I have to share this wonderful story recently published on Purina's PetCetric site!
The Perfect Friend
by Rebecca Desfosse
Marni can't wait to get out of work each day. No, she doesn't hate her job or dislike her boss. She's just crazy about her dog. "When I pull up to my house and see that adorable face in the window, all the stress and irritation of the day are just gone." Marni's gaga over her pet's love.
Forget that old cliché of a single woman and a gaggle of finicky felines. Marni, a single woman living in New Jersey, is all about dogs - namely, her cocker spaniel Chico. Why is Marni crazy about Chico? Well, she'd love to name the reasons.
"Now that I have a dog, I get more exercise." Chico and Marni go for long walks on the boardwalk and like to go hiking. Since Marni adopted Chico a year and a half ago, she's lost five pounds. That's mostly thanks to daily walks around the block with Chico in addition to the longer walks they enjoy on the weekends. "He gets me moving," she says.
He's also great company. "With Chico, I don't feel alone. He's my constant companion," Marni admits. That makes spending the holidays as a single woman much more bearable. It also means extra security at home. "I just feel safer with Chico around," she says. It's true. Chico acts like the perfect guard dog - barking at anyone who walks past the house. He's very protective of her. He also loves to greet Marni at the door after a long day at work. "The second I walk in the door, I'm showered with kisses from Chico."
However, she's not overly close to her dog. Pets love human attention, but they also need time on their own. Marni loves Chico a lot, but she'll leave him home to go out on a date or with her friends. He's also not a stand-in for a kid. She avoids what she calls "baby talk" at all costs. "I realize I need to go out and socialize - it can't all be about the dog," she says.
She go to lengths to socialize on her own, but Marni sure spends plenty of time spoiling Chico. He eats the highest-quality organic food, wears a pricey leather collar, and gets a monthly grooming session at the local pet salon. "I definitely spend a lot of money on Chico," Marni says. She also brushes his teeth each day, hoping to keep him healthy for years to come.
Will Marni adopt another dog? She's not sure. With Chico, she feels like life is complete. She might get a second though, just to give Chico a friend. "Sometimes I think he must get lonely all day by himself," she says. Pets love the company of another animal throughout the day. A new pet won't take the place of Chico in Marni's heart, however: "No other dog can take his place. Though there's always room for more."
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