On a whim back in September I contacted the Tibetan Spaniel
dog kennel I had been told had the line of my beloved Johnie and Arty. I was
still grieving the loss of Ladybug, who had died in July. I wasn’t aware that I
was looking for another dog. My intentions were to make a connection with
relatives of some of the dogs I had deeply loved.
Immediately, I got a call back saying, “Yes, we have Arty’s
son, grandson, great grandson and great great grandson.” I was excited and
looked at their website to see them. That’s when I saw TJ. He was Arty’s great
great grandson and he was beautiful. I loved his energy the moment I laid eyes
on him.
After that the momentum accelerated on my making him mine.
Everywhere I went there were green lights to get this dog. I would walk into a
store and there would be exactly what I needed to acquire. Everyone I spoke
with about it was wildly enthusiastic and thought I “needed a dog”. I realized
I had had dogs in my life for 60 years!
I contacted the owners of the kennel and negotiated the
details of my getting TJ. They lived an hour and a half from my sister’s in Philadelphia
and I was going there to see her at Christmas. I arranged to pick him up then.
That’s when doubt began to loom. At first there was just a
tinge of it and at other times it took on gigantic proportions. I didn’t know
if I wanted the responsibility. I didn’t know if the dog and I would connect. I
wondered if taking on something to care for would deteriorate my freedom. I
hadn’t gotten a new dog for many years and felt anxious thinking about the
initial phases of becoming acquainted and setting up a good life together.
I voiced my doubts to all my friends and family and found
nothing but encouragement for getting the dog. Every time I would think about
not getting him, I would feel great disappointment. I had to make a decision
and that seemed enormous. I made lists, consulted pet physics and meditated
madly trying to get the clarity I was lacking. Finally a friend suggested I meet
TJ and then make up my mind. That seemed to give me relief and a tangible way
to slow down the doubts (which by that time had reached cataclysmic loudness).
So, the holidays arrived and I made my way to Pennsylvania.
Then it was time for my sister and I to take a ride out to meet TJ. There were
23 Tibbies there, about a half dozen in the house. The breeders were there,
several of their adult children and some grandchildren. I realized it was going
to be challenging sorting out my feelings about TJ in the midst of all this. I
did my best to stay clear and steady. When he came in I liked him instantly and
felt he was mine.
We took him back to my sisters and he was well behaved and
lovely. The next night was Christmas Eve and I was hesitant to take him along
to my nephew’s because he has a 5 year old and a 2 1/2 year old. TJ was simply wonderful with the children,
friendly with the adults and seemed incredibly adaptable and calm. We
experienced the same qualities in him on Christmas Day. Then my sister and I
watched the children for 3 days at their house. He was incredible! I knew I had
gotten a great dog.
It wasn’t until we flew home that I got to get glimpse of
the greatness of this little being. We started out at 5 am. The documentation I
had gotten from my doctor was wrong and by the time I sorted through all that,
I ended up paying for TJ to ride with me under my seat. This confusion made us miss our flight. We were put on standby
for the next flight but got bumped. The last flight of the day was at 6:30 pm
and we were on standby again. We did get a seat on that flight. A winter storm
was just beginning to rage and we waited on the plane three and a half hours to
get de-iced. After landing, we caught the last shuttle and arrived home at 2
pm.
During this entire day—while I was overcome with lack of
patience, anxiety and fatigue—TJ was calm, content to snuggle, friendly with
people and the best travel companion you could imagine. If I had any doubts
before they all dissipated with this experience. Now I love “Taj” more
everyday. I am so happy to have such a beautiful little soul. It’s grand.
