I’ll never forget the day I brought my best friend home from the animal shelter. I was eight years old, and my family hadn’t even planned on getting a dog. We were going to adopt a small dog for my grandma, but it didn’t work out. Nevertheless, when we heard all the dogs barking in the kennel, it was a little frightening, but my dad and I saw one dog resting her head on her paws, not making a sound.
We decided to take her into the playroom to get to know her a little better. Right away, my grandma decided that this dog was too big for her, but something else happened. My dad, my brother, and I fell in love with her. I couldn’t believe how badly I wanted to bring this dog home with us, especially because I had been afraid of dogs up to this point, but there was something so special about her. She jumped right into my dad’s lap, and that was when we knew we couldn’t leave without her.
There were a couple of extra steps involved, since the shelter wouldn’t let us adopt her until every member of the household interacted with her. We called my mom on the phone, begging her to come to the shelter. She wasn’t that thrilled, I might add, since she definitely wasn’t planning on bringing a dog home. Somehow, though, we were able to convince her, and once she came down to the shelter, we decided (mostly my dad and I) that KiKi was going to be our dog. My parents filled out all of the paperwork, and we walked out those doors with a new friend. It’s thirteen years later, and my best friend in the whole world is still going strong. Her legs are a bit weaker, and she’s more tired than she used to be, but since she’s fourteen years old, I’m just so happy that I still have her by my side. I can remember all the times she comforted me when I was sad; licking the tears off my face, immediately making me feel better, which she still does. She’s there when I need a laugh, and hears me out whenever I need to rant even though she can’t talk back to me. She takes selfies with me, even though she hates posing for pictures. She’s been a part of every Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and birthday celebration, joining in the fun with her own special dinner. Most importantly, she’s been my best friend through it all. She didn’t care about my ugly middle school phase or my braces. As long as she got a belly rub and a treat, she was satisfied. I’ve never met a dog with a gentler nature than hers. She loves everyone, and gets excited whenever she sees a new (or old) face. Her tail is always wagging, and she’s incredibly loving and affectionate.
I couldn’t be more grateful for the fact that I was able to grow up with KiKi and that she still greets me eagerly every time I come home for a break. No matter how many times she cries incessantly, pees in the house, barks like crazy, or flat out doesn’t listen, I am 100% sure she’s the greatest dog alive. I can’t picture my childhood without her in it. Anyone who knows me knows I love my dog more than anything, and all I hope for is that I have many more years with her, because I know I would be lost without my best friend
Thank you, KiKi, for being a part of my family.