Dear Puppy,
I know you’re not technically a puppy anymore, but “dog” feels too formal.
First, I want to say thank you. Thank you for always being excited to see me when no one else is. Thank you for always wanting to play with me when no one else does. Thank you for always letting me know when someone is at the door, even though it’s usually the mailman and he comes every day at the same time. Thank you for being such a good listener, and most of the time the only one who really gets me.
Secondly, I want to say I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the times I’ve come home smelling like other dogs, I promise you’re my favorite. I’m sorry for the times I was too tired to get up and walk you. I’m sorry for the times I’ve yelled at you for taking things out of the trash and eating them…on my bed. I’m sorry I had to go away to school and we haven’t been seeing each other as much as we’d like, which brings me to my next point: I miss you.
I miss cuddling with you in my bed, even when you fart. I miss sneakily feeding you people food when Dad’s not looking. I miss giving you tummy rubs, and seeing how happy you get when I scratch your butt. I miss putting music on and holding you by your paws and dancing with you in the kitchen, despite the fact that whenever I do this you try to bite my hands off. I miss the way you constantly try to sit on my lap or on the furniture, even though you’re not supposed to, because you’re a rebel like that.
I know that you miss me too, but not to worry, summer is coming soon. It’ll be four whole months of throwing tennis balls to you in the pool and watching you flail around in the water trying to retrieve them. I’m still going to yell at you for eating things you’re not supposed to, and you’ll probably still do that thing where you sit down and stare at me and your ears go back so I can’t be mad at you. I appreciate the fact that you’re never in a bad mood, and you’re always looking to please me, I can’t say that about many humans. I know we only have a few good years left together, but we’re going to make the most of them.
No one comes when I call them as fast as you do, and it’s super weird when anyone else licks my face. I’ll see you soon, puppy.
Love,
The (Wo)Man in “Man’s Best Friend”