Dozer and Dory have no idea what is about to happen. But all this time, I can't help but wonder if they can sense the change that is coming.
Dozer was broought to us in May of 2002. He was born January 9, 2002. So that makes him 18 weeks old when I received him. The breeders live in Indiana (so he is a Colts fan, boo!) and delivered him to us. They brought him with one other male pug (who proceeded to poop on my floor right away) and we chose him. He is almost 8 years old now, and I cannot imagine what it would be like to not have this loyal and lovable guy follow me around the house.
Dory was brought to us on July of 2004. She was born March 24, 2004. So that makes her 15 weeks old when I received her. I guess she would also be a Colts fan, but since she has always seemed to like my husband more, she probably likes the Green Bay Packers, too. It took me a while to get accomodated to having 2 dogs around, but Dory never let me not love her and now she is just as loved as Dozer.
I have always been a dog person. I get angry and upset when I watch things about dog abuse or puppy mills or see animals neglected. I see no reason why a dog should bark incessantly. I can't understand how people can purchase them and then abandon them. I have had dogs all while I was growing up and feel that I will have dogs until I am long gone.
And people tell me that I will have more love, a deeper love, an unconditional love for the child growing inside of me than I could ever dream of having for any dog I own now or ever have. I cannot fathom or wrap my head around this concept. What does that feel like? What does that mean? Will I love my dogs less? Will I begin to understand why moms put the dog in the back yard and let the yard babysit the dog? Will I neglect Dozer and Dory? Will they feel this?
Don't get me wrong, I don't humanize them. Dory and Dozer are dogs. They sleep in crates and poop in the grass and shed all over my black clothes (and the sofa and the floor and the bed all year long) and eat kibble out of a bowl and snort and have stinky anal glands. But don't kids come with issues too?
So right now, as my two little companions lay at my feet, gently snoring, Dozer laying his chunky body right on top of the heater vent and I look out the window and see snow falling, I just wonder what the future holds. How will my puggies respond to such a permanent and distracting new member of the family? Protective and guarding Dozer will probably not let Austin out of his sight. Determined and cautious Dory will probably want to get a good sniff of the baby before she makes any decisions. Either way, they are sure to make their opinions known.
I know that Austin will learn to love dogs as much as I do.
