I went to my Nurse Practitioner today for a regular check-up and I suprised myself a bit by asking Janet if there was any health reason she knew why I shouldn’t get a puppy.

She said I was quite healthy, my heart sounded great, my blood pressure was excellent, my diabetes well controlled. She said I just might be the best patient that she had, I even got a sticker to wear on my suspenders.

I didn’t doubt my health, I just wanted to be sure. There are lots of different ways to think about a dog – buying one, rescuing one, finding one on the street.

I think of myself as the steward of a dog, not the owner or rescuer or savior. Too much ego in that for me. I think the most important part of getting a dog is the work I do before the dog comes home.

Stewardship is important to me, it is the foundation of my philosophy of getting a dog, training a dog, loving a dog, and giving a dog the very best, safest and healthiest kind of life.

To me, it is irresponsible to get a dog for any reason other than that I have thought about it, considered it, planned for and researched it as thoroughly as I can. I believe we owe it to a dog to consider bringing them into our lives at least as thoughtfully and carefully as we might buy a car, a stove or refrigerator. We would think about it, ask about and look through all the reviews we could find.

They are living sentient beings. They do not deserve our laziness, selfishness,  impulsiveness or ignorance.

Stewardship is an ethic that embodies the responsible planning and management of resources and living things. The concepts of stewardship can be applied to the environment, nature, animals, healthy, information, even theology.

Stewardship has meant many things over the years, but now it is generally recognized as the acceptance or assignment of responsibility to shepherd and safeguard the lives and values of others.

This is what I owe every dog I receive, so when righteous people tell me there is only to get a dog, I think, no,  that is not stewardship, that is selfishness, I would not be that cruel and irresponsible to get a dog in that way.  The purpose of a dog is not only to make me feel good about myself. It’s my purpose to do that for them That person is no friend of dogs and no friend of mine.

Since my dogs can’t speak, I am always mindful of having to speak for them.

I want to know everything I can about him or her, and about me. Is my sight and hearing good, can I move quickly, can I be patient and clear, a lealer who is benign but insistent? Can I afford to have a dog, is their a clear ownership path if something happens to me?

What do I know about the breed, the dog’s temperament, the dog’s health?  How much stimulation and reasonable exercise can I offer the dog? How can I do my part to be a leader and teach the dog to be mindful and respectful of me and the people I live with? I reject the idea that my dogs will tell me when to die, that is my job, not theirs. I won’t hide behind them in that way.

What conversation do I need to have with my vet about the breed, my stewardship, her or his philosophy about surgery, finances, euthanasia,  and limits? Dr. Fariello and I have had at least five of these conversations by now, we each know the script but agree it is important to speak openly about it. Every time we learn something about one another. When we need to, we know how to communicate honestly and openly.

That is of great benefit to any dog.

To me, these are not questions to be asked later, they are questions to be asked now. My expectations for the dog are clear: if and when she is born, I want her to be a family pet, a writing companion, a photographic subject, and perhaps the most important, a therapy dog who can go to the Mansion, Bishop Maginn High School,  all over town, everywhere in the car, and also do hospice work with me.

When I wanted  Boston Terrier to help me understand the Small Dog Revolution, it didn’t matter to me if the dog came from a breeder or a rescue group. I had no greater plans for Bud than to do what he is doing. I looked for a  rescue dog. It was the right choice for me, for Maria.

I have different plans for Zinnia (Zin), and we even have her name chosen. She needs to come from a highly regarded and conscientious breeder, one dedicated to promoting the health and temperament of a breed. Only good breeders can really almost guarantee those things, they’ve been working on them for years, usually going back five or six generations.

I sat down with Maria and went over our finances, I can afford this dog if I can just survive this week, I’ll be paying it off for a while.

I’ve already staked out a dozen socialization places for her if I am fortunate enough to get her.

I understand this way of getting a dog upsets some kind of people, for them getting a dog is almost exclusively a rescue and moral mission. They will make their choices, I will make mine. I never let other people tell me how to get a dog.

I was glad I asked Janet – who is not a breeder or dog expert – if I was healthy enough to get a puppy.

I just needed to hear it. I have some more work to do before Zinnia comes into the world, and hopefully, my life. I’ll share it with you here.