rocket and I are planning to take a hike and go to the dog park!
Thank you for sharing! This is exactly how I feel about my dog, Gambino. I don't know how I will be able to go back out into the world without him. -Dartricia
We lost our sweet boy, Rufus, at the end of March. On April 28 (a few weeks after you brought Caesar home) we adopted Cosmo, who is mostly chihuahua and poodle (!) He is the light of my life. I honestly don't know how I would have survived this past year without him. Please give Caesar a smooch on top of his smooth little head for me.
Oh Saeed, I’m bawling right now! My Poo Sebastian has saved me! He’s the reason I get out of bed literally! I’m happy we are experiencing love! That’s all...thank you!
This made me cry because it perfectly illustrated how I feel about my dog. Two years ago in the hardest time of my life I got him, and every day I am so thankful for him but could never express it. Thank you for putting it into words.
My heart is full. Caesar is a noble and glorious critter. He's looking like the Chihuahua in him won out, personality wise. The great love of my life was a Chihuahua named Bludgette. It comes from the word bludget, which means "a comely female thief" and that she was (she was also a complete Francophile and insisted on the French spelling of her name. She stole hearts everywhere she went. She definitely humbled me, settled the roiling stew in my brain, and made me laugh every day. My God, but you have been truly graced with this extraordinary creature. It's good thing I didn't find Caesar first! One cannot deny that strike of love and recognition upon seeing a photograph of the dog who was always meant to be yours.
I read somewhere, and long ago, about one of the Indian Nations that had a dog spirit creation story. I have never been able to find it since and it could be untrue but it sounds right. In many of the creation myths there is a separation of animals from humans – think Eve and Adam, cast out of the garden and losing the ability to speak with the animals. In the myth I read, a great split in the earth began to grow into a chasm, people on one side and animals leaping to the other. As the chasm grew wider and wider, the dog, still on the side with the humans, was ready to make the jump, but kept looking back to the humans. Before the chasm became too wide to, the dog looked at us one more time. Then he turned away from the animals on the other side of the ever widening gash in the land and walked back to the people. He chose to stay with us because he knew how much we would need him.
I'm so glad you found Caesar and I know he's happy about it, too.
A last note – Chihuahuas are often spectacular singers. If you sing with enthusiasm and clear sustained notes (a bit like howling) they will often begin to accompany you. You'll end up, the two of you, with heads back and singing at the top of your lungs. It's divine.
Saeed, I read this post about a year ago and 12 days later, submitted an application to adopt a former racing greyhound. I had to come back to find your post so I could thank you for helping me make the decision to adopt the best, goofiest, laziest bag of bones I've ever met in my entire life (His name is Gustavo Ascension Martinez). <3
Oh, Saaed. I felt a pang in my chest because on April 1st, as I sat in a vet's office laying on the floor next to my dog and pet partner of ten years as he was being laid to rest, someone in the universe was bringing a new pup baby home for the first time. I felt that... and so many other parts of this piece. Thank you for penning it and sharing it with us!
My favorite line (because I get so into my own head): "Dogs don't care about your existential bullshit." I literally spit out my coffee laughing when I read that.
Haha! They really don't! It's a sweet reality check.
"to overly obsess about what we think we deserve only ensures that we will dampen the happiness and prolong the hurt" is a sentence i didn't know i needed to read until i read it. and now i'm crying at my desk so grateful for your words. thank you.
This touched me deeply not because your dog is so amazing (which he is) but because of these words: "I’m still learning that joy isn’t a right any more than grief. Our losses and gains are simply realities that act upon us regardless of whether or not we feel we deserve them..." A dog is a wonderful teacher. I speak as a student re-learning the grief part. Your words helped.
Just read this today and it made me re-commit to being the person my dog thinks I am during the gray hours of Columbus Ohio. Thank you for writing this and I am so glad you’re finding joy with Caesar. Rocket and I are planning to take a hike and go to the dog park!
Thank you for sharing! This is exactly how I feel about my dog, Gambino. I don't know how I will be able to go back out into the world without him. -Dartricia
The look!! You two are so well-suited, my heart is full hearing this story. Hoping my dog will arrive in 2021. ❤️
I love this.
We lost our sweet boy, Rufus, at the end of March. On April 28 (a few weeks after you brought Caesar home) we adopted Cosmo, who is mostly chihuahua and poodle (!) He is the light of my life. I honestly don't know how I would have survived this past year without him. Please give Caesar a smooch on top of his smooth little head for me.
I needed this. Thank you for writing this, and for existing.
If your life needed this then you really really really
really
need some help.
You perfectly described how I felt when I saw both my dogs. Caesar is a lucky pup.
Oh Saeed, I’m bawling right now! My Poo Sebastian has saved me! He’s the reason I get out of bed literally! I’m happy we are experiencing love! That’s all...thank you!
This made me cry because it perfectly illustrated how I feel about my dog. Two years ago in the hardest time of my life I got him, and every day I am so thankful for him but could never express it. Thank you for putting it into words.
My heart is full. Caesar is a noble and glorious critter. He's looking like the Chihuahua in him won out, personality wise. The great love of my life was a Chihuahua named Bludgette. It comes from the word bludget, which means "a comely female thief" and that she was (she was also a complete Francophile and insisted on the French spelling of her name. She stole hearts everywhere she went. She definitely humbled me, settled the roiling stew in my brain, and made me laugh every day. My God, but you have been truly graced with this extraordinary creature. It's good thing I didn't find Caesar first! One cannot deny that strike of love and recognition upon seeing a photograph of the dog who was always meant to be yours.
I read somewhere, and long ago, about one of the Indian Nations that had a dog spirit creation story. I have never been able to find it since and it could be untrue but it sounds right. In many of the creation myths there is a separation of animals from humans – think Eve and Adam, cast out of the garden and losing the ability to speak with the animals. In the myth I read, a great split in the earth began to grow into a chasm, people on one side and animals leaping to the other. As the chasm grew wider and wider, the dog, still on the side with the humans, was ready to make the jump, but kept looking back to the humans. Before the chasm became too wide to, the dog looked at us one more time. Then he turned away from the animals on the other side of the ever widening gash in the land and walked back to the people. He chose to stay with us because he knew how much we would need him.
I'm so glad you found Caesar and I know he's happy about it, too.
A last note – Chihuahuas are often spectacular singers. If you sing with enthusiasm and clear sustained notes (a bit like howling) they will often begin to accompany you. You'll end up, the two of you, with heads back and singing at the top of your lungs. It's divine.
Saeed, I read this post about a year ago and 12 days later, submitted an application to adopt a former racing greyhound. I had to come back to find your post so I could thank you for helping me make the decision to adopt the best, goofiest, laziest bag of bones I've ever met in my entire life (His name is Gustavo Ascension Martinez). <3
Ah! This is so lovely! Hello, Gustavo!
That was so beautiful 🥹🥺💕