never 'just dogs'

Growing up, I was desperate for a dog.  I dreamed of a time I could cuddle with my furry friend at night, and run in the backyard with him during the days.  I would flip to the comics in the paper and look longingly at the Snoopy strip thinking, "If Charlie Brown can have a beagle, why can't I??".  My childhood came and went, and still I had no dog to call my own.

Enter my Knight in Shining Armour (or rather, Hero in an EMS Uniform) who would eventually propose marriage and give me the most precious wedding gift I could have ever imagined - a beagle, named Copper.  My dream had finally come true!  I had a furry friend to cuddle with and run with and love forever... But the thing is, I really had no idea what I was getting into.  I could never have dreamed up the love, the loyalty, the pure bliss I would feel with this precious animal in my life.

A year after Copper came, we welcomed another beagle, Diego into our family.  Our "Beagle Boys" became our children - we spoiled them with gourmet food and spent hours indulging in long walks and cuddles on the couch in front of the TV.  When I found out I was expecting my first human child, countless people told me my "boys" would soon take a backseat.  That I would no longer feel the same connection, and they would become "just dogs".  I insisted through my pregnancy that this was simply untrue.  And in truth, Copper and Diego have not only maintained their status as our children, but have strengthened and enriched our family more than they'll ever know.

Every morning, I wake to Copper's insistent licks and Diego's silly stretching sounds.  I come home after a stressful day at work to be greeted with excited barks and wagging tails.  I can always count on a free floor-cleaning crew while making dinner, and a cuddle partner or two on the couch while we watch our favourite shows.  I am never alone, and in my darkest hours, just one look in their eyes tells me I am loved.

I've watched with heartache as friends have had to say goodbye to their beloved dogs, and I wonder how I will ever be able to do the same.  I can't imagine a day when I won't hear Diego's little paws running across the floor, or Copper's eager whine when food is put on the table.  Just as I can't fathom saying goodbye to my son, Mateo, I simply can't accept that I will one day - far too soon - have to say goodbye to my Beagle Boys.

But in the meantime, I will cherish each and every moment I share with these creatures.  I will be thankful that my son and daughter-to-be will be fortunate enough to grow up with them, never having to want or wish or dream the way I used to.  And to those who told me they're "just dogs", I feel sorry for you.  I pity you for not knowing how a human and an animal can share the purest of friendship, an unspoken bond; the most unconditional love.