After months in my Netflix queue, “Marley and Me” finally arrived in my mailbox.  I was probably one of the only people in the country who hadn’t seen the movie.  As a dog lover and owner, I had laughed and cried my way through the book years earlier. Both the book and now the movie really hit home.
 

I have a dog back home in Phoenix.  Her name is Poppy and she is a crazy German Shepherd with a distinct personality.  She likes to lick the ice cream bowl when you're done, loves carrots, and is extremely focused on eating ice that falls out of the icemaker.  Poppy likes squeaky toys - squirrels being her favorite, hedgehogs a close second - though she doesn't share her toys very well.  She barks and squeals at bunnies in the front yard and barks at the neighbor dog over the backyard fence.  She also barks every night at 8:30 pm, which is her ‘ride’ time. (Full disclosure: my stepdad takes her for a spin around the neighborhood every evening at 8:30 because, as he says, “she wants to.”  Poppy knows exactly when it's 8:30 and lets him know with a nudge and a yelp.  Sorry it’s out, Ed.)
 

Poppy is kind of crazy.  Not exactly Marley crazy, though she runs serious laps around the house whenever I come home, nearly knocking me over when she jumps to lick hello.  This is followed by a few more laps, and no amount of yelling makes her stop.  It’s always the same, every time I walk through the door. When Poppy is calm, she lays her head on my lap and we lounge on the sofa. Like me, she enjoys The Golden Girls and most sports.  For as looney as she is, Poppy is a sweet dog and is every bit a member of our family.  At Christmastime she gets presents and we get gifts from her as well.  I’ve found that Poppy has very good taste, though I'm pretty sure my mom does the shopping for her.  After all, she doesn’t have thumbs.
 

My current housing situation doesn't allow for pets, which was devastating for me when I first moved to town.  Not knowing anyone, I wanted a puppy to keep me company.  I've since made friends, but my yearning for a doggie hasn't gone away and I can't wait to have a one living with me again.  Maybe Poppy will learn to share by then. 
 

People often say that pets are just animals, but Poppy is more than that - she is family, with a tail and a long nose.  I’m going to Phoenix soon and I can’t wait for my crazy dog to sprint around and jump into my arms. 
 

At KKCO we are proud to partner with the Roice-Hurst Humane Society to help find good homes for local critters.  If you have room in your home and heart for a pet, please contact Roice-Hurst at 970-434-7337.   And if you’ve had your own Marley moment with your pet, please share it with us here.