| I have been laughed at, patronized, and pitied by non | | | | would stay around while I packed up the moving |
| pet-people. I may have been irritated, frustrated, or | | | | truck, an unknown man started to walk up behind |
| disgusted but now I just feel sorry for them. Non | | | | me. Nikki went berserk. The man backed off even |
| Pet-Peeps don't understand Pet-Peeps and vice-versa. | | | | though my big protector could not have reached him. |
| It is not until that unexpected and unexplainable | | | | Nikki taught Pet-Power to me. She also taught me |
| connection is made between a person and their pet | | | | about unconditional love and acceptance. That dog |
| that one can finally validate the bond. Non Pet-Peeps | | | | gave more to me than I could have ever given to |
| just have not met the right pet yet! They have not | | | | her. I have questioned who saved whom. She will |
| experienced Pet-Power. | | | | always have a very special place in my heart and |
| My own initiation to Pet-Power came after graduating | | | | because of her, I became a smitten rescue dog |
| from university. I had always liked animals and much | | | | person and have rescued dogs ever since. |
| preferred them, even in my play toys. We had a | | | | Aisha is a hard-driving, no-nonsense businesswoman |
| Collie named Maggie, who I really don't remember. I | | | | who I know personally and have worked with |
| had my first horse as a thirteen-year-old young girl. | | | | professionally. A bit of a neat-freak and extremely |
| We had almost ten great years together. But still, it | | | | well organized, she has a place and system for |
| took that special pet to help me finally experience | | | | everything. I know she thought me a bit of a |
| Pet-Power. | | | | sentimental flake when I'd get mushy about my dogs |
| Moving to Detroit churned up a bit of anxiety. I was | | | | or if I made comment about a passing puppy. She |
| concerned for my safety. Thus, my solution... get a | | | | was a good sport and tolerated it, but I know deep |
| dog. I was directed to a local vet that in turn gave | | | | down she was thinking, "OK, whatever..That's just |
| me a phone number for a free 5 1/2 month old | | | | Janus." |
| female husky. My best friend, Heidi, and I jumped | | | | I knew that Aisha had a big black Lab-mix growing up |
| into my little maroon Civic 4-door. With Heidi's | | | | so I was a bit bewildered at her lack of desire about |
| navigational help, we arrived at our destination. | | | | dogs, but chalked it up to her Non Pet-Peep Persona. |
| The place facing us was a small aluminum trailer in | | | | So imagine my surprise and delight when a tiny little |
| sore need of repair. Old stuff was strewn | | | | black Lab captured her heart and transformed this |
| everywhere. As Heidi and I stepped tentatively from | | | | tough Non Pet-Peep into a card carrying Pet Parent |
| the car, the front door opened to reveal a woman in | | | | Freak! She even has brought in two more big dogs |
| her forties, dressed in odd colored sweats, smoking a | | | | to make a total of three large Lab-Mixes (one being |
| cigarette. She leaned out the door and squinted at us. | | | | her old childhood dog, Lucky). Her perfect existence |
| "You here for a dog?" she asked with a hint of | | | | turned into a lovable mushy mess of love and mutts. |
| suspicion. | | | | She now stops to 'oooh' and 'aaaw' at every passing |
| "Oh, yeah....", I started. | | | | puppy and has to have Labrador calendars and |
| "Well, come on then." | | | | pictures of her "girls" in the office. If Aisha had the |
| I guess we passed the test and were motioned to | | | | room and funding, she would rescue as many dogs |
| follow her around to the back of the trailer. Stepping | | | | as possible. Pet-Power hit her hard! |
| gingerly, we followed the thin, scraggly figure. A big, | | | | Big D is another perfectionist; clean car, clean house |
| hairy, brown and black animal with huge golden eyes, | | | | to the point of OCD. He is a big gruff guy that |
| whined and jumped up, straining against her chain. | | | | scares most people until they get to know him. |
| "That's Nikki." The woman pointed to the beast. | | | | Imagine my horror when I helped him to adopt a |
| "She's German Shepherd and something." | | | | puppy for his kids and the scared little animal |
| "Australian Shepherd, I think." A man had appeared. | | | | promptly projected her last meal in his spotless |
| "Whatever," snapped our hostess. "We also have a | | | | leather backseat. From that day on, he put up with |
| bunch of puppies." | | | | my dogs to put up with me, but never touched one |
| Not wanting to be hasty or rude, I followed the lady | | | | of them on purpose. He tolerated my addiction and |
| a little farther on with Heidi on my heels. We came | | | | even played with them in his own way. He and Nikki |
| upon two scraggly female mutts chained up to their | | | | would chase each other around the house. Big D |
| respective tiny doghouses, with a swarm of puppies | | | | even went through accompanying me to the |
| crawling around and over them. I fleetingly wondered | | | | emergency room to have to put down both Nikki |
| if any puppies wandered away without the safety of | | | | and Rusty. I could tell his big heart broke but he still |
| their chained up mothers...I had to banish the | | | | did not want a dog of his own. That was all my |
| bothersome thought. The puppies were cute, but my | | | | silliness. |
| attention was diverted by the lonesome wail of the | | | | Well, nothing twists a Daddy like his youngest child |
| hairy beast we had first encountered. It was my | | | | and when Kalli wanted a Pomeranian puppy, he had |
| undoing. The poor thing wanted attention so badly... | | | | to give in. Big D accompanied his daughter to a |
| "I want Nikki," I told the couple. "I promise to give | | | | wonderful breeder couple that had three little puff |
| her a good home and will leave my address and | | | | balls from a champion bloodline. Kalli picked the middle |
| phone number so you can check on her." | | | | puppy; not too shy but not too aggressive. For Kalli, |
| The woman smirked at my last comment but the | | | | she now had a cute little accessory to show off. For |
| man smiled and nodded. I realized upon coming close, | | | | Big D, something else happened. The little |
| that there was no collar and that the chain was | | | | Pomeranian, Jack, plopped his little rump down in |
| clamped tight around the animal's neck. I felt anger | | | | front of the big man's recliner and yipped at him. He |
| and resolve. | | | | continued to yip until the astonished Big D bent way |
| "Wait just a sec." The man left and reappeared with | | | | down to pick up the demanding little puppy. Jack |
| pliers. | | | | immediately licked the big guy and cuddled into his |
| Once the chain was forced free, Nikki went into | | | | arms to drop off to sleep. Big D looked rather |
| motion. She took off like a shot, running for her life. I | | | | helpless and distressed for a minute or two but |
| followed Heidi back to the Honda and opened the | | | | relaxed and smiled as the little puff of fur settled into |
| back door. To everyone's amazement, the huge ball | | | | a perfect slumber. Jack's tiny puppy sides lifted and |
| of fur barreled into the opening, flipped herself | | | | fell against his big human pillow. D melted into mush, |
| around in the back seat facing me and planted | | | | his eyes glistened with love and awe as Jack |
| herself firmly against the maroon upholstery. She laid | | | | burrowed his way into the big man's heart. |
| down with her chin on her paws, looking up at me. | | | | Although no one would have expected it, when Big D |
| Her eyes seemed to plead, "Please take me with | | | | and Kalli separated households, Jack went with Big D.. |
| you." | | | | He is more than his little buddy though. He is the one |
| For fourteen years and at least ten home moves, | | | | and only "thing" able to wake Big D up with a smile |
| Nikki and I shared our lives. I never felt alone with | | | | and chuckle and he is the one sure-fire medicine that |
| my big wolf-look-a-like protector and friend. She was | | | | makes the big man feel better through his battles. |
| a big lovable companion and a delightful reason to go | | | | Talk about successful therapy! Jack saw his big |
| home each night. Although she looked fierce with her | | | | Daddy through the worst of it. Pet-Power strikes |
| black face and golden eyes, Nikki was actually a big | | | | again! |
| baby who loved to cuddle in your lap. I only saw her | | | | So the next time you meet a Non Pet-Peep, do not |
| actually "go nuts" on one occasion. While having the | | | | despair. They just haven't met the right Pet yet! |
| gates wide open and Nikki tied off to the side so she | | | | |