My sister and I were playing on the slip-and-slide in our backyard on a sunny Sunday afternoon. It seems just like yesterday. The summer sun was radiating down on our smiling faces. Our babysitter at the time was watching us although at eight and ten we thought we were old enough to play in the yard without supervision. Our parents had gone out of town for the weekend. While we knew they would be home Sunday afternoon, we did not have any idea when. Suddenly, a fluffy white bundle of joy came zooming around the corner of the house and up and down the hill in our backyard. We could tell it was a puppy, but assumed it was one of our neighbors that got away. My parents slowly followed around the corner together. “Is that our dog?” my sister asked. The small wheaten terrier finally made it back from its race around the yard and came up to introduce himself. My mom and dad smiled and laughed before confirming it was the newest member of our family. Looking back, this is the greatest gift our parents ever gave us. Unlike cute clothes, barbies, art supplies, games, and other gifts, this gift would last for years and provide more happiness than imaginable.
The summer I got the best childhood dog, Henry.
What shall we name him? “Henry,” my sister volunteered, because it sounds like a proper name for a dog with a beard. What about a middle name? My innocent self said it should be “waffles,” because we had waffles that morning and love our pancakes and waffles. Henry Waffles Coyle. My parents got Henry from a wheaten terrier breeder in Woodstock, Illinois. He was one of eight puppies in that litter. Henry was adorable but also incredibly smart. If a door was left open to the house, he wouldn’t run away. We would come back to him standing perfectly outside the frame, refusing to come in without the okay from us. For an untrained dog, he picked up quickly on what he should or should not be doing.
While we took care of Henry, he also took care of us. He was there for every milestone in our childhood. Whether a stressful day at school or a hard breakup he intuitively knew we needed him, and he was there. Before the tears started to flow, he would move close, stare into our eyes with his big brown eyes, and seem to understand. On our happiest days, Henry seemed to know there was a reason to celebrate. And when one of us was sick, he just knew he had to take care of us. When I had my wisdom teeth removed, I slept for days, and he never left my side. I know that dogs can’t speak but Henry always found a way to convey his thoughts and feelings.
Dogs are members of our family. They can provide support on our darkest days and will always be our most loyal friends. Looking back, I can’t imagine what my childhood would be like without Henry. This is why I think everyone can benefit from having a dog in their life. No matter the age of the person, dogs can make life brighter. As we know from the research blogs, dogs benefit us socially, physically, and mentally. Henry did just that for me. Unfortunately, Henry passed away in June of this year. He lived a long full life of fourteen years. I know he is chasing all the squirrels in doggie heaven.
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