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To adopt or not to adopt

This week’s edition of The Henry Hype is all about sharing my obsession with dogs, and how a Facebook post of puppies last week from the Lakeland Humane Society put the thought of owning one for the first time in my life in the forefront of my mind.

This week’s edition of The Henry Hype is all about sharing my obsession with dogs, and how a Facebook post of puppies last week from the Lakeland Humane Society put the thought of owning one for the first time in my life in the forefront of my mind.


My first day back at work after a weekend off started normal: story meeting, organizing the week, making phone calls to sources, interviewing said sources, and figuring out my own schedule to write my stories before the deadline.


The cuteness overload began when my editor gasped, and brought my attention to the adorable puppies being posted to the Lakeland Humane Society’s adoptable dogs album.


There didn’t seem to be an end to the adorable pups staring into the camera, as each time we refreshed there were even more looking for a home. The puppies were each named after Guardians of the Galaxy characters, and that somehow made them even sweeter.


The two-month-old puppies had the entire office in a a frenzy, and my obsession with owning a dog was at the top of my mind all day.


Even before I moved out here, I’ve wanted to own a dog.


When my parents asked me what I wanted as a graduation gift when I finished university, I sent them videos of recent grads being surprised with puppies instead of an actual answer.


I’m the person that must pet dogs when I see them out in public, and was so excited to see a group of dogs on a walk that they all heard my excited exclamation that there were dogs nearby through the closed windows of the car I was in.


Growing up, my family only owned cats.


I was disappointed when I made the decision not to bring any of them with me when I moved. But, a six-day drive didn’t seem fair to any of the furry friends that were used to living with my family.


A friend jokingly said that I could own a dog once I got my own place, and one of the first things I did was look through the ones up for adoption on the social media platforms for the local animal shelters.


I’ve been forcing myself to take my time while I pondered on adoption, because I want to make sure I’m ready to take an animal in.


Owning a dog is a big responsibility, and the most experience I’ve had is dog-sitting I did for a family friend a couple of weeks at a time when I was younger. It’s a whole different ball game than owning a cat, and it’s not a decision I’m going to make lightly.


When I make the plunge to adopt a dog, it won’t be a spur-of-the-moment decision that I later determine was a bad idea. I’m giving this dog a furever home with me, and I want to make sure that I can give it the best life possible.


I might try to adopt one of the puppies, or there could be an older dog that I fall in love with down the road at the shelter. I might know the breed, or it could be a mystery.


Whatever dog I end up with will be mine, and I’m going to spoil it rotten for its whole life.




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