Our First Year Together

4 minutes

Last update: 27 June, 2018

Uncertainty, doubts, fear… there are a lot of feelings when we adopt a pet for the first time. However, the love, the company and the affection they give us every day makes the time fly, and then before we know it we’re at our first year together…

Our First Year Together: Challenges

I was questioning whether or not to adopt. But when I finally convinced myself to do it and then went to look for the perfect puppy, I didn’t have to question it anymore. You came running up to me and I just knew it: it was you! Even though, as I say this and the more I think about it, I think it’s more accurate to say that you picked me, instead of the other way around.

However, that doesn’t really matter anymore, and I don’t think it matters much to you, either. The important thing is that we have somehow already had our first year together. It wasn’t easy at first to get to where we are now, but we have both come together and done our parts. Today, I wouldn’t trade you for the world.

The good times and the bad

I remember when I first brought you home. You marked your territory all over the house—literally in every corner! I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. I thought that our coexistence was going to be impossible. Maybe I had been alone too long, and that made me a bit selfish with my things. Now, I had to learn to share them with you.

I had no other choice, you didn’t give me any another option. I had to share my home, my bed, my sofa and even my food. Even though everything was new to me, in the end, I did it and I do it gladly.

Teaching you to not do your business in the house was no easy feat… but together, we did it. Finally, the house smells great! And I know that you like when it is clean and it smells good, as much as I do.

Going out for walks was not an easy task, either. I spoke to you lovingly, and although at the beginning you didn’t seem to pay attention, you eventually understood that you have to walk with me, pay attention to me if I call you, and not pull on the leash so it won’t hurt your neck. Patience and love paid off.

And today, after our first year together, I look at you lying on the bed all relaxed and I realize that all of the effort was worth it.

Our First Year Together: Joys

It was also worth it because you gave me, still give me and will continue to give me, so much joy. Our first year together was not just challenges—we had a lot of good times, too.

You were so small when I brought you home that drinking from your water bowl was a challenge. Your head couldn’t reach the water when it was running low, and when you tried to turn it over with your paw, you would dump it on top of you. I felt bad, but at the same time, it made me laugh so hard!

When I would come home from work and see you there, sitting at the door and whining because you wanted to see me… you made me feel so good! I was always looking forward to finishing my day so I could go home and see you. Knowing that you felt the same way made me feel loved, and still does.

Never again did I sit on the couch and watch TV by myself, and I love it when you come up and snuggle. I love that you feel sad when I leave because it’s not what you want, and I love it when you come sleep near me or push my hand with your head so I will pet you.

Today, after our first year together, I can say that adopting you was the best decision of my life, and that even though it was not easy to adapt at first, we made it work.

And I have nothing left to say, except that we still have many years to live together, new challenges to face and new joys to discover. And you know what? I couldn’t have chosen a better partner to do it with. Thank you for choosing me!