Photo: gorefiendus/Flickr
My fiancée Anna and I are looking to adopt a dog. We currently share a postage stamp-sized one-bedroom walk-up in the NYC border town of Hoboken, New Jersey with Nora, a cuddly, who-you-callin'-obese, 10-year-old tuxedo cat. (She and I have the same birthday, May 29.)
Over the next few months, we will navigate some serious life changes and first time experiences, starting with our wedding. Then we plan to add to the drama by expanding our little family to include a dog or a puppy, which may well necessitate expanding our domicile.
From a canine perspective, we come from opposite backgrounds. Anna always had dogs growing up -- a Springer Spaniel, a Westie, a mutt and an English Bulldog -- while I never had house pets (my mom said she was allergic). Both of us feel ready and capable of caring for a dog, but what will be the best breed for us, and how will we find him or her?
By visiting shelters and breeders and speaking with friends and experts, we offer ourselves up as guinea pigs in this process, deconstructing and reporting the ups and downs of our quest for man's best friend. Every week I'll report back with stories about our search.
This week, the basics: Anna wants a smart, well-behaved pup who's good around kids, while I'm hoping for a friendly, small bugger who is not hyperactive or prone to barking.
Then again, who knows? We may just meet a puppy personality that's extraordinary enough to make us toss our preconceived ideas into the trash.
In any case, we'd love your input. How did you go about finding your dog, and was it a successful match?
Time-Lapse Tortoise Noms Salad
