We have a new dog. Lola.

I know, I know. You are thinking "Are you crazy?!" because that is what my friend Carol said to me upon hearing that we have a new dog. But I have my reasons.

Before this past weekend we’d had several conversations about getting a dog. Gage and Quinn have been wanting a dog for a long time. Gage, at least, has been talking about it for a year. We’d let my sister, Terry, take our dog (or we made her) when we moved to this house 2 1/2 years ago for many reasons; the house, Addy’s hips, her ankle problems, our kids are too active, etc. And Addy is very happy at Terry’s house. And really, Terry and her family are very happy with Addy. So when we talked about getting a dog seriously about 3 months ago, we knew Addy wouldn’t be returning to us. Not to mention we pay Dog Support for Addy. It’s only right.

I would say that I am a dog person. I grew up with dogs. They lived with us, slept with us and were a part of the family. Ever since I can remember we had a dog. When I met Julian I had a small dog Cleo (who once saved my life, I mean, seriously saved my life by waking me up from an intruder and allowed me to call the police who found the guy, an alleged rapist from another state with an open warrant for his arrest) who pretty much got to live a charmed life. She lived until she was 14. She was MY first dog. Then when we were newly married, we got Addy. And Addy and Cleo lived largely a nice life together. Addy 60lbs, and Cleo 15lbs. It was an interesting mix but they were happy.

Julian, on the other hand would not be what one would call a dog person. The dogs in his life were mostly service dogs of the hunting variety and were kept outside and traveled on the outside of cars in crates to go on hunting trips. They were not dogs that were considered a part of the family. And so living with Addy and Cleo was a stretch for him. And he’s enjoyed (well, I have too) a dog-free life the past couple of years.

But then we starting thinking about a dog for the kids. Shouldn’t all kids grow up with a pet? And well, we’re not cat people. The discussing commenced.

Over a couple of months I would go on line and look for a small dogs that were kid friendly from a rescue group and I would hope that one would work for us. Julian was still luke warm on the idea with tons of great reasons to NOT have a dog including time, and allergies (we are not really allergic, but Julian didn’t want to introduce anything that could possibly hinder him being in tip top shape for  kidney sharing so he used this term) and impending transplant. I could have gone either way really even though I pictured a small dog romping in our house.

But in an effort to be honest with myself I decided to try to figure out why it was so important to me for the kids to have a dog when we could have clearly chosen not to get one. And it came to me and it was a sad reason. But it was an honest one.

I had figured out the reason I wanted so badly for Gage to have a dog, right now, is because The Year Of The Transplant is upon us. I expect and hope and have faith that we will have a good, safe transplant experience and that Gage will survive. But in the back of my mind I was thinking that if something horrible happened and he died, I really wanted him to have had experienced life with a dog. There. I said it. To the Internets. And to Julian. And when I said it to Julian last week, I was sobbing, and that’s when we both agreed that Death trumps Allergies.

So, let me introduce you to Lola. From the pound. And she’s loving and sweet and the perfect dog for a boy going through a transplant. And for the girl that will some day.