Happy Birthday Sydney!
Today, our little Sydney turns three years old!
As many of you know, we adopted Sydney in September 2006 when she was just about 10 weeks old. She weighed 16 pounds and was such a curious and inquisitive little pup. We adopted her after spending a weekend volunteering at an adopt-a-thon with the Franklin County Humane Society at a PetSmart in Wake Forest. Sydney was one of seven new pups on display and up for adoption that weekend. Her mom, a Labrador Retriever was found pregnant and alone, wandering in Franklin County one day. The animal shelter picked her up and she was scheduled to be put down, until a kind soul with the FCHS rescued Sydney’s mom. A week later she delivered a litter of seven dark brown and black puppies. Based on their jaws and teeth, the veterinarians at the NC State vet school said they were a lab-boxer mix. All of them looked like Sydney and all of them were adorable.
I remember admiring the litter on that Saturday that we volunteered. They were so darn cute! The pups would play for about 15 minutes then all collapse into a group nap. They would repeat this over and over all day. They attracted many admires, and when not handing out information pamphlets to PetSmart shoppers, I would stroll over to the pin and pet some of the puppies. “So cute!,” I would say to myself, and to my husband, then fiance at the time. What a great time to spend volunteering!
On that Sunday we returned to the PetSmart to finish out volunteering at the adopt-a-thon. By the end of the day, we had moved our operation indoors and the puppies were again happily playing in their pin. Towards the end of our shift, we began to carefully watch the puppies play and interact with their admirers. Shoppers would come by and hold them, play with them and ohh and ahh over them. I held a couple of the puppies in my arms like a baby and thought how cute and lovable they were.
Continuing to admire the puppies, my husband and I kept coming back to one puppy in particular who seemed to be very inquisitive and brave. She was solid black with a white tuxedo chest. She seemed to be interested in the world outside of her pin, and would come up to the onlookers when her brothers and sisters would not. I remember my husband saying to me, “I really like that one.” I did too! We began to talk…should we adopt a puppy? Should we adopt one of these puppies? We hadn’t had this conversation in any seriousness before. I had never even had a dog before! My husband had grown up with Labs, and was very familiar with their personality and temperament. I didn’t know anything about boxers, but Sydney looked more like a Lab – large floppy ears, long tail, big paws and a goofy grin.
We were just weeks away from our own wedding. We had a ton to do. We had a house crammed full of wedding supplies, presents and stuff in boxes not yet put away. We had no time for a 10 week old puppy. Yet, before we knew it, I was filling out the adoption paperwork and we had selected our new addition – the little inquisitive puppy with the white tuxedo chest. I wanted a dog, and my wonderful husband said yes. We were quickly approved for adopting one of the pups on the spot. We were now a family of three. We scooped up our new furry addition, bought a collar, leash and some puppy food and we were on our way home.
My husband picked the name Sydney. We threw out dozens of names, and finally when my husband said “Sydney” I knew that was it! Our little Sydney – it was a perfect name. I loved it, and I loved her.
And so began my love affair with not just Sydney, but with all dogs.
Now almost three years later, I can’t imagine my life without dogs! I always say that Sydney will always be the dog that made me love dogs. She has been a faithful and loving companion, extremely rambunctious, always curious and spoiled rotten (that part is my fault). She has a face full of expression and the world’s longest tongue. She loves to walk, sleep in our bed, chew on rawhides, eat Milkbones, chew my husband’s socks and chase sticks and tennis balls. She is truly one of my best friends, and she has brought me so much happiness.
There are people that are dog owners, and then there are people who are dog lovers. I consider myself a full-out dog lover, and I have Sydney to thank for that. In fact, we love Sydney so much that we adopted River about a year and half later as a playmate for Sydney and a new companion for our family. And River has made a wonderful addition to our little family. Sydney adores her (River mostly tolerates her). They get along pretty well, though River definitely plays the role as the older and wiser sibling.
Sydney – I love you so much! Happy Birthday – you’re one of the best dogs a family could ever have!
Our first day with Sydney after arriving home from PetSmart
A curious young Sydney
Sydney’s first Christmas
Celebrating Sydney’s birthday early on Thursday with a dog party! Sydney (top) with her cousin Tucker (yellow lab) and sister River (with rawhide)
Classic picture of Sydney after a long walk.
Always so curious! What a fun snow day back in January!
