It’s Official

Penny is legally part of the family – I signed her adoption papers last weekend.  The papers were only a formality, Penny and I knew she belonged with me the moment our eyes met.  As with all the dogs of my life ours was a case of love at first sight. 

I’ve learned over the years to let myself feel all the feelings – a new love does nothing to diminish the other loves of my life, I can love Penny with my whole heart and not steal love from the heart that belongs to Chester or Olive or Cowboy or …. there is room for all the loves.  I’ve learned I can grieve and love in the same breath.

Although Penny was reserved for starters she is blossoming in front of my eyes.  Her personality and confidence grow by the day, she’s a sassy little character with a wicked sense of humor.  I can tell I’m not her first love – she’s been loved before. 

She was picked up as a stray and had obviously been on the streets for awhile when the dog catcher finally caught up with her.   I don’t know who could lose someone like Penny and not try to find her – it was no secret she was living at the the SPCA and yet months passed and no one showed up to claim her.  Thankfully she picked up some skills while living in the wild – she may be little but she is also wily and a survivor.  

Penny is scrappy in a fashion unbecoming in our neighborhood – she’s a bit of an embarrassment when we meet other dogs.  It makes me wonder how many times she had to stick up for herself while she roamed unfamiliar streets.  We took a walk down a shady wooded trail this morning and she was uncharacteristically jumpy – my guess is she’d been spooked in a similar setting while she was on the loose and was ready to be surprised again.  

Penny has a story – one we will never know – she’s been places, seen things and been loved and lost but now she’s officially home.  She and I will happily write her next chapter together.