Happy Birthday Little Baby

Today the spotlight will be on my little sweetie-pie, Jackie. The reason? It's her birthday, and she is a whole two years old.

I don't believe I've told you, dear reader, the story of how we came to include Jacqueline into our eclectic little group, so I'll give it a shot today.

Angel was originally intended to be my wife's shopping companion. As my wife researched small dog breeds she decided a Maltese might be a good choice since they are a tiny lot. A standard Maltese should be no more than seven pounds. As fate would have it, Angel ultimately weighed in at twenty.

He's not the easiest dog to lug around in public.

So, after a couple of years we entertained the idea of taking another shot at finding a small dog, much as other folks might try to have a girl, or a boy, should they be served up the wrong flavor after the first pregnancy. But as was the case before we got Angel, I was not enthusiastic about the idea of getting a small dog. I figured one little dog racing around the house was enough.

And then one day while minding my own business at work, I got a call from my wife. She was on her lunch break and had happened to visit a pet store that still sells dogs. (I know, I know.) While there my wife became acquainted with a little girl Boston Terrier, and thought her beautiful enough to warrant a call to me. She pleaded with me to come take a look at her, allegedly only for the reason that she was sooooooo beautiful. I tried to wiggle out of it because I could smell what was coming, but it was to no avail. So I told her we would go visit her the next day.

On the trip over to the pet store the next day, my wife continued to ply me with accolades of the dog I know she secretly hoped would be hers by sunset. She also spoke of a little female, Long Hair Chihuahua that was "adorable", but didn't "call to" my wife for some reason.

We arrived at the pet store, and walked back to the pens where they showcase the new arrivals for prospective suckers buyers. My wife searched and searched, but to her dismay, the terrier she had come close to falling in love with the day before was gone. We asked the owner just to be sure, but she told us a woman came in the later the same day my wife first saw the dog, and bought her.

My wife was disappointed, but not saddened by the news. She asked me if I would like to see the Chihuahua "just for the fun of it", and I agreed.

Now, I have said before, if you had told me I would one day own a Chihuahua, I would have laughed in your face and made some sort of unflattering comment about Paris Hilton and her little dog, Tinkerbell, but when I first met Jacqueline it was love at first sight. Besides, she’s a LONG HAIR Chihuahua. It makes a difference. Anyway, she was so little, and she took to me like fleas on a... er... well, you know what I mean.

I entered the puppy pen with my wife, and the still unnamed Chihuahua that would become Jacqueline followed me wherever I went. There were chairs available in the pen so you could sit and hold the puppies, and when I sat down in one Jackie ran right up to me, climbed up onto my shoe, and started jumping up and pawing at my shin.

I figure it took five seconds before I was locked into the idea of taking her home, and another thirty minutes before I actually realized it.

After playing with Jackie, and carrying her around a bit, I knew my heart was lost to this little, tiny dog with the big brown eyes. My wife and I talked about how a new dog might impact our boy Angel, but we both knew it was very unlikely that Angel would reject her, and of course he never did. As with Angel, our intentions were to buy a little dog for my wife, but I think we both knew Jackie and I were bonded for life pretty much from the moment we met. And I for one wouldn't have it any other way.

So, let's get to the pictures....

This is Jacqueline's first picture in her new home. She is standing in her folding pen we bought for her own protection. It kept her from getting into places where she might get hurt. It also helped keep the cats away. Thalia's sole interest in Jackie when she was little involved stalking and pouncing. Thalia would grab my poor little baby by the neck, and bring her down like a lioness on a gazelle in the Serengeti. It honestly scared the hell out of us the first time it happened. But Thalia never hurt her. Not once. That's Jackie with her baby toys. Even though she was the smallest puppy at the pet store, she held her own against the larger dogs. Same thing once she arrived at our house. Faced with Angel, and three cats, Jacqueline successfully jockeyed for her position in the house hierarchy. Here is Jackie today. Napping with her favorite feline sister, Jackie proves dogs and cats CAN forget their religious and political differences, and get along just fine.

Check in next week for a new chapter in The Adventures of Angel and Jacqueline. And don't forget to check out the Carnival of the Dogs at Mickey's Musings, and the Friday Ark at The Modulator for more interesting animals.

Posted by Jeff at February 24, 2006 6:57 AM