CJ

I don’t know if I would say I own him.    

Am I his keeper? Yes.  Will I do whatever it takes to keep him healthy and happy for however many years he has? Yes. When I think of ownership I think of something I could buy, enjoy and then sell. He won't ever be sold or given up.  I don't have any biological children but CJ is a lifetime commitment. 

Biggest surprise? He is silent!  Only the tiniest little woof if he is startled by a loud noise.  Either that or the fact that he was never a chewer as a puppy.  He never really destroyed anything in the house.  CJ loves his stuffed animals.

In was December of 2009 and my ex-wife pointed at a computer screen with a few pics of puppies on it and asked which one I thought was cuter.  I pointed at the black one which turned out to be CJ.  She said ok, I’ll get him. I said, “No way.  It is the middle of winter with temps hovering around -15F. No one else except me will ever take the time to go outside and house train him.  Let’s get a pup in the spring.”

The pup I didn't want showed up a few days later and I will forever remember the date December 12th 2009. I was right. I was the one who took him outside, but he was a quick study!  He only needed to go outside at night about 2-3 nights and then he could make it through the night.

During the day he was small enough to go with me everywhere as he just slipped right into the hand warmer pocket on my hoody.  His first name was Diesel but it just didn't fit well and so I got to thinking about another name.  With permission from the parents, I ended up naming him CJ – the initials of their youngest son’s name. He took his own life a year earlier on December 12, 2008.  That quiet little dog showed up exactly one year to the day later to remind us not to forget those that are no longer with us.  It worked! It's been almost 6 years and not a day passes that I don’t think of CJ and smile.

CJ doesn’t know anyone that isn’t a friend.  He is almost 5 years old and I'm still trying to break him of the habit of jumping all over who ever might show up. It probably won’t happen until he is an old dog and no longer wants to greet people that way. 

I dread the day I have to make the decision to have him put to sleep. Actually, I hope he just passes in his sleep.