I know we just celebrated her birthday but some say this day is even MORE important because it’s when she got her forever home I remember when we first got her, she was no smaller than a football, couldn’t clear the couch to jump on it, wouldn’t go outside without us and didn’t dare venture too far into the yard. She slept in a crate, woke up in the middle of the night, and tried to carry one of David’s size 14 shoes around (I was impressed she could even lift it).

Now, she’s 40ish pounds, happy, content, loved more than she knows. Even though she has severe separation anxiety (but she’s getting better and hopefully off her meds this year sometime) she’s happy. She gets to cuddle, sleep on beds, play fetch (or just run and get it and run around not bringing it back), she loves walks and playing with other dogs even though she wimps out sometimes. She’s fed well (we feed her Wellness) and gets a few treats here and there. She just wants to be around us and a pillow to lay her head on (yep, she uses it like a human, it’s ridiculous). I love everything about her, even her neurotic things. I love how she rolls onto her back when she’s sleeping or when David comes home so she can get a belly rub. I love the way her little paws lay when she’s sound asleep. I love her giant ears and when they flop in the wind. I love how she slinks off the couch with her back legs still on it. I love how she rings the bells to go outside. I love watching her play by herself and toss balls up in the air and watch them fall all confused. I love that she traps and hunts flies in the house. I love how she thinks she can catch a bird when it lands in our yard (I fear the day when she brings back a surprise!). I love how she now tells us when it’s time for bed by running back to our bedroom and waiting to be let in to her bed. I love how much she wants to be petted sometimes and will pace back and forth under our hands or around our legs (we’re pretty sure she’s a cat too). I love the looks she gives us, she seems to have so much personality. I love how excited she is to be fed and how she runs down the hallway (it’s way cute). I love her so much and I’m so thankful she came into our lives just over a year ago (her gotcha-day was last Saturday the 8th).

So without further ado, my puppy

Kara (David and the Isabelley)
kara@karaschultz.com