On this past Sunday, LE and I drove to the East Bay city of Pleasanton, California to meet ‘Buddy.’

Buddy is a 14-month old black Labrador Retriever  Pointer mix who needed a new home.

Since deciding to adopt a pet, LE and I have been looking for the perfect dog.

Of course perfection doesn’t exist outside the worlds of babies, Beatles songs, and Starbucks Coffee.

I’d imagined the perfect dog would somehow come us with the following attributes:

• Be 1-3 years old 
• Would instantly love LE (would grow to love me, too)
• Be loyal
• Want to play
• Look forward to walks on the beach with me and LE
• Be content with our life together
• Like the simple things, like kibble 
• And…he’d be house-trained

Enter ‘Buddy!’

Mark, Buddy’s former owner, is on his way to Afghanistan for a second tour in the USAF. He’d raised Buddy from a puppy and was determined to find him a loving home before shipping out.

I responded to an online ad via a dog rescue site and Mark called me that evening. We traded particulars and agreed to meet on Sunday at a location we both knew.

When LE and I got out of the car, Mark and Buddy were side by side.  Buddy looked at LE (who has traditionally been somewhat timid around dogs) and ran to him.

LE simply knelt down, opened his arms and dog and boy embraced.  There was a lot of licking and tail wagging going on and it was clear very soon that Buddy and LE had something going.

Letting the Dog Choose

Mark told us that he’d introduced Buddy to four other parties and Buddy didn’t have the reaction to them that he exhibited on meeting LE.

“He’s already chosen you,” he said to LE.  “I’m just going to assume he’s your dog now.”

Mark told me before meeting me that Buddy wasn’t for sale. He needed a family and a permanent home. After some time, I insisted Mark take some money and buy his fellow airmen a drink and toast Buddy.

He finally agreed. After a teary goodbye, Buddy climbed into our car and joined our family.

7 Days of Unconditional Love

Tomorrow will be the 7th day that Buddy has been with us.  He lavishes affection on LE and me and anyone else who visits us.

He won the hearts of both my parents in an instant and they’ve called four times to ask about my two boy!

He’s changed our morning and evening routines, and the general the mood in our house. Although he barks when I play Santana, it’s been seven days of unconditional love.

The Power of Imagination

I’m a firm believer in the power of positive imagery and its role in attracting what I desire. As I look back over the attributes I’d wanted in a dog, I realize that Buddy embodies them all.

I couldn’t have imagined a better, more perfect dog for us.  Maybe, that’s exactly what I did.