Daughter Claire was home over the weekend and the big news was her plan to get a new puppy. Claire took it pretty hard when her dog Darcie died over the holidays. We all took it pretty hard. Chris and I had been taking care of Darcie while Claire was away at school.
I'm secretly happy about this decision despite my fatherly admonitions and words of wisdom over the weekend. I wanted to make sure Claire knew what she was in for. She has a tiny apartment and, as a law student, she spends many hours away from home in class and studying. I seem to remember that she has a no pets clause in her rental agreement too. She doesn't have a job, either. Did you know there is not one single part time job available in the entire town of Albuquerque, New Mexico?
The latter is important because I wanted to make sure she knew about the financial obligation involved in a new puppy. Veterinary care for a new pup can easily run to five hundred dollars or more in the first year alone. When I pointed this out I could see the lack of recognition in her face or maybe the wheels were silently turning.
She seemed to be thinking, "Yeah, so, can't you can just up my monthly allowance to cover such expenses." Or, perhaps more hopefully, "I'll just pass on the salad bar at Whole Foods a couple of times a week, that should free up at least a few hundred a month." Ah, to be young and living on the dad dole again.
Anyway, she is getting a pure bred Labrador Retriever puppy. A friend of hers is a breeder and wants to give Claire an eight week old puppy. Hey, this is way better than when Claire was six and she came home beaming with the news that one of our neighbors wanted to give her a free horse. As a vet fresh out of equine practice, I knew well the magnitude of that nonsequitur. Or maybe a free horse is an oxymoron? It should be both. I always get those terms mixed up.
I like the idea of a Lab puppy. They have really great personalities, or temperament, and it will give me plenty of stuff to write about on the blog. And, as Labs are prone to both obesity( see the picture in the link above) and hip dysplasia, it will give me an opportunity to practice what I've been preaching lately. Namely, we'll feed this puppy in such a way that minimizes the chances he or she will come down with either.
And of course, we'll have a dog in the family again. We've all missed that.
Much more to come.
What a fun and exciting thing to be adopting a new puppy! I have a lab and think he is awesome! Good luck to you and Claire. Can't wait to read about your exploits. (Oh, and if you need to formally announce the furry new addition to your family, check out my website :) http://www.BarkTalk.com
Posted by: Lisa | March 21, 2009 at 08:44 AM