. . . And Then We Bought A Puppy :)
I never saw the value of owning a dog or that it would fulfill a need in me. It’s probably because I’ve never grown up around them — in my immediate family that is. So getting one was never on my radar . . . like ever!
I mean why would I? It’s not like getting a dog was ever going to be a substitute for a real ‘human’ baby.
Anyhoo, I found love, got married, and moved from London to Barcelona with my Spanish hubby at the beginning of January 2023.
Now Barcelona is an uber vibrant city, but oh my gosh it’s full of dogs, and guess what else: children!! WTF!! I mean lots of tiny tots and fur babies running wild people!!
I’ll be strolling down the Rambla, trying to soak in the vibe of this beautiful city, and wham!! There’s another dog that I nearly tripped over!
Nobody warned me about this whole culture of dog ownership in Barcelona that’s just… e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e!
But I’m ok, I’m ok, honestly. I’m a work-in-progress and most days it’s all good :)
Never say never, darling
So, if you had told me a few months back that I’d be a gooey-eyed, proud mama of the cutest little puppy, I’d have said you is CRAZY girl!! Me? A dog lover? I’m the girl who winces at the thought of doggy poop bags. But oh, how life likes to surprise us!
And even though I mellowed over the years, the idea of owning a dog was as likely as me living on Mars.
So what made me change my mind
In early December 2023, hubby and me got to babysit his cousin’s 3-month-old puppy, while he and his family jetted off to NYC for a week. Having grown up in a pet-free zone, I had no clue what to expect. But the moment ‘Poppy’ the dachshund pup with its wagging tail and her big brown eyes stared up at me — I was in love. All my latent maternal instincts went ping and out came my inner mama.
But that week of puppy-sitting was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me! My logical brain was coming up with all sorts of reasons why getting a dog of our own would be inconvenient: dog walks in the rain, poop to pick up, fur on the furniture, dealing with half-eaten furniture, and other such doggy shenanigans.
But, my heart, on the other hand, melted every time that puppy snuggled up on my lap.
I was torn!!
Puppy Love
Part of me dug my stubborn heels in — I’m just not ready for this commitment full-time!! blah blah blah (yes I can be a bit melodramatic at times).
However, a week after returning our temporary pup to its family, I decided to listen to my heart and said to hubby the words he had been eagerly waiting for me to say ‘Let’s get a dog’
But I had one condition — our new family member would have to be exceptionally special. Our dog needed to be so unique and out-of-this-world, that finding it would feel like it was destiny.
Hubby rolled his eyes at my demanding criteria but excitedly started the search for our pup.
And would you believe it — just three weeks later, among the endless ads for ever-so-cute but ordinary puppies — there was one very exceptional, completely perfect furball that caught our eye. It was an instant whole-hearted “YES”. Both hubby and I had zero doubts — this was MEANT TO BE! The search for our furbaby was over!
Meet Molly — our cute 3-month girl fur-baby dachshund :)
Don’t judge until you’ve walked a mile in someone’s shoes
Me (Pre-becoming dog owner):
- Why do people dress their dogs
- Why do people treat their dogs as if they were human babies
- Why do people fuss over their dogs so much
- I can’t believe she canceled on me just because her dog is sick
- Why do people buy their dogs so many toys
- — — — For god’s sake, it’s just a dog!!
- and blah blah blah
Me (after becoming a dog owner):
- I now understand the whys?!! And have already become those ‘people’ who do most of the above.
Their undeniable therapeutic value
Dogs have been scientifically proven to reduce stress, ease loneliness, boost mood, and bring joy. The unconditional love of a dog is powerful — they don’t judge or make demands, they just love. Having responsibility for a living creature also gives great purpose.
Did you know . . .
That the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns led to a surge in pet ownership, especially of dogs, as people sought coping mechanisms to deal with increased isolation and depression?
- Research shows that pet adoption and sales soared both in 2020 and 2021 as lockdowns set in. Shelters saw adoption rates jump as much as 40% in some areas compared to pre-pandemic times.
- According to one report — PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report 2022–24% of all owners acquired their pet in the last two years, which equated to 5.4 million pets being acquired since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
- The report also shows that more (36%) of all owners were new, with no prior experience of owning that species of a pet as an adult.
- 70% of current pet owners said their pets helped them cope emotionally during the pandemic. Hence emotional support and comfort were super crucial when human interaction was so limited.
- More specifically in the case of dogs as pets — dog ownership especially exploded — with reports estimating over 20 million households in the U.S., U.K., and Canada got a new dog during the first year of the pandemic. Amazing, right?! Dogs provided affection and also motivated owners to get outside.
Animals have a way of changing our perspectives. Pets can certainly fill an important role in our lives and provide great comfort, joy, and companionship.
The bond between owner and pet can be just as deep and meaningful as between parent and child.
To Wrap Things Up
It’s been almost three weeks that Molly — our dachshund puppy — has been in our lives, and now I couldn’t imagine life without her.
Every day with Molly is a lesson in seeing the world anew. She’s not just a pet, she’s my little angel in disguise and a vibrant teacher, teaching me about life, love, and the joy of being needed.
She is teaching me about patience, unconditional love, and finding joy in the simplest of moments. Whether it’s her playful bark or the way her eyes light up at the sight of her favourite toy, she brings a unique sparkle to my life.
Most of Molly’s presence has been a gentle reminder that motherhood manifests in the most unexpected ways . . .
Another opportunity to redefine my understanding of motherhood — that it’s not just about giving birth, but about nurturing, caring for, and having responsibility for another being who relies on you.
Thanks for reading :) and I hope you found some value in this post.
If this post resonated with you, I’d be over the moon to hear your thoughts. Share your own stories, insights, or even just a word of encouragement in the comments below . . .
