After Betsey passed away so suddenly, I was in no way ready to even think about our next dog. I knew I was a Need Dog in My Life type person. I just wasn’t ready immediately to make any decisions. But, as the woman who brought Betsey into my life to begin with told me back then, the dog finds you.
So Betsey’s former rescue, R&R Boxer rescue reached out. They had a pregnant female. Her family tried to take her to the shelter, but the shelter reached out to rescue, which began the owner surrender process. The female was on her third litter at three years old. Had spent her entire life in a backyard. The rescue asked if I would be interested in one of her puppies. A puppy on top of raising my autistic son just seemed like a lot. I asked about the mama. I got pictures. That was all it took.
Her being pregnant was perfect because it gave me time to grieve. She had three healthy puppies, and was ready to join our family after her mom duties. Arrival set for before Christmas. Until that time, I constantly bothered the rescue for pictures, video and updates.
It didn’t take long to figure out her new name. (her former name was not going to work for my son who is in speech therapy. And I wanted a fresh start for her all around). Diane Keaton, who I was a fan of, had passed away not long before. That neurotic energy, warmth and just offbeat charisma just radiated off boxer Keaton in the video clips I got from the rescue.
When she finally arrived at our house, it was clear she had no clue what it was like to be an indoor dog. But she was loving every second of the adventure. We gave her some time to settle in, and now I think it is time to let her introduce herself. So without further ado, everyone welcome little Keaton.
“Oh wow, okay, so… hi! Hello! I’m Keaton and I’m THREE and I just got here and everything is SO MUCH and I don’t even know where to start but I’m just going to START because that seems like the thing to do, right?
spins in a circle excitedly
Okay. Deep breath. Let me try this again.
Hi! I’m Keaton! And oh my gosh, you guys, I need to tell you what just happened to me because I’m still processing and my nub hasn’t stopped wagging for like seven days straight and I think I might be having some kind of emotional experience but in the BEST way?
So, context: For my entire life, I lived in a backyard. Nice backyard, don’t get me wrong, lovely grass, perfectly adequate shade tree. But here’s the thing nobody tells you about backyards…they’re really just outdoor rooms where you watch life happen through a sliding glass door.
And I watched. Oh boy, did I watch.
I watched them eat dinner. I watched them watch TV. I watched them hug each other and laugh and be a FAMILY and I’d think ‘Wow, that looks nice. That looks really, REALLY nice. I bet being inside is amazing.’
But I was the outside dog. That was my role. Backyard dog. The dog you got and then... forgot about? Not in a mean way! They weren’t bad people! They really weren’t. They fed me, they gave me water, they probably thought I was fine out there.
But I wasn’t fine. I was lonely.
ANYWAY. Then I had puppies. Three times. Three litters. Which sounds like a lot because it IS a lot and honestly the whole experience was very overwhelming and I have THOUGHTS about it but we can unpack that later maybe with some therapy treats? Ok?
But then one day, everything changed.
So now I’m HERE and you guys, oh my gosh, INSIDE IS EVEN BETTER THAN I IMAGINED.
There are couches and beds! And they’re SOFT and you can SIT ON THEM. Did you know this? That dogs can sit on furniture with people? Because I did not know this and now that I know it, it’s kind of blowing my mind?
And there’s this small human, and he’s AMAZING. He’s like a little person who also doesn’t quite know all the rules yet and we’re figuring this out together and he pets me and talks to me and I think we’re going to be best friends? Is that presumptuous? I don’t want to assume but I really think it’s happening.
nub wagging intensifies
But here’s the thing…and I’m going to be real with you because I feel like we’re building something here, you and me… I’m also kind of terrified? Like, what if I do this wrong? What if I’m not good at being an inside dog? What if I don’t know the rules? What if they realize I’m just a backyard dog who can only make puppies and I don’t actually know how to be a REAL family dog?
My new mom, she’s an artist and she does this amazing thing where she takes her pain and turns it into something beautiful that helps other dogs and I think maybe that’s what I’m supposed to do too? Take all this backyard watching and puppy having and loneliness and turn it into... I don’t know... appreciation? Gratitude? The best inside dog energy anyone has ever seen?
I’m still figuring it out!
But here’s what I DO know:
Sleeping in a warm bed at night is INCREDIBLE. I know that being close to people is better than watching them through glass. I know that the Intern gives the best pets. I know that my new mom looks at me like I matter. Like I’m not just the dog in the backyard, but like I’m KEATON and I belong here. And I can be happy.
Which is wild because am I? Am I allowed to just... be happy? After everything?
I think maybe I am.
So anyway, hi! I’m Keaton! I’m three, I’m a boxer, I used to be a backyard dog and now I’m an INSIDE dog with a family and a little boy and apparently I get to be part of things now?
I’m going to mess up. I’m definitely going to mess up. I don’t know all the inside dog rules yet and I didn’t know where the bathroom for me is and sometimes I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be in this room or that room and honestly the whole thing is a bit overwhelming.
But in the best way.
So that’s me! SO HAPPY TO BE HERE. And I can’t wait to tell you about all of it! The adventures with the Intern, trying to fill the shoes of Management, the discovery of what it means to actually be part of a family.
This is going to be so good, you guys.
Okay I’m going to go lie on the couch now because I CAN DO THAT NOW and also the Intern might drop some snacks and I need to be strategically positioned.
Love you already,
Keaton