I have wanted a dog my whole life. When I was a kid, my best friend Jen got her dog Leo (aka Leobernie aka dog who acted like a cat), from a litter that was born next door. There was a black and white puppy that I thought I could take home. When my dad picked me up from Jen’s house I begged him to let us take this black and white puppy, who I already named Oreo, home with us. We lived in a townhouse complex that did allow dogs, but my dad did not want us to be dog people. The answer was no. I was heartbroken.
This is not to say I didn’t have dogs in my life. My cousin brothers Sean, Charles, and Vincent always had a dog in their house. (Yes they are called cousin brothers in my head because they are my cousins but we grew up like siblings.) Brownie was a small, chunky dachshund that we all loved. We would sneak him rice under the dining table.
When my mom would pick me up from their house she would click her heels at Brownie, shouting “NO NO NO NO NO.” Mom wasn’t a fan of little dogs. She loved German Shepherds. She loved to regale us about her dog Ranger. Ranger was a German Shepherd that would follow her from our family house to work. Mom always said that he was the smartest. When Ranger passed, they buried him on the family compound and a tree sprung on his gravesite. Mom said they never cut down that tree. It was Ranger still protecting the family.
During Covid, I did all the classic pandemic things. Hand sewed fabric masks. Zoom happy hours. Attempted to make sourdough. Attempted to make Orange Marmalade. Went on lots of outdoor walks. Lost friends to Covid. Lost my dad, not to Covid, but to a heart attack and stroke. Moved from my beloved apartment of 12 years in Historic-Filipinotown into a house on the good side of North Hills.
The move back to North Hills was because I needed to be closer to my extended family. The house was big enough for me, Mike, and Mom. Eventually we would determine that Mom living with us was not sustainable. She would end up moving in with my Tita Cesa. Mom moved into what was our old room at Marson. Marson is what we called my Lola Sabel’s house. The house many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins called home before we all ventured off into our own homes.
With Mom at Marson, our house felt so big. Mike and I talked about how we finally could get a dog. We had the space. We even had a doggie door. So I began to make inquiries at different rescues. Angel City Pit Bulls matched us with a senior boy named Teddy B. We met Teddy at an open house event and instantly fell in love. Other potential families met Teddy as well. I crossed our fingers that Teddy could join us.
In February of 2022, we checked off one more pandemic thing. We adopted a dog. A year after we had moved out of Historic-Filipinotown, we picked up Teddy from our old neighborhood. He moved into our home. Teddy chewed up his first bed until it was a cloud of floof. And he trained us to give him treats every time he gives us heart eyes.
Mom got to meet Teddy. When she stayed with us for a weekend, Teddy kept her company. They bonded over him eating the crumbs at the dining table. Mom would point out all the crumbs and Teddy would gladly abide and eat them up. On my walks around the neighborhood, I would call Mom on her Alexa and show her how I was walking Teddy. She would always say “Wow he’s so big! You should get a German Shepherd. A German Shepherd like Ranger. They are the best dogs.”
Because of Teddy we’ve gone through several iterations of trash cans. He’s torn up numerous toys. He went from 54 lbs to 73 lbs of adorableness. He farts up a storm. He poops all over our backyard. And he’s seriously saved me.
When I was missing dad super hard and crying, Teddy knew to comfort me with his presence. When mom had her second stroke and I cried with worry, Teddy was there to give me kisses. When I had insomnia when mom was dying, Teddy was there to snuggle with me on the couch. On really rough days at work, Teddy is there to welcome me with a smile. When I’m watching trash tv, like my beloved BravoTV reality shows, he’s there snuggled up to me while I devour Vanderpump Rules or Real Housewives. (For the record Teddy is Team Ariana and is happy that Scandoval is finally winding down.)
Thank you Teddy for choosing us to be your family. I am forever grateful to have you farting and being an emo-sausauge on our couches. Which aren’t even our couches anymore. They are your couches Teddy. I am so glad that we pushed through everything to get to this point. That we made it to you.