I want!

Every year, since I could remember, I ask my mom if I could get a dog. And every single year, my request gets rejected. My mom would give me a list of reasons why it’s a bad idea – who, what, where, etc. The bottom line is we can’t get one. 

To compensate, my mom bought me two love birds when I was around 7 or 8 years old. Love birds were easy pets. You keep them in a cage, feed them, and stare at them. Done. But my seven year old self like to ‘pet’ pets. I remember taking them out of their cages and trying to gently ‘smoosh’ them like how you do with kittens or puppies. Soon I learned that my caged love birds know how to fly really really high. Yeah, they escaped. 

Rocky The Hamster

It took several more years before I would get another pet. By the time I was 13 years old, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits were all the rage in school. My school mates would bring them to school and organize a mini show and tell during break times. My teen self had an epiphany that I could own one. I chose the hamsters. I got one and named him Rocky. Similar to the love birds, hamsters are also easy pets. You keep them in a cage, feed them minus the staring part. Unlike the birds, you can play with the hamsters. Rocky liked being out his caged. He would run around in circles and jump. Soon I learned that Rocky, the hamster, was a tiny, agile and fast creature. The thing ran away. 

After two runaway pets, I haven’t bothered to get another. Yet, the experience did not dampen my want for a pet dog. I still want one! Coincidentally, a friend of mine is selling two of his shih tzu puppies. I’m thinking of getting one. Though there are two things that are stopping me: 1) house train the dog and 2) my mom.

I’ve been reading several sites on how to train dogs, specifically for the shih tzu. Most are saying that it’s not that hard. Several of my friends have been able to train their dogs. Who’s to say I can’t do it? 

As for my mom, I tried asking her again if we could have one in the house. Of course, as always, she disagreed. (Tsk. Why oh why does a 20+ adult is still asking her mom for permission? Well, she still provides the roof above my head. It’s the culture, it’s the economy. Anyway, back to the dog business). I’m thinking of getting one either way. I’ll name it Roar. My mom would go ballistic.