Our First Child

Frequently when Jeffrey and I are in social situations, we start to talk about our furkids. Other people talk about their kids, we talk about our furkids. Sometimes I feel kinda silly, not wanting to compare animals and humans in the same conversation, but it certainly does compare when it comes to Riley. The kitties are also our family members, but none of them require the constant attention, care, and most of all, emotional suppot from us. I frequently tell people that Riley is our first child.

And now that Riley is less than one month away from his 3rd birthday, I am beginning to mourn the loss of his puppyhood. Really, Riley has grown out of puppyhood a good year ago. (He certainly took adolescence head on with a vengeance). Thank God that only lasted a few weeks. But when he hits that 3 year mark, he is offically a full grown adult Berner. I have been checking the pads of his paws over the past three years. He came to us with baby pink pads and little by little as the time went by, the pink was pushed out, replaced by jet black. And now, not a speck of pink left. Not even a smidgeon.

3 years a young dog
3 years a good dog
3 years an old dog
3 years a gift from God

I believe that is how the Berner saying goes. Our Bernerbuddies do not have much time here with us. Someone once said that they are really just here on loan from God (or whomever you believe in...maybe from Buddha? hee hee) and that is why their time here is so short. I am afraid when he will start to slow down. I am afraid he will get sick. So many of our Berners do. And I am sad that one day Riley will not be able to hike great mountains with us anymore. And one day Riley will not even be able to climb those stairs. And we will only just love him more, and hold onto him tighter, and he will break our hearts.

I worry about him. How was his day? Was he lonely? Was he sad? Did something scare him? Did he think about where he might like to go today? Did he think about what his next meal would be? Does he love the paint color on the wall? (no, I don't actually think about whether he cares about that) His happiness is important to us. Isn't that how you would feel about a child?