See, how could you say no?
6 weeks old, I certainly couldn't say no. Her name is Isley*, and she's an amazing boxer mutt. Loaded with energy, and the need for attention she goes with me nearly everywhere. For the most part in the 2 months that I've had her we've only managed to trek as far as Petsmart or Petco, but occasionally visiting friends houses as well. She was doing so well on these jaunts that I decided she could do a little errand running with me today.
It started off in the car. Driving, and driving, and driving. The thing about Isley is - she loves it. She sits in the passenger seat and watches the people in cars next to us, or tries to figure out what that interesting smell coming from the vent is. She doesn't really bounce around or anything spectacular in the car, so I don't really have to worry about her. That not-worrying about her also means she usually gets to wait in the car when I go in places.
Until tonight.
I decided to hit up a few more places than expected tonight on my way home from "required" errands - including a Gamestop and a Dairy Queen. Since I didn't feel like I should have to leave poor Isley alone again, I decided first to carry her in to the Gamestop with me.
The guy at the counter was abnormally, well, normal about her being in the store. We went straight to the Gamecube controllers to snag one for playing some Goldeneye tonight.
"Do you ladies need any help tonight?" He asked, looking at me and then Isley. Isley wags her entire body at being acknowledged.
"No thanks, I think we've got it," I reply, somewhat surprised he was talking to the dog as a customer without getting all gushy over puppy as the clerks at the pet stores often do.
I take my new controller to the register, and the same guy rings us up. He makes small talk about games - namely Call of Duty: Black Ops, in a way that is less sexist than most Gamestop employees. Then he hands me my receipt, gives Isley a little rub behind the ear, and wishes us well.
"You ladies have a good night," He smiles at the dog more than at me, not put off by the fact I brought an animal in the store at all. She is so bouncy outside after meeting new strangers she danced around the Call of Duty: Black Ops truck outside for a while before getting in the car to go on our way. That happiness spread to me.
This interaction left me with the warm and fuzzies on the way home, so I decided to stop off for a bit of celebratory ice cream at Dairy Queen. In the drive-through I order my usual: Oreo Blizzard. Isley stands up in the passenger seat when she hears the speaker crackle to repeat the order back to me, and becomes interested in what's going on.
"Can your puppy have a treat?" The lady at the window asks me as I hand her my $5.
"Uh, sure?" I say apprehensively, wondering what on Earth an Ice Cream shop could possibly have for Isley. Poisonous chocolate? Sugary waffle cone?
As she hands me back my change, she reaches under the counter and pulls out none-other than a standard Milk Bone brand dog treat.
"Woah," I reply, channeling Keanu Reeves momentarily. Isley's tail and body go full speed once again at being offered something by a stranger. I take the treat and ask her to "sit" for it.
Isley's butt dropped to the seat and she waited patiently for the treat. The clerk smiled and gave a happy "good dog!" out the window as Isley munched on her snack. I thanked the Dairy Queen clerk more intensely than I probably meant to, but that feeling that she (and I) were welcome like that was just incredible.
After such a positive interaction I feel my decision to get a dog, socialize and train her, and have a new companion in so many ways was the right decision to make. Also, she makes me so very happy.
*Named after the lovely villainess Pamela "Poison Ivy" Isley.
