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Finding a Lucky Penny

The Story of My Family Adopting Our First Dog

By Celina CampbellPublished 6 years ago 5 min read
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Penny enjoying her last summer!

It was 2004. I was in the first half of the fifth grade and my sister in the second grade. I had been asking (begging) for my parents to get a dog for as long as I can remember. And one day, seemingly out of the blue, they casually mentioned that they were considering it. Now I don't quite remember how I reacted, whether it was stunned silence or screaming my head off, but I know I was excited beyond belief, and so was my sister. This was the first time we really had a chance at getting a dog.

My parents however, decided they would test us a bit first. They got both my sister and me to come up with valid reasons why we should have a dog, how we would divide the responsibilities, and to prove that we were in fact responsible enough to have a dog. As a 10 year old, this proved to be extremely annoying, but as an adult I (grudgingly) understand why they did.

After about a month of convincing and pushing, we managed to get to a place where we were ready to start looking for a dog. Christmas came and went and the next school semester started in January 2005. One day after school, my parents said they had something to show us. One of their coworkers had sent them some information on a dog that was available at the shelter. She was a Yellow Lab mix and she looked very sweet! Thinking this could be the dog for us, my sister and I started planning out where she was going to eat, sleep, and keep her toys. I was so excited that I even drew a picture of her.

Despite my sister and I being ready to go get her right that moment, my parents were still (frustratingly) hesitant. They wanted to go meet her at the shelter and maybe even meet a few other dogs. Again, being an impatient 10 year old, this was very frustrating! But on the other hand, I loved dogs and was jumping at the opportunity to go meet and play with a bunch at the shelter.

Before we went to the shelter, another one of my parents coworkers gave them a tip on another dog that had just become available for adoption. She was a German Shepherd-Border Collie mix that was only a year to a year and a half old. Having already seen pictures of the Yellow Lab and having her in our minds for a few days already, we kind of brushed off this new dog. But then we found out that the Yellow Lab had already been adopted (good for her, unfortunate for us). That was disappointing at the time, but my parents were still willing to go look at the other dogs.

On the day we visited the shelter, it was a bit busy (it must have been a weekend) and there were people already there walking dogs or playing with the cats. As we walked up to the door, it burst open and this big (ok, medium-sized; I was a small child so everything looked big back then) black dog came out pulling hard on the leash. Hardly having any time to react, this excited ball of fur comes right up to me and jumps up onto my chest trying to give me kisses! And, again being a small child, I was nearly knocked off my feet! The couple who were walking her came up and pulled her off me, apologizing profusely, but then realized I was laughing. They got her back under control and left us to go for their walk. Little did I know that was a moment I would never forget.

We had to wait for a little bit to go in and see the dogs they had in the back (someone else was already back there). After a few of the dogs had come back from their walks, I went up to the door to take a peek at the dogs. They had dogs ranging from a tiny terrier to a big German Shepherd, who had a very deep bark. But as I scanned the kennels, one face caught my eye. It was the dog who had jumped on me as we were coming in! She was very quiet and staring straight back at me. She was solid black all over with the exception of a white star on her chest and white speckled toes.

When they let us in the back, she jumped right up on the kennel door so she was eye level with us. She tried licking our fingers and her tail kept wagging. When we saw her name, we realized she was the second dog, the German Shepherd-Border Collie mix, that my parents were told about! And the connection was instant. Some years later, my dad told me it was this moment that we met her that caused him to completely make up his mind to getting a dog. He saw that connection and knew it was meant to be.

On February 5, 2005, we brought her home. She was with us for over 10 years, and I cannot imagine having a better first dog. We were so lucky to have her for so long. She added so much to our family and to each of our lives.

And her name was Penny.

RIP my wonderful lucky Penny!

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