By: Marcia Love

I was completely against the idea at first.
“It’s not going to happen,” I explained to my roommate, Beth. My other roommate, Sam, was just as quick to shoot down the idea.
Normally, democracy would rule under our roof. But before Sam and I knew it, Cindy arrived to join our little household, and we all immediately loved her.
Cindy is a six-year-old Sheltie pooch owned by Beth’s boss, who was looking for a new home for her.
Since she walked into our home two months ago, my opinion on in-town pets has changed greatly.
Coming from a farm background where the family dog was allowed to roam at leisure throughout the property and come home when it was good and tired, it seemed cruel to confine such a hyperactive animal to the 50-by-50 foot space of a backyard.
Neighbours would also be less appreciative of a dog that would only stop barking long enough to let the dog across the street respond.
I imagined dog hair and the unpleasant scent of the animal drifting throughout the house.
I pictured the mutt chewing my favourite pair of shoes to pieces, or me stepping out the back door into an unwelcome present from said mutt.
There were a number of situations running through my head telling me this pet idea was a bad one. But the experience has given me a different perspective.
Having a previously-enjoyed pet that is already fully trained makes owning a dog a great deal easier than having to train it at an early age. Who needs a cute little bratty, noisy puppy when you can get a just-as-cute, well-behaved, second-hand dog?
Cindy has proven herself very helpful when it comes to my overall health. On evenings that I would normally spend sprawled out on my bed with a bag of chips watching TV, my newfound four-legged companion entices me to grab her leash and my running shoes and take a trip around town. How can I resist when she looks at me with those big brown eyes and presents her most adorable demeanor? It’s with that cute little face Cindy also seems to win over the hearts of about 75 per cent of the people we pass on the street during our evening excursions.
She’s the highlight of all our backyard get-togethers, and is willing to politely share her time equally among all of our guests – for the price of one belly rub.
She also comes to the rescue when two-foot long centipedes (a slight exaggeration) find their way into our home. In a house occupied entirely by girls, insect emergencies arise more often than you’d think. But the issue is quickly resolved with shrieks of, “Get it, Cindy!”
After discovering the tricks she already knew, much of our time is now spent attempting to teach Cindy to say, “I love you,” and to make Chewbacca noises on command. If those orders ever register with her, my next trick will be teaching her to save little boys who fall into abandoned wells.
Despite her good manners, Cindy is rarely allowed into the house. There are moments when, with a few choice whimpers, she attempts to coax her way inside – a sneaky move that works well when I begin to worry about her cries annoying the neighbours. Evidently, she still has a little to learn about being left alone and the command “be quiet.”
Yes, Cindy has taught me that the life of an in-town pet isn’t always as confined and depressing as I once thought it was. But she has also taught me about love, companionship and appreciating the simple things in life, such as a walk around the neighbourhood.
It’s a lot to learn from one little pooch, but what else would you expect from man’s best friend?