Thursday, May 27, 2010

Gretel is 4!

I never had a dog growing up. Our pets were more on the "small, live for a few months" nature. I had gerbils and fish and that was about it. We were all allergic to furry things and we were on the go so much, that "real" pets didn't fit in our family.

That changed almost 4 years ago when we were shipped a labradoodle from Idaho who was called Gretel. I picked a labradoodle because she was hypoallergenic. The girls picked her because she was cute. Matt didn't care, he just wanted a dog because he had grown up with lots of pets.

We were hoping she would ease the anxieties of K with lots of snuggle time. (It still works) I was hesitant because I knew I would be this puppy's main care giver. It's true, I was and am. Sometimes, when I walk her, it still seems surreal that I have a dog. Me the "non-dog" lover.

We couldn't have asked for a sweeter, more patient dog. Yesterday she turned 4! It was fun to look at some pictures of her over the years.











Happy Birthday Gretel! We love you!

11 comments:

MsFish said...

Happy Birthday Gretel! Love Big Brucie! :)

scargosun said...

Happy birthday, Gretel girl! She is absolutely wonderful and sweet!

Anonymous said...

For Gretel on her birthday...my all time favorite dog-loving poem.

__________

Dogs in Our Lives

We aren't house-proud. If we were, we wouldn't abide the scratches on the door-frame, the holes in the screen, the darkened shine of worn spots on the chair.

We would wince at the mottled carpet
and fret at the hair clinging to our clothes.

We don't.

If anything, we lovers of dogs are a tolerant lot, finding greater value in the unabashed affection of our friend than immaculate sofas. Shoes can be replaced, but heroic retrievers are timeless.

Without dogs, our homes are cold receptacles for things. Dogs make a fire warmer with their curled presence. They wake us, greet us, protect us,
and ultimately carve a place in our hearts and in our history.

On reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts
defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs.

-- Paul Fersen

Kathy said...

Happy Birthday Gretel!

KathleenKMM said...

I love the Gretel posts! Happy birthday Gretel! :)

Sue/the view from great island said...

I want one! I have to have hypo allergenic dogs because I get terrible asthma from pets, and right now we have two bichons, but Gretel is too cute. I want to be on Cape Cod too!

Claudya Martinez said...

She's gorgeous! Happy Birthday Gretel!

Betty said...

The adorable Matisse Lulu says HB to Gretel. I say they would be too cute together! Lulu will be 4 on 11/05. Hmmmm.

Betty said...

Ha Ha, Sue, not stephanie, me, Betty.

Heather said...

Oh that is PRECIOUS! She is adorable! My friend has a labradoodle and they are SO COOL! :) Enjoy your holiday weekend!

Mrs4444 said...

She is so cute! Happy Belated B-Day, Gretel :)