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This year I have decided that I wanted to adopt a second dog. I have been looking forward to this since the beginning of the year, and I have also set a up a special goal for this, meaning get a second dog as foster first, see how it goes and then, hopefully adopt the dog if everything goes well. I thought that this would give myself some time to process this and actually try it out to see how it goes. It wasn’t everything perfect with my first dog, Maya, but, I just had this feeling, because I was dreaming of having dogs since I was little, that maybe now it is the time to get a second dog. I have to say things didn’t work out from the start, quite the contrary. At first in January and February, I have spoken with a few people about dogs that were given for foster in order to be then adopted, but it just didn’t work out. Sometimes the dog was not a fit with Maya, meaning that they wouldn’t get along with each other, some other times logistics were a problem and so on and so forth, therefore, in March I decided to just let it go for a while and not try so much to make it happen. I just said, well maybe it’s a sign, maybe now it’s not a good timing so, when it will be the right time and the right fit, it will eventually happen. The truth is, that this has been a very chaotic year, and as I am looking back now, probably, this – wanting to adopt a second dog, has been pretty much one of the few clear intentions that I have set up for this year. So, for that, I am deeply grateful.

Then a couple of months passed, and Lola, was found somewhere outside the city in the empty field just running around lonely and someone got her, and she eventually did end up it foster with me and Maya. Did I have a feeling from the start that she was going to stay with us and get adopted by me? For sure, but still I did get myself some time to process this and see how it goes. I got Maya when she was 6 months old and 16 kg. She is a big dog, and was already pretty big as I got her. Lola, on the other hand was only 2 months old and around 4 kg when I got her in foster at first, I was never a fan of small dogs, honestly, so it was very challenging around the house, I must admit, but eventually she got a bit bigger, as she is going to be a medium size dog when she grows up, so I just fell in love with her anyway. There were different challenges with each one of them, but there were also lots of fun times and lots of cuddles and joyful moments. Probably the biggest struggle was having to move from the apartment where I was living, right after I got Lola. I mean we were supposed to stay there for at least another 6 months initially which would give me a good amount of time to get used to the movement idea as well as implement some daily routines for living with two dogs. Now it’s been more than 2 months already at our new place and I can say with confidence that we are embracing a new routine and things are definitely gradually falling into place.

Getting a second dog can be challenging, especially when you are living by yourself, like I do, I like to call this independent one income household living, I know I know, quite a name, but hey, we have to name in order to adapt to it. Its challenging at times, not only from a financial perspective, of course it is required to be able to provide for those dogs, if you do get them and general maintenance and care are also resources to be invested, but also from a perspective of availability, time, connection, those dogs also need attention cuddles, not just food and vet care. With all the changes from this year and all the resistance that I have at times been manifesting, it has been a struggle, not just from a material point of view, but also from an emotional point of view as well. Implementing new routines, managing resources and investing in what matters most can be at times overwhelming, and there have been moments when I did feel so overworked and stressed about all off this, but at the end of the day, I am super grateful for my two dogs, and I have to say that, the truth is, there is nothing that makes me more joyful that a burst of laugh because of something that one of them did, or just enjoying some wonderful time be it a walk, or a play or just a cuddle with them. Those things are just priceless. Nothing compares to that feeling of coming home and seeing your dogs get so excited ( and funny as well, they are so fun as they run in circles, due to their excitement of seeing me get home ) and be so happy to just see you again.