Pigs Flew: Our Dog

Well after years of saying no, we said yes.  We got a dog.  Part of it was the garden critter problem, part was kids wanted one, part was a moment of weakness.  But we now have Bella.  We got her from the Murphy's.  Bella was from a litter the Murphy's had from their dog Allie.  Bella's Dad drowned last year and Allie was depressed.  Bella came back to live with the Murphy's (she'd been at K.'s sister's house but after a divorce she couldn't keep Bella) after that in hopes of cheering up Allie.  But Allie was getting old.  And the M's daughter who ran with Bella every day was going off to college.  So they were planning on bringing Allie indoors and thought Bella might need a different home.  So we took her.  She is a yellow lab who is supposed to be an outdoor dog because she shed's like there is no tomorrow.  But she is a lab and labs are people dogs, not outdoor dogs.  She sits and cries at the door all day, and I confess my heart is hard, because I find it incredibly annoying.  I take her for a long long walk every day, but she just wants to be at my side all day every day.  I am her special chosen person.  The kids can be outside wanting to play with her, but no, she is at the door whining for me.  I find it massively annoying.  I've never been good with needy people and I guess needy dogs go in that category.  But I like her.  And I think the kids love her. She's a good dog.  3 years old. Well trained (except the poop on the lawn part). Anyway, like it or not, we now have a dog. And I guess I'll get used to that someday.