E: Ellie Belly

     There were always pets around the house where I grew up but I never identified any of them as mine.  In general, they were in the care, feeding, and attention of my siblings - mostly my younger siblings.  I didn't really want much to do with cats or dogs.  

    Although we had pets when our own kids were growing up, I didn't have a lot of interest in them. They were the territory of the kids and RR was parental back up for pet issues.  

     Somewhere around the time between Sonny Boy going off to college and Nutmeg leaving for college, I started to think that a little dog for me would be fun.  Not a big dog - we had Keeva already and she was 70 pounds of somber and sweet mutt.  No, I got to thinking about the fun of a little dog who would hang out with me.  We knew someone who fostered puppies for the Humane Society.  One day she was describing this new litter she was fostering and I wanted to see these puppies.  That was the beginning of my love affair with Ellie.

     We met Ellie along with all of her siblings when she was about three weeks old.  The best guess for her parentage included terrier and maybe dachshund and who knows what else.  She was one of the smallest in a litter of eight and we had out choice of the litter.  It was a tough choice but she really called to me.  We would visit the litter every weekend and after three weeks, I had selected this girl.  

      Ellie was exactly what I needed at that point.  She was and still is a bundle of enthusiasm.  She appears to have a perpetual smile and makes friends with everyone she meets.  She bounces up on the couch to cuddle next to me while I am reading, typing or enjoying Jon Stewart (of course, I do know what she is really looking for is crumbs!  Cookies, please?)

      Ellie is always up for a walk and an adventure.  She will go with me no matter how dark, how wet, or how warm it might be.  She will greet everyone - human or otherwise - that we happen to meet and she will wait patiently outside the grocery if I need to go inside.  Ellie does have a non human best friend and that would be, of course, Keeva.  They trundle around together and seem to play well together.  Keeva doesn't get to jump on the couch but she stands willingly by accepting all scratching that comes her way.  

    I am frankly surprised at my attachment to Ellie.  I never thought I would come to lavish affection on a dog but guess what?  Surprises happen.