Reasons I Love My Dog

My dog’s name is Polly. Her full name is Polenta but I call her Polly. She is a beautiful, loud, loving, crazy cockapoo. Aside from being non-shedding, Polly fit none of my expectations I had when getting a dog. And, yet, she is absolutely perfect. Here are some reasons I love her:

She loves giving licks. When I thought of my future dog it never crossed my mind that I would want a dog that licks all the time, whenever she can. She licks my ears, she licks other people’s ears, she licks feet and faces. One of her favorite routines is licking my legs dry when I get out of the shower. She licks my hands until they are wet and then switches to licking my face again. She showers me and everyone she meets in love and affection. She does not discriminate or judge or ask for anything in return. If someone is there, she will love them (and lick them).

She barks all the time. She loves barking I would say more than she loves licking. She barks when mail is being put through the door. She barks when the garbage trucks are outside. She barks when she sees another dog. She barks when she doesn’t see another dog. And, when she sees something outside the window she barks for that too. She has excited barks, protecting barks and every bark in between. While they are shocking and very often I am caught by surprise by the randomness of the barking (I remind myself she has much better hearing than I can even imagine), I know that if I did not hear the barking I would miss it. So, yes, she might be noisy but now my life is filled with a noise I did not realize I would love.

She loves so freely. I often watch her with other people or other dogs and smile at how easily she loves others. Every person she sees is someone else she can love. She gives this love unconditionally and this is something to be admired. She loves you because you exist and that is enough.

There is a lot that I have learned from Polly and for that I am and will be eternally grateful. I am a lucky person to get to experience life alongside her.

Thank you for being here (and thank you, Polly),

Morrissa

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