My Puppies

People have been asking me about the “puppies” that grace so many of my stories. Well, one is not a puppy “per se” and the other is a puppy. I call them my puppies no matter how old they are.

There are both suppose to be Pek-a-Poos (1/2 Pekinese/ ½ Poodle). Over the last 18 years we have had four Pek-a-Poos. They are wonderful little dogs that do not shed, are smart and great indoor companions.

We had Kol who lived 6 months and had kidney failure and we lost him. We had Elmo for 15 years and he passed quietly in my arms on the way to the vet after what we think was a stroke. We have had Sammy (Samwise) for 5 ½ years and little Boo is 6 months old.

Kol, Elmo and Boo all came from the same breeder. Sammy however, was found on sale on line because a pet store needed to sell him QUICK. His brother had been sold and he was still hanging around at 12 weeks and they needed to get rid of him.

We drove a long distance to see Sammy and found a filthy shop with dirty, smelly owners and a little white dog with pink ears that was terrified of his own shadow. Someone had mistreated this little dog and we decided to rescue him. It was very apparent that he had never been outside when we took him to the car.

Our old dog Elmo welcomed him (well, actually he tolerated him) and Sammy added another two years to Elmo’s life. It took almost four years for Sammy to come to Dennis and me if we put our hand down. He still does not respond well to strangers, but he sure does love Dennis and me.

Now if you noticed I said, “both suppose to be Pek-a-Poos.”

We just found out that Sammy is not really a Pek-a-Poo (we always did question it, because he was so much bigger than our other Pek-a-Poos….we just called him the Postman’s dog)….The mystery has been solved by a new vet and her assistant.

We took him to the vet for his yearly check over and they both looked at me and said, “Are you SURE Sammy is a Pek-A-Poo?” I told them the joke of the Postman’s dog and they are pretty sure he is a Lhasa-Poo ( ½ Lhasa Apso/ ½ Poodle) …and when I got home and told Dennis we immediately went to Google and looked at pictures of other Lhasa-Poo’s and sure enough HE IS A LHASA-POO!!!!!! Now he is legitimate!!!! We hugged him, and danced with him (well, I danced with him) and told him he was now legit.

Then there is Boo….our most recent addition to the family. Less than three pounds when we got him. He looked like a fuzzy black tennis ball with four little paws sticking out. He has a sweet (and ornery) face with a tuft of white hair on his chin, chest and two back paws, He and Sammy are great pals and often sleep together in the same cage even though they have their own.

Friendship and love mean so much to me. The kids named Elmo because they loved Elmo from Sesame Street. I called Sammy Samwise after the faithful and true friend of Mr. Frodo from Lord of the Rings. I thought of Boo, the shadowy and misunderstood friend of the children, Scout and Jem in To Kill a Mockingbird. Arthur “Boo” Radley and Samwise loved and saved their friends.

Our dogs have been wonderful, fun additions to our family. When we were going through some very difficult times, Elmo was such a comfort to me. I could cry with him anytime I wanted. He didn’t question, or get annoyed, or try to fix anything…he would just try to lick a few tears away and then snuggle as close to me (on my lap) as he could. Sometimes when I was praying he would creep up, put his head on my chest, look at me, and just rest on my chest as if he too needed to soak up the moment with Christ.


I learn much from my four legged companions in life. They love unconditionally. They forgive easily and quickly. They “apologize” by slowly slinking to me and turning on their backs when they have done wrong. They take life as it is and try to find something interesting under every rock, leaf, blanket or sofa cushion. They find such joy and delight in anything that is new, shiny or running across the fence in our backyard. They live in the moment, forgetting five minutes ago and they never worry about the next five minutes, let alone tomorrow. They make Dennis and me laugh…sometimes until tears run down our faces. They show Dennis and me the type of love that can only come from a much loved and trusting animal.

I often contrast my feelings, behavior and love for Christ with the way my puppies are with me. Right now little Boo is curled up, sound asleep at my feet, not a worry in the world…trusting me and knowing that when it is time to eat, I will feed him. When he needs to go outside, I will gladly open the door and then watch over him. When he wants to play. I will play with him. When he wants to sit in my lap and rest, I never push him away. When he wants to smother me with a bazillion rapid-fire kisses, I hold him and laugh, giggle, and love his devotion to me.

I want to show Christ my love because I am much loved by Him. I want to be as trusting as Boo and Sammy and know that every need will be taken care of (and more) because He loves me and has always been there for me. Why do I sometimes doubt, fear, or disdain when a new situation or trial, or change comes into my life?

Sometimes I feed the dogs a different food and they will run to their bowls expecting the same old same old…and will stop dead in their tracks and sit and look at me…sometimes they will be fighting over one bone, even though both have their own bone and I have to take it away from them for awhile…..but still they trust and eat the food I set before them and will behave better the next time they have the bones. …they eat and behave because they know I love them and I can be trusted.

My wonderful Lord and Savior has shown me over and over and over again that He can be trusted with and in anything.

Therefore, like Boo, I will curl up at His scarred feet and rest peacefully, knowing that I am loved by and I love the greatest Person in the world to trust in all things for all seasons and times in my life.