Belle Wins Over an Inveterate Dog Disdainer

[Andrea, Belle and Honey]

My mother has never enjoyed dogs.  She also has never understood why any sane person would want a canine companion.  Years ago when my then partner gave me an adorable puppy for Valentine's Day, my Mom's response was "are you going to keep her?"  (Actually the dog stayed around much longer than that partner.)  So I gave up long ago showing my Mom cute pictures, and telling her funny anecdotes, about the many wonderful dogs who have graced my life. 

Then Mom, who is 103, fell and broke her hip and is bedridden in her apartment in a building that does not allow dogs.  She lives about 2 hours away from me, so now when I visit, I stay for most of the day. I usually leave Belle with one of her friends from our dog-walking group, but one Sunday no one was available to host her.  Rather than leave her home in her pen (necessary separation from the cats when I'm not there to supervise), I popped 15 lb Belle into my canvas boat bag, smuggled her into the sacrosanct building and tucked her into the back bedroom with a kong full of goodies.  I was in my Mom's bedroom reading her the next chapter of her book on the discovery of genes when she heard her aide talking and giggling on the other side of the apartment. Yup, Belle had made a new friend and they were yukking it up together. 

Mom was worried that her aide had gone off the deep end or had secreted a man in the apartment, so she wanted me to call the agency and demand an immediate replacement.  I explained that Belle was also visiting, that she is housebroken and doesn't shed a bit, and introduced her to Mom, who grudgingly admitted that she was sort of cute, but warned me not to ever bring her again. Belle sat on my lap in the chair next to the bed and we continued reading.  After a while, Belle did her army crawl across my lap and stretched her neck out until she could reach Mom's hand and give her a few kisses.  No reaction from Mom, so I thought she was sleeping.  I continued reading (this book, by Siddhartha Mukherjee, is excellent, I recommend it highly), and the next thing I knew, Belle was ensconced on the bed tucked next to Mom's side.  Still no reaction.  I whispered "come" to Belle (who apparently thinks whispered commands don't count), when Mom, eyes still closed, said "leave her" and threaded her fingers through the curls on Belle's back. And there they stayed for more than an hour, when Mom opened her eyes and said "call the aide, Belle should have a drink of water." Not "you have been reading out loud for a long time, you must be thirsty."  Later she asked if I brought anything for Belle to eat. I said I had dog biscuits but I didn't think Mom would like biscuit crumbs in her bed and she announced that she was too old to worry about crumbs in the bed. WHAT?!? This is not the Mom I grew up with.

When it was time to leave, I assured Mom that I would hide Belle in the boat bag again so the building board wouldn't give her a hard time about us breaking the no animals rule.  Her response: "what can the board do to me, I'm 103 and I'll be dead soon; bring Belle again next weekend."  Moral of the story: NO ONE is doodle proof.

[Mark Wilson]

Wonderful story!  Thank you for sharing it.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I just love this story! My mother is 93 and moved in with us a year ago. Growing up we always had dogs, but they were my dad's dogs. Mom likes dogs just fine, but they are not to be on the furniture or multiple other expectations. When Mom moved in Kona (90 pounds of doodle love) crawled up on the couch and slowly took over the place laying his head on her lap. Now she asks me to take their picture together! I'm so happy your mom was enjoying your sweet Belle. She's right. What are they going to do to her!

[Lynda Kamrath]

Love your story.  My mom is 100 and enjoys the dogs unless they jump on her, so I have her come into the house and get seated before the dogs can come in.  She still can't believe that my dogs sleep on my bed (well, two anyway because number three is just too large).

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Ah, what a sweet story!

[DJ & Chance]

Oh, I love this story!  Way to go, Belle!

[c zoomer]

What a GREAT story.  My mom was won over as well...she's 92, but not nearly as resolutely opposed as your mom. On our second visit she summoned Dinah onto her bed for kisses (which Dinah was happy to provide). Had to pick my jaw up off the floor.

[Carol and Banjo]

What a lovely story!   

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Yeah for Belle and for you.  You bring not only your love to your mom, but the extra love and comfort only a dog can provide.

[Wendy and Myla]

What a great story!  Your Mom sounds awesome!  So glad she found love with Belle!!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Love this story.