Girl's Best Friend

Thirteen years ago, I became a dog owner for the first time.  One of the best things that has ever happened to me!

I was 13 years old, and my family was camping at a local campground- then someone dumped a little puppy out of their car and took off.  Nice, huh?

The following day involved a lot of crying and begging... "Daddy, PLEASE?!!  I promise I'll take care of him!!!!"  My dad ended up giving in..:)  I named him Nicholas Matthew King- Nicky.  In a diary entry I still have, I see that I wrote, "I fell in love with him immediately!  OOOOH!"

I did take care of him- along with feeding and walking him, I made him watch "Wishbone" with me everyday so that he could learn from the TV star dog:)  I also taught him many tricks- "Speak", "Sit", "Whisper", "Kiss", "Bow-down", etc.

 Nicky turned out to be a wonderful, smart, sweet, and pretty much perfect dog.  He was a continual companion through my early teen moods, high school dramas, and college adventures.  He stayed my friend each time I lost many others.  He put up with each loser boyfriend and let me cry on him after each break-up.  He celebrated with me as I graduated high school and waited for me when I went away to college.  He even became a part of a new family unit as I got married to Jason Hart and we all moved to Iowa- and so my doggy became "Nicholas Matthew King Hart." He moved with us again when we went to Tennessee and was officially the only friend we had here for a while as we didn't know anyone.

A week and half ago I had to make the toughest decision ever- I had to decide to put down my little best friend.  A normal vet appointment ended up revealing serious illness for my darling Nicky, and after an eternal time of crying in the vet's room, I said a painful goodbye to my best friend.

Thirteen years, three moves, many memories, many adventures, countless changes, one faithful buddy. 

Even now my face is drenched in tears as I miss him.



Through a series of sudden and great circumstances, God has given me the chance to have another dog love.  Next week I will receive my next precious pup.  I am thankful for the opportunity to head down another path of puppy!  Though I will forever miss my Nicky, I'm excited to meet and love a new best friend, Ferdinand Nicholas Hart, Ferdy: