Parker

I have the best dog in the world and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Sure, he has eaten the Thanksgiving rolls off the counter once or twice, and finishing off a plate of decorated cookies on Christmas morning has become one of his personal traditions. But the Parker Miller Fan Club generally sees his foibles as endearing, balancing out his otherwise stellar behavior. Sometimes I wonder if Parker is sweet because we're his fourth owners and he is forever grateful. Or maybe it's the genetics of his breed, but however he gained his best dog in the world status his story is worth telling.

Several years ago I suffered an episode of severe depression. I got the help I needed but the months of being ill were hard for me and everyone around me. During that time I read two books on depression in women and both of them suggested that getting a dog would be a good way to get out for daily walks and focus beyond oneself. Looking back I can't imagine why the authors thought getting a dog would be a good idea for a depressed woman. It sounds like a setup for stress, work, and disaster but I was willing to give it a try.

Having no energy and little interest in pursuing anything, I didn't really want to search for a dog. The idea of my new dog finding me sounded much more appealing so I decided to pray about it and see if God would send me a dog. I didn't want to be too picky but I thought it wouldn't hurt to be specific. If I could choose, I prayed, I would like a two year old male yellow lab with nice manners, a smaller build, born out of state (less likely to be one of the 100 pounders I saw around the neighborhood); and most importantly, I said, I wanted a dog who would be absolutely devoted to me. After a few weeks of my prayer project I gave up and took matters into my own hands. I searched the internet and talked to breeders about expected litters. I contacted service dog organizations about labs who hadn't made the final cut and who needed home placements. I looked at dogs in shelters. And in the end I chose a puppy from a wonderful couple who bred labs. I agreed to send a deposit and wait until the puppy was old enough to leave its mother.

I wrote out a check and put the addressed, stamped envelope on the dining room table. As I walked into the kitchen I heard my neighbor calling me through the open window. She asked me to come outside for a minute. Nancy was a dog groomer who lived up the street and worked out of her garage. She remembered that our black lab had died five years earlier and she hesitated, not sure how I'd take what she had to say. There was a dog staying with one of her clients, Michelle whose husband had cancer and was not doing well. Things were difficult enough with the pets Michelle and her husband already had and they were unable to keep this dog. Nancy had offered to help Michelle find a forever home for Parker, a two year old yellow lab.

Parker was born in Florida and given, along with his litter mate, to a young vet tech. The girl moved to San Diego but was unable to find an apartment that would allow her to have two dogs. So she gave one of the dogs to a boy she met and asked him to keep the it until she found a place to live. A year later when she reappeared to reclaim her dog, the boy told her he was the one who had fed and trained Parker and he refused to give him back. Sometime later the boy moved to Colorado to attend a community college. He left Parker with his housemates who fed him leftover pizza and let him roam the neighborhood.

Parker had a dog tag with Michelle's address on it, since the boy used his parents' house as his permanent address. When Michelle found Parker in her backyard for the fourth time, rescued by strangers from his wanderings, his ribs were protruding, he had no fur on his belly, and he was timid and nervous. She made the decision to take Parker away from her son's friends, and then called her son in Colorado to tell him she was going to find a new family for Parker. Michelle called Nancy to ask for help and Nancy talked to me.

Michelle and her husband lived only a few blocks from our house and we set up a time to meet. When we drove up their driveway Parker was out in front chasing balls. Male, yellow, small build, born out of state, beautiful face. I got out of the car, squatted down and called his name. Parker trotted over to me, dropped his ball and wagging with his whole body licked my face and hands.

The first month Parker lived with us I never had to say no to him. His manners were impeccable. And still he lets me go in the door first, stays with me off-leash on long trail walks, follows me around the house, carries my gardening tools, brings the newspaper in every morning. He even adopted the kitten we brought home.

Apart from some minor lapses of judgment and year round shedding, Parker has proven himself to be the best dog in the whole world. He's hopelessly devoted to me and I'm so glad we found each other.. along the way.