Keaton's Discoveries

Toys!

Keaton’s Discoveries is our new column written by three year old rescue boxer, Keaton, who is navigating life now as an indoor dog. My first ever boxer use to carry around a green dragon stuffie with him. Every night when I got home from my shift, he would come wigglebutting towards me with the dragon in his mouth. And he would give it to me. So when I was out grabbing some last minute items for Keaton before she arrived, I saw a pink version of the dragon and thought, why not. Her foster said she didn’t know what toys were. I’ll let her tell you what she thinks of toys. Enjoy!

So apparently toys are a thing. TOYS! My tiny human showed me this—well, I didn’t know what it was at first. It’s pink and blue and sort of floppy, and when I tentatively put my mouth on it (just investigating, very professional), it made this sound. A squeak! From inside! I may have jumped backwards into the coffee table, but that’s neither here nor there. The point is, this dragon—his name is Pete, I’ve decided, though I’m not entirely sure how I know that—is possibly the greatest invention in the history of the universe.

Pete goes everywhere with me now. Kitchen? Pete comes. Couch? Pete’s already there, nestled against the cushion like he owns the place. Bedtime? Well, obviously Pete sleeps on the pillow, where else would he sleep? Sometimes I squeak him just to make sure he’s still working, and then sometimes that scares me, especially at three in the morning so I try to snuggle in real nice and close to Mom. But Pete doesn’t judge me. Pete understands that life is about the simple joys—like squeaking, and being carried around, and occasionally being flung across the room in a moment of pure exuberance only to be immediately retrieved because what if I never see him again?

In the backyard, I had dirt. Sometimes a decent stick. But Pete? Pete is mine. MY dragon. My floppy, squeaky, slightly damp from affection dragon who has single-handedly taught me that the world is full of wonderful surprises, and some of them squeak, and that’s just about the most magical thing I can imagine.

Love you already,

Keaton

PS This is what it looks like typing for Keaton’s posts…her paws up on my lap watching me closely