My dog, Lumo, is my original pack member. I sometimes wonder how the past 10 years and nine moves have appeared to her. So many new neighborhoods in which to mark her territory, so many squirrels that got away.
In the past decade, Lumo has gone from being my only family member to being our family dog. On my second date with the man who would become my husband, she was there to wag her tail at him. Patiently, she traveled with us every time we moved to follow jobs. Now, she is navigating the ever-changing terrain that comes with living with a little human.
When I first got Lumo, I tried to picture my life 10 years in the future. I realized that she would likely be there with me if I became a mother.
Two years ago, while driving home from the hospital after my daughter was born, it felt like the past and the future were about to come together. Within a few minutes, we would see Lumo, who would be there to welcome our pack’s newest addition, and share new adventures and secrets with her.
This article was originally published in Seven Days’ monthly parenting magazine, Kids VT.
This article appears in The Animal Issue July 2019.
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