I had my shoes tied and ready to go. My girlfriend at the time said she was in dire need to go to the mall to get something that I can’t recall. Remember those days when malls were a thing and retail stores had never heard of their looming death from the giant Amazonian?
We were strolling through the wide, fluorescent lit corridors when I saw Petland. My heart ached every time I would see those poor animals locked behind a cage with a small, smudged Plexiglas window. But I could never resist the temptation to enter those mall pet stores. It felt like a miniature zoo. I would always try to get the big red parrot to repeat some off-hand word with no success…ever.
The puppies, oh the puppies. Who can resist a puppy, not this guy. I wanted to take them all home and snuggle. I wanted all the puppy licks and to smell their stinky puppy breath. It was always so hard to leave those guys behind. Going into a Petland, Pets R Us or Pet World was like knowing your going to get hit by a train, but you stand on the tracks anyways.
But today was different. My phone started vibrating and I reached into my jean pocket and what do you know my mom was on the caller ID. I scrambled to open my fancy flip phone, “Hello mom, what’s going on?” Little did I know that phone call would change my life.
My mom replied, “Son, there is this adorable German Shepherd puppy that needs a home. He’s been dropped off at the animal clinic. Just thought you should know.” Talk about the universe knowing what I was thinking and even where I was standing at that exact moment. This was fate.
After interviewing with the guy who found him lost in a barn, I was approved to nab the little guy up and whisk him home. I got all the fixings to make him feel safe and loved. He was so chill. So chill that I don’t think he liked me much.
But he came around, boy did he come around.
I named him Krypto, after Superman’s dog, plus he was found in a barn.
He stole my heart.
I bought him a kiddie pool, you know one of those flimsy, plastic tubs. His eyes lit up like Christmas. Little did I know the monster I was creating. Ever since water has been his thing. I must tote towels everywhere, there’s a stack in my Jeep right now. After time he earned a new name, the Kryptopotamus. This guy will swim for hours and it took a couple years before he learned to stay out of puddles, like the tiniest of puddles he would wallow in just like the humongous hippos.
He became my best friend and sometimes my only friend. He waited by the door every day with a smile and a tail wagging. It didn’t matter if I was gone a day or 5 minutes that same smile was wrapped on his lips.
Relationship after failed relationship, he was there. He listened. He snuggled. He cared.
Days when I was so tired from working, he gave me the energy to go for a walk. He made me feel alive, he renewed my spirit.
He learned my language and I learned his. I became intrinsically connected to him on a deep emotional level. I began to understand why the saying exist that dogs are man’s best friend. He got me and I him.
I fell deeper in love with him as time went on. He was my brother, my son and at times my guide. He was my rock. I could always count on him. His love never changed, something that is the rarest of rare in the world we live in today.
The love that I gave him, he returned it 10 fold. I thought I had rescued him but I was the one he rescued. I am truly grateful for my handsome, furry friend. Sometimes I don’t know where I would be without him. He has been a major blessing to my life.
He has taught me so much in the short time that I’ve had him. I hope to find a love like that in another human being, a better half, a partner in crime one day.
A love that is reciprocated, a smile that is always there for you, a warming embrace at any given hour.
An undying love.
Barking Wild 