Yoda…
I didn’t want another dog. Wait. That’s not exactly true. I wanted — want
– every dog. I always do.
Since I could walk, I’ve gravitated toward the canines in the room. Today, when I take a jog, I’ll notice the dog before I see the owner. Always.
But before I adopted Yoda from the Animal Care Society, I didn’t think I’d adopt another dog. At least not in the foreseeable future.
When my Jack Russell-Corgi named Jack died suddenly — unexpectedly — in March, my dogs Herbie and Bud and I never quite found our groove. The little fella who always seemed to bs underfoot us all was missing, and the void was fierce. Bud, a 13-14-year-old black lab/chow I’ve had since 1999 spent more time outside or sleeping, and Herbie, an 8-year-old beagle mix just seemed out of sorts and depressed. I did to, friends say.
Then, in September, I did a segment on WHAS11′s new morning show “Great Day Live!” with Janet Warner of the Animal Care Society. As much as I loved the puppy I was holding, I told her, I knew my lifestyle couldn’t work for a youngster. But after sharing how the loss of Jack was affecting my dogs and me, Janet smiled. “You have to meet Yoda. Just come see her.”
I did. And that was it.
Yoda is an almost 2-year-old Chiweenie — a chihuahua-doxon — who has changed everything. Despite his age, Bud acts like he did a decade ago. And Herbie has become the consummate mother. She taught Yoda how to ring the hanging bells on the doorknob to go outside and how to wake me up by breathing on my face. The two play so much I sometimes “banish” them outside, a place Herbie has been reticent to visit outside of potty visits ever since Jackie died.
I live a life I love and don’t take that for granted. With Yoda in it, I love it even more.
I’m so grateful to Louisville’s Animal Care Society for connecting me, Bud and Herbie with Yoda. Finally, my house feels like home. Again.
*******
Angie Fenton is the managing editor of The Voice-Tribune and the entertainment correspondent for WHAS11′s morning show “Great Day Live!”
************