Yes, We ARE "Those People!" or For Love of Dog

Our neighbor, Mark, brought over a Christmas gift for us (yummy peppermint bark--thanks, Marchant family!) Then Charlie and Puddin' brought some chocolate chip cookies that Lynne had made! (We have such good neighbors.)

Now that they've moved into a bigger house, Mark and Liz's kids are holding them to their promise of getting a dog and Muggle is just the right size. Talking of Muggle naturally leads to talk of agility. Which led to talk of the hilarious movie, Best in Show. If you aren't familiar with it, it's a parody of the intensely, freakishly dog-obsessed folks who frequent the dog show circuit. Mark asked if there are similar characters in agility.

"Oh, yeah! But not us. I mean, we don't have any kids, so we spoil the animals, but we know they're pets," I told him. Then felt the need to qualify. "Well, I mean, sort of. We aren't as obsessive as the Best in Show folks, but maybe we over do it a bit with our babies."

Muggle with his Christmas "loot."

Then I had to go in to check on homemade chicken jerky I was making for Muggle in the dehydrator.

This morning, looking at the wonderful pile of gifts under the tree, it struck me. Yes, we ARE "those people" from Best in Show! I didn't want to be one of "those" dog-obsessed, crazy people whose life center's around their dog. That's almost as sad as people whose life center's around their human children! Almost. Human kids grow up, become independent, and move on. Our dogs are dependent on us for their whole lives.

The evidence of our (my) obsession with my dog is overwhelming and it's been right in front of my face the whole time. I just didn't want to see it:

• Drawers full of "Muggle" and agility clothing.
• A whole "travel bag" just for roadtrips with Muggle (crate, toys, food and water dishes, treats, blanket, pillow, 2 leashes, bandana)
• The agili-tree.

The Agili-tree: decorated with Muggle's agility ribbons.

• Albums and albums of Muggle on Facebook.
• My gifts from Matt: solar panel for the car to run the seat-heater at those cold, outdoor agility trials, and a Muggle photo collage.
• Making homemade treats for Muggle.
• More gifts for Muggle under the tree than anyone else!

My Christmas gift from Matt: an Agility-photo Collage

Guess I have to face the facts. We ARE those people. And it's not a bad thing at all. Animals are and should be treated as part of the family. We love them, take care of them, and while we may have other interests and friends outside of them, to them, we are everything! I can't think of a better, more admirable or redeeming quality in a person than for them to be an animal lover.

From our house to yours, and from our furry, 4-legged kids to yours, Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Frohe Weihnachten, and a happy, healthy New Year filled with much barking, meowing, and many sloppy, wet kisses!

Lynne, Matt, Muggle, Spooky, and Minerva

Minerva and Spooky

Muggle

Me and Matt in DC