This is my favorite photo of the dogs. There is such a sweetness, a gentleness to it. I have it framed and it lives on our living room wall.

I am a dog person. I wasn’t always. When I was a wee child, about 2 years old, a family friend’s dog jumped up on me and knocked me over. I became terrified of dogs – so much so that when I walked to my piano lesson about 6 blocks away from our home, I would cross the street if I saw any dog.

So my parents wisely decided to get a dog. They figured the only way to help rid me of my fear was for me to get to know and love a dog. He was a terrier named Friskie. I distinctly remember the barrier my parents put up between the kitchen and the living room which kept Friskie safely away from me in those first days. Mom would lift me up and carry me from room to room. Gradually, Friskie and I became friends. He slept in my bed with me. I would lift up the covers and he would burrow his way down to the foot of the bed where he felt cozy and warm. Friskie lived to be 16. Other wonderful dogs came our way. (Remind me to tell you the story of Shannon and my dad’s dentures some day.) It was a no cat household until I had moved out (I’m allergic to cat dander) and my sister conned my parents into rescuing a barn cat. Now they have two cats.

I spent years dreaming of having a dog. Because my life during graduate school and beyond consisted of small apartment living and long hours of work, I had to hold off. It wasn’t until Don and I moved in together that we got our beloved Winston, a rescued Aussie Shepherd mix.  Then Scout, also a rescue, came into our lives. After we lost Winston at the far too young age of 8, it was just Scout until Riley came along.

I must be honest and say that I wasn’t particularly thrilled with cats until I worked for a Veterinarian. Being around them all the time really changed that and I grew to admire and like them. Nevertheless, I’m allergic and I don’t want to hassle with even more allergy trouble than I already have.

I can’t imagine not having a dog in my life. My dogs are great teachers and make me a better person.

What about you? Are you a cat person? Are you a dog person? Or are you someone who has both a cat and a dog? Or more? Please share. I’m all ears.

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The winners of a copy of Maman’s Homesick Pie by Donia Bijan are Lucille (who doesn’t have a blog) and Sheila of The Quintessential Magpie. Congratulations! Send me an email with your mailing address and I will forward it on to TLC Book Tours.