If you need a friend, get a dog. But what if your dog needs a friend?  Get another dog?  Hmm…  

When I first brought Leila home from the pound a year ago, she was terrifically destructive. Boxers are powerful dogs, and she completely destroyed a sofa. I mean shredded it.

It was OK.  I considered the sofa an unintended offering to the spirit of chaos.  Old things must be destroyed to make way for creation of the new.  And destroying the sofa one bite at a time was a fitting analogy for both of us at our stage of life.

I was sick, and she became my constant companion, following me everywhere. Day and night, she wouldn’t let me out of her sight. Every time I left the house, she would be sad and lonely.

Sure, I had appreciated her constant attention, but now I was trying to get better, and school would be starting soon.

Leila was now the one in need of a new companion.  The cat was not cutting it. 

But finding a friend for a 60-pound boxer? It would be a challenge.

So, back to the pound. 

First I tried Fluff puff. He was a cute little dog. 

I had seen another dog, one that reminded me of those deep space pictures, black with all of these white spots. She was beautiful, but old, her eyes dim, her body shaking with fear. But she was just too much dog for me to even think about taking home.

Fluff puff stayed with us for almost a week before he slipped under the fence and headed for the main road.  I had to go back to the pound to pick him up.  $50! 

Meanwhile, the other dog was still there.  She was so pretty, so afraid, I started worrying about her.  A couple hours later I went back and got her too. 

Now I had three dogs. 

It didn’t last long. 

After waking up in the middle of the night to a triple dog fight, I knew someone had to go.  And it had to be Fluff, the scrappy one who started the fights.  The little jerk even bit me. I should have just left him at the pound. 

I’m now happily back to two dogs, and Fluff puff is back at the pound, making sure he and I don’t have rabies. 

Stella Blue is terrifically grateful for a nice place to stay, has nearly perfect manners and is even starting to get along with my cat. 

As for Leila, she is a happy girl these days.  Her new game is to grab the rope I tie on Stella Blue and lead her around the house, just like the pet she always wanted.