Doggie Tales is meant to share the impactful ways in which humans and dogs co-exist and share love, beginning with the ones that have impacted my life the most. I hope you enjoy these and I would love to hear your comments down below.
Our first dog tale stars our very own Doggie Dreamz mascot, Owen. Owen is the reason I starting Doggie Dreamz back in 2014 and I hope you can paws for a moment to hear his story.
Owen came into my life through my sister, Tara, in March of 2013. Tara was working at a corporate office in Torrance and had a co-worker whose neighbor just had puppies. At the time, my sister was looking for a dog to adopt but hadn't found the right one just yet. She invited me with her to meet the pup in Long Beach and see if there was a connection. Owen, the name he was already given, took one look at Tara, reared back on his hind legs, and galloped toward her like it was destiny. His tiny 5 pound frame leaped into her arms and then shortly afterwards he feel asleep in her hands. That was all we needed to know that he would be coming home with her.
As with any puppy, the first few weeks were tough. With potty training, teething, and getting into a new routine that both my sister and Owen were getting familiar with, I helped out when I could. At the time I was still working at my own corporate job and could only help on the weekends. Despite the challenges of our new "baby" we immediately loved him like family. Owen's spunky, playful, and witty spirit brought a lot of joy to my sister's life when she was really needing it. In addition to his youthful spirit, Owen came with an old soul. You could look into his eyes and there was so much depth... like looking into human eyes. We were sure that he was meant to be a part of our family.
Then, Owen got sick. After only a month of having him, Owen developed a brutal cough with difficulty breathing. The X-rays came back and we learned our precious Owen had pneumonia. He had to be admitted to the hospital right away for treatment, and there was no guarantee he would survive. All we could do was wait and see how he responded. The next two days were excruciating waiting to see if the treatment worked and if he would make it. We finally got the call that he was going to be ok and could come home. When my sister picked him up, he ran right into her arms, just like the day they first met and he began to lick her face. His spunky spirit was back!
After he came home my sister made sure he had the best life! She took him to dog beaches, hiking, doggie-marathons, and road trips. He basically went everywhere with her. Almost losing such a precious soul changed both of us. Tara went on to get her Masters Degree in Education and became a High School English Teacher. Owen helped her study for exams and all her classmates loved seeing him at study groups. He did have a strict, self-imposed 8 o'clock bedtime, though. (Remember he’s an old soul) As for me, Owen’s ordeal and strong spirit lead me see how much animals mean to me and how I wanted to work with them full-time to make a difference in their lives. I ended my corporate career and started Doggie Dreamz all because I realized life is too short to not be doing something you love. My sister and I both learned that lesson from Owen and now we are both pursuing our passions with our favorite side-kick Owen along for the ride.
Owen: Beagle/Miniature Pinscher Mix
Birthday: 12-15-12
Favorite Accessory: BOW TIE
Funny habits: Talking back when asked to do tricks. "What? No treats?"