Photo by smemon87. Click photo to check out their Flickr Photostream.
I want a dog so badly.
I do – I can’t get them out of my head. I used to have limits: I couldn’t admire any dog that was smaller than my runt of a Labrador retriever I had several years ago. But lately, I don’t care – I’ll take anything. Poodles, Bulldogs, even Pugs – the ugliest of the ugly are adorable in my fantasy world of being a dog-owner.
I can’t possibly take care of a dog at this point in my life. Let’s face it – it’s all I can do to feed and bathe myself every day, let alone throw some food in the cat dishes and give them both a little pat and some laser-pointer-funtime-extravaganza. I couldn’t possibly have a puppy – I’m gone for too many hours of the day and with my inconsistent theater schedule, it’s absolutely impossible to set up times to care for said puppy with any degree of regularity. So I can’t have a dog. I’ve mused about ways to get around this fact in my post Puppy Amusement Parks, but I don’t know that I’m in a position to throw all my hopes and dreams on a theme park for pets.
As a result, I’ve begun to stalk them.
One of my favorite things about springtime is all the dogs that are out. After a stressful 5 o’clock rush, I can always trust that when I make it to my neighborhood, everyone will be out getting their dogs some fresh air after being cooped up inside all day. There are pups of all shapes and sizes and I’ve grown to love them all.
Yesterday I went for a walk and found myself behind a beautiful, super excited dog and I got out my camera and recorded it. Like some kind of pet paparazzi. I don’t know what I thought I was doing. They just give me so much joy and I was so incredibly amused by him that I thought I’d take a video of how adorable his wagging tail was.
I think he felt dirty because he stopped and sat shortly thereafter, staring at me.
I don’t think I can satisfy my dog lust by going around and recording run-ins with other people’s pups. I’m going to have to actually find a way to satiate this desire so that I don’t become some sort of strange dog stalker.
I guess since I have one on video, I’ve already crossed that line.
I thought I might be able to fill the void with another cat, but my cats are crazy enough and two is plenty. They won’t keel over until I’m about 35, so I’ve got a while to go before I go commit to another. I wouldn’t want to start a collection or anything.
There’s gotta be some way to deal with this without acquiring another animal. I’ll figure it out. If I can’t get anyone to buy in to my Puppy Amusement Park idea, I’ve gotta come up with something fast. Like dog-sitting perhaps. Actually, that sounds stressful. Maybe I can just move to a ranch and have all the animals I want. I’ll work the land and live the good life, free from the soul-sucking chains of corporate America. Yeah, that sounds awesome. I’ll get on that right away.
One ranch full of dogs, coming right up. ♣
The Jackie Blog 
I’m with you Jackie..I really want one but say when it is cold, snowy, rainy, dark..I am glad I do not. I know some folk volunteer as dog walkers at dog pounds. That may help, Chris
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That sounds incredibly heartbreaking. But I really should look into it – it’s a great cause and if I can get thick enough skin to bring them back to the pound, I’d be an excellent puppy borrower. Thanks for the suggestion 🙂
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I am totally the same! My boyfriend and I have become obsessed with getting a dog, but with strict ‘anti dog’ renting rules in Malta, plus like you, we’re often out AND I struggle to take care of a plant, more fool the person who lets me in charge of a living breathing animal… but we walk around staring at peoples dogs in the longing way that pervy blokes stare at girls in bikinis… its perfectly normal! xx
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can we talk about anti-dog renting rules in Malta? That’s so incredibly interesting to me. First of all – are you implying that you can rent dogs? Second, what are the rules?
Thanks for making me feel normal 🙂
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Ooooh, I had those same feelings a couple of years ago. Now I own the best, most amazing French Bulldog in the world…
It was either that, or start hunting for a boyfriend in earnest. The dog won out; they seem like so much less work in the long run, you know?
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LOL so true. And more loyal. 😉
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when i become independently wealthy, i’m going to buy a huge ranch & fill it with cats and dogs and bunnies and maybe even horses. it’ll be awesome!
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That’s all I’m working for, Kristen. All of it is for that.
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I honestly live in sort of a dog ranch that you wish for. Complete with neighbors with chickens and horses. I think we have about 10 dogs in the household. Want to see a video????
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Yes. Right away.
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doggy videos… http://drawninandquartered.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/yard-work-help/
that’s not my blog, but it is my dog… and if you’re in need of saturation with doggy adorable-ness, that post is full of videos of him being all cute 🙂
Also, house-sitting isn’t all that much work, though you would need to make sure you could get back to the dog at reasonable times, if only for that time period that you’re house-sitting.
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I’m considering the dog-sitting/house-sitting thing. My desire for pup time is getting out of hand.
Adorable dog, btw. Thanks for sharing the vid. Enormous, but adorable.
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I happen to know an adorable pup that lives not far from you… I’ll be happy to hook you up with his contact info & you can go visit for puppy love time!
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YES. The answer is yes. yes. Do they need a walker? Are they close to my toooown?
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