Day 1: Saying good-bye to Vito the Wonderdog

When I was nine, I had a dog for 3 weeks.

Her name was Pepper, and my grandparents – against their better judgment – brought her over to our house without checking with my parents if they wanted to add an animal to our family.

My parents were good sports about it (well, in front of me they were), and they let me keep Pepper.

Unfortunately, Pepper's life with us was short-lived. In three short weeks she peed rivers on our kitchen floor at night, ripped my mother's living room drapes down from the rod, and – in what I can only describe as a cry for help – ate through a sheet-rocked wall while we were out.

Bye-bye, Pepper.

It wasn't until my late twenties that I became a Dog Mom. We rescued a dog from a shelter when he was still a puppy. He was in a pen outside, and the minute I spotted him, I stood protectively at the fence. A family with two small kids came over and pointed at my future dog, until I possessively told them, "He's mine. We're adopting him."

And Vito joined our family.

He was kind and gentle, with eyes so expressive it was as if he understood you when you spoke to him. He was patient and well-behaved, you could leave him alone without ever having to worry about anything.

Vito's favorite place to be was on the couch, lying on our laps. He loved us so fiercely and unconditionally; the only thing he wanted was to do was be with us.

Vito was so very much part of our everyday lives – from the specially-built window seat in the living where he could sleep in the sun and watch the squirrels, to planning family vacations at pet-friendly houses so Vito could come with us – that I never imagined life without Vito.

As the years went on, Vito's face grayed with age, he lost his hearing, and eventually had trouble jumping up on the couch. He was getting older, slowing down. But every once in a while he'd chase a chipmunk or play with one of his toys, and we'd get a glimpse of that puppy that we adopted all those years ago.

This past July, we said goodbye to Vito. I don't remember another day in my life when I was so broken hearted. His time had come; he had given us all the love he had.

As we held him, during his last few moments of life, I looked one last time into his soulful eyes, and I swear he understood how much I loved him, how much he meant to us, and I think he even silently thanked us for letting him go.

I still listen to hear the clicking of his nails on our hardwood floors.

When I drop a piece of food on the floor, my immediate thought is, "Oh, Vito will get it."

And when I come home from being out, I still expect Vito to come running around the corner to greet me.

We miss Vito every day. And we are so thankful for the 15+ years that we had together.

He made us better humans, and taught us how to love unconditionally. He truly was a Wonder Dog.

Day 9: My First (four-legged) Baby

Our first born is a small mutt with a big personality named Vito the Wonder Dog.

Up until two years ago (and minus the time he had a four-legged brother named Francis who bullied him), he was an only "child".

I was nervous when we were expecting Max, hearing so many stories about couples who treated their dogs like children, and then once a human child came along, their first born was forgotten.

We try so hard to remind Vito every day how much he's loved, and that nothing's changed. And then he poops in the mudroom, and we're reminded that Vito is a dog.

Max was fascinated by Vito from day 1. I remember writing a blog post last year about how indifferent Vito was to Max, ignoring him and treating him like he didn't exist. While Max stared in wonder.

However, now that Max is running around and talking, Vito can't escape.

The Max and Vito show looks something like this:

When Vito is barking at Max when he's in his booster seat eating, Max will turn to him and say, "NO, Vito! Go on your bed!"
Which, I'm guessing, he gets from us. Oops.

When it comes to snacking, Vito is Max's BFF. He chases Max, who runs around with his snack cup yelling, "Stop it, Vito! MY animal cacka!"

And other times, Max will be playing on the floor, and Vito will walk right over the wooden train tracks we're constructing and sit down and stare at me. "Look, Max," I'll say, "we have our very own Clifford!" 
To which Max replies, "Move it, Vito."

But then, there are those tender moments, too. Like last night, when Vito was sleeping on his bed, and Max thought he could use some toys. So one by one, Max brought toys to Vito.

And Vito woke up like this:

These are the moments I love the most.

Day 24: Guest Blogger Vito the Wonder Dog

Hi. Vito here.

So we got a baby. His name is Max. 

I knew something was up, though. Mommy didn't raise a dummy.

Mom and Dad started changing around the room where people who visited us would sleep. They painted the walls (I'm color blind so I'm not sure what color) and bought all new furniture. 

They even bought a bed for me. It's HUGE. And I hate to admit it, but I LOVE that bed. It's so big and soft. 

And the best part is every time I go in the room and hop on my bed, they reward me a treat. I spend a lot of time in that room jumping onto that bed.

I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when. My Daddy even sat me down and had a chat with me to prepare me. But still, I wasn't sure what was going on.

Daddy: "You're going to be a big brother, Vito. We're having a baby."

Vito: "But I'M the baby."

I was extra suspicious when I started getting a Bark Box every month filled with goodies. My humans are good. They know how to get me.

I mean, who could resist a toy of a hedgehog wearing a chef's hat?

The worst part of this whole baby thing was going to kennel. I HATE the kennel. I have to stay with my cousin Dino and I never know how long we're going to be there. But I have my fun. I don't let any of those people who work there near me. I growl at them when they try and put on a leash and make them throw my treats into the crate. They're afraid of me which is really very silly; I would never harm anyone, I just like to bark. And sometimes scare people.

When they sprung me from the kennel I didn't go home. I went to Dino's house for a day and that's when I knew. When Daddy came and picked me up he kept talking about the baby was home and how cute Baby Max was. I was suspicious. I'd have to see this thing for myself.

Is this all he does?

Well, it's been a while and the baby isn't that bad. I guess he's cute in a human sort of way. Mommy and Daddy pay an awful lot of attention to him. And this kid gets to eat like six or seven times a day! How can I get on that meal plan???

Everyone who comes over asks the same question, "How is Vito with the Baby?"

I can tell you: Vito is fine with the baby. Max just kind of lays there. When he's on the floor I run up to him and stick my nose in his face and say hi, but he doesn't do much in return. When everyone is in his room I hang out there, too. I watch what's going on (that kid poops more than I do!) and make sure he's okay.

This is us "playing" together. Bo-ring.

I could do without the getting up in the middle of the night, but Mommy pretty much takes care of that. 

He hasn't taken over the big bed yet, so we're cool. Because that's where I draw the line. The big bed is mine, Max.

Don't even THINK about getting on this bed, Max.

The couch too.

I get my belly rubs on here and lay all over Daddy's legs.

Daddy brought you up here the other day. I'm keeping an eye on you.

And I still have more toys than you do.

But I know we'll be best friends when you get bigger. Then you can tell me how I can get a few more meals out of Mommy and Daddy.