February 23, 2010 started off as a very normal day. I was
at the Town Lake Animal Center in Austin, volunteering for Austin
Pets Alive, an incredible rescue organization that finds homes for
dogs at risk of euthanasia. While walking the aisles lined by
kennels, peering in to see the sad faces of the dogs that ended up
there, I came across kennel 127 where a scruffy, brown dog wearing
a red bandana stood staring at me. His information sheet said
that he was an 8 month old wire haired fox terrier mix that came to
the shelter as a stray. I couldn't pass him by, so I leaned
down to say hello, totally unaware of the fact that this little dog
would soon be a huge part of my life. I happened to finish my tasks
for the rescue organization early, so I decided to take number 127
out to play. From that moment on, there was no going
back. Number 127, who later became known as Oliver, had
captured my heart. I returned to the shelter the following
day to complete the adoption application and, a few days later, I
brought home my new best friend. I can honestly say that the
$75 adoption fee I spent on him was the best purchase I've ever
made.
Initially, my parents were concerned that I didn't have time for
a dog. At this point, I was a junior in college living a busy life
with school and extracurricular activities consuming much of my
time. Having seen others adopt dogs and neglect to give them
the attention they deserve, I understood their concern.
Fortunately, that wasn't the case with me.
Instead, Oliver became my little sidekick. When at all
possible, Ollie tagged along with me wherever I went. Sure,
we would do the "normal" dog activities like going to the dog park,
walking around campus to look for squirrels, etc. But that
wasn't all. Oliver went to the mall, became a frequent
visitor of the Texas Exes Alumni Center where I had meetings, and
even came to class with me a couple of times. He also became
the unofficial doggy mascot for the Texas baseball team, attending
numerous games with me and watching from behind the left field
fence. My friends knew that if we were going out to
eat, we would have to go somewhere that was "dog-friendly" so
Oliver could come, too.
As a vet student, the stress of school can become overwhelming,
and, at times, you can be so focused on school that the other
aspects of your life are pushed to the wayside. While I may
not be able to bring Oliver to class with me everyday, I have
managed to keep his happiness a priority, which in turn keeps me
happy. We take our walks, have our play time, and we are
certain to keep practicing our tricks (he just recently learned
"bang, bang" and falls to the ground). I sometimes even make
baked goods in an attempt to entice my friends to study at my
apartment rather than going to the library so I don't have to leave
him. Oliver is a light in my day, takes away my stress, and brings
joy to my life. I can genuinely say that he has changed who I
am, and I am so thankful that I opened my heart to this scruffy,
loving little dog.