When my dog died, Xena (see In Memoriam), she was 9 years old and it tore me to pieces. I cried so much it made me physically sick. I told Avi how much she loved me, and I loved her too, and I was just heart broken. Avi thought that was the dumbest thing he'd ever heard in his entire life - someone crying over a "stupid" animal.
I told him that I was going to go and find him the most lovey dovey animal on the face of the planet that he would have absolutely no choice but to fall in love with. He of course said "yeah, right.. .. " I was looking into a pug for months because I had a few as a kid and I remember them being so sweet and snorting all the time. I thought it was adorable, but the down-side to a pug was their intelligence. I don't know about ALL pugs, but mine were stupid. All 3 of them. And my granny's too. I was researching breeds online for a few months and I couldn't seem to come up with anything other than a pug.
Then we went to dinner one night with Avi's friend. We left the Pickle Barrel and walked past the pet store where I seen the most ADORABLE little red and white dog I'd ever seen in my entire life. There was also a black and white one, but there was something about the little red and white one. Avi's friend said "oh look at that how cute is he?" ANd I said yeah he is! So he ran into the store full fledged and asked if he could hold him . . I rolled my eyes of course, but when this little red and white monster was in Marc's arms it was the cutest little thing. It chewed the button off of his jacket and when he was put on the ground he humped the crap out of Marc's shoes. It was the funniest thing I'de ever seen. Love at first sight I guess you could say.
When I left the store I asked the lady what kind of dog this was and she said "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel." I was like, a what?! That was the longest name I'de ever seen!! It took me about a week to remember the name in full. WHen I got home that night I went online and took out my little piece of paper and googled the CKCs. It was the most adorable dog I'd ever laid my eyes on. When I read about their intelligence, personality, and enthusiasm for life I knew that was definately the dog for me. I wanted something I could hold onto and cuddle with at all hours of the day or night. The breed seemed like a perfect fit.
Over the next few weeks I researched as much as I could about the breed and contacted every single breeder that lived within a few hours distance. There were a few that had litters coming up, and a few who had some puppies at the time. I got pictures of them all, I even went and seen one, but this little red and white one just kept hopping back into my mind. The one that I seen seemed very subdued and laid back, and I was looking for something a little more fiesty.
I spoke to one of the breeders about wanting to rescue, and then about the dog I had seen in the store. She had told me that sometimes different people buy them out of stores and place them into rescues so that they have a chance at having a good life. After thinking many long and hard hours about the decision I was making, I finally decided to return to the pet store and rescue the little red and white guy. I felt like I was giving him a second chance at life, taking an unknown future for a dog and spoiling it rotten. I don't know what would have happened to Kosmo had I left him at the store, and if I was a little more well informed on the background of pet stores before I had gotten him I may have made a different decision, but one thing is certian and that is that I do not regret getting him one bit!! He's made my life so wonderful and happy.
He's the first thing I think of in the morning and the last thing I think of before bed at night. (maybe because it co-incides with potty breaks?) hehe
He's been the best dog I could have ever asked for and I really don't think I'll ever have another breed.. except for maybe another Xena when I get a big yard.
Avi is the same too. He is always saying "oh Kosmo you're such a good boy." "Kosmo, did you know I love you?" hehe
Sorry to be long winded but this question kind of touched me and it's very personal to me.
Here's the little red and white headed monster the day we brought him home.. maybe I should have used this for the sad eyes!! hehe