Big news! I adopted a puppy from the SPCA last Sunday, so introductions are in order. World, meet Fredric; Fredric, meet the world. His namesake is Fredric March, the old-time actor and one of my favorite stars of Hollywood's golden age.
He's about two months old, black and white (like most of the movies we're going to watch) and sweet as can be. He doesn't know how to go up or down stairs yet, and he's not used to walking on a leash, but he's getting comfortable in his new home and doing well with being housebroken.
He's about two months old, black and white (like most of the movies we're going to watch) and sweet as can be. He doesn't know how to go up or down stairs yet, and he's not used to walking on a leash, but he's getting comfortable in his new home and doing well with being housebroken.
It's a pretty big decision to get a dog, and one that required a lot of reflection on my part. I've literally been thinking about it for over a year. But I had to decide if scaling the steps of my five floor walk-up numerous times a day to take him out would be worth it. To make sure I was up for the challenge, I've often volunteered to dog-sit for friends. Inevitably, I made up my mind that I was ready. I grew up with dogs my whole life, and the time seemed ripe to finally have one to call my own.
Last Friday at work, I found a picture of a dog named Hank on the SPCA website, which said he was currently being housed in the Stanley Adoption Centre. Since I was heading down to Stanley for the Tuen Ng Festival on Saturday anyway, I decided to drop by. My friend Eleni visited the center with me, and we played with Hank for about an hour.
Having met several pups around Hong Kong during my dog search, I felt something extra special upon meeting him. It just felt right. And he certainly looked like a Fredric, the name I had picked out long ago. So I put a hold on him, and went back to take him home with me the next afternoon. And that's how Hank became Fredric, and I became a dog owner.
The past few days have been hard work but also a ton of fun. God willing, Fredric will live a long and happy life. I'm twenty-eight years old now and—here's a scary thought—hopefully he'll see me into my forties! I have no idea what adventures life will throw our way, but I'm so excited to have him along for the ride!
