Living with a 12 pound Rat... Rat Terrier, that is…

That Very First Day...

"The most he will weigh, I would say,"  The young girl in the pet store looked him over carefully.  "About seven pounds at the most."  She finished with assurance.

            "Small enough to fit in my handbag."  I peered into that tiny trusting face that looked up at me.

            "Without a doubt."  She returned. 

            "We'll take him."  My husband Tom said simply. 

            "That's great."  She replied.

            "We'll also need…"  As Tom followed the sales girl, who was beaming that she had just made the sale, I found myself faced with a million and one questions.  How would I care for this three pound puppy that was now snuggled comfortably in the crook of my arm?

            Oh, he was sweet.  He had the most beautiful facial features which seemed almost perfect on each side of his small face with a white line separating each and a small liver spot on his nose.  Actually his face made him look like a Mini Doberman.  He had the big brown eyes with the tan eye brows and black whiskers.  He was all white save for the one black spot on his left side.  His tail had been cropped and although there was some black on the tip there was a white dusting on the very end.  He was by far the most beautiful dog I had ever seen.  I named him Chase immediately and he seemed not to mind.  What a beauty.  A Rat Terrier.  I had never even heard of such a breed.  And to tell you the truth I didn't even know where to begin in caring for him.  After all, I didn't have any intention when I walked into the pet store that I would leave with this little bundle of joy.  What would the kids say?  How would they react?  And what would Jake and Gilly, our two felines have to say about the newest addition to the family.

            Chase slept as Tom continued gathering items that a small pup would need.  All told,  when the paper work was finished and credit check complete the cost came to well over one thousand dollars.  A lot of money considering I had just been laid off the month before.  Tom said simply.  "You love him."  It was a statement that I certainly could not refute.  "You will get another job.  And you can consider it an early anniversary present."

            Tom carried all of the extras; the crate, which would be Chase's home away from home, an eight pound bag of dry puppy kibbles, at least six cans of wet puppy food, four to five small squeak toys, a bag of wee wee pads, small collar with matching leash, and vitamins.  I carried Chase.  We must have been a sight walking through the mall that afternoon.

            The drive home was another experience.  It was a hot day for early May.  Thank goodness Tom had stopped off for a bottle of spring water because when we were halfway home Chase started to cry.  At first we couldn't understand why.  It was warm in the car but we did have the air conditioning unit on low just to keep him comfortable.  But he had been sleeping in the sun and we had been stuck in traffic for a little while.  While stopped on a major highway we poured out some water in the cap and Little Chase went to town lapping up every drop.  The poor guy had been thirsty.  Well, you know what comes next.  You guessed it!  Now he had to do what comes naturally after you have a refreshing drink.  He was whining and looking down at the floor.  "I can't believe this."  I shook my head as Tom reached in the backseat for the package of wee wee pads.  No sooner than I had one on the floor with Chase on top of it that he relieved himself.

            "This is one smart pooch."  Tom said and we laughed together as I picked him up and held him close.  This was one day that I knew I'd never forget.  Never before had I felt such love for an animal.  And that was only the beginning.