Since I was very young, I have been afraid of dogs because I got jumped on when I was really young. That fear stuck with me for a really long time, so when my parents decided a few days before Christmas to get a dog and surprise us by bringing a little Morkie puppy home, I did not know how to feel.

I was, at this point, facing the fact that we would never get a dog, but after having hamsters and they all passed away, I thought that truly was the end of pets in my house. That was it, right? NOPE!

On December 23rd, 2017, Roxie, a little Morkie puppy about three months old, joined our family of me, my little sister, my little brother, and my parents. She came in when my neighbor, siblings, and I were playing LIFE on the floor in the back room. My parents came home from supposedly going on a date, to tell us to come to the door. My dad had his phone out, filming a vertical video of the whole thing. My mom had little Roxie, wrapped in a blanket in her arms as she carefully got out of the car. My siblings walked to the door and I was still setting down my things from the game with my neighbor.

I heard “PUPPY” and the usual squealing when my siblings see something cute coming from the front door. My ears did not believe what they heard. I quickly got up and went to see what was at the door. My eyes still could not believe it, but it was real. There was a little female puppy named Roxie, right in my mom’s arms, who was here to stay.

Within the first week or so of having the puppy, I never thought I would love a dog so much!

This dog became my right hand girl. We did a lot together! There were times that I would let her roam free. What I did not know would happen was that she would stay right around me even if I moved only a few steps. She would follow me.

At least for the first week or so with the new puppy, my siblings were still on holiday vacation from school, so they were able to help. Soon after though, I was basically on my own with the dog since my two younger siblings had to go back to school.

Roxie and I did a lot together during those times when it was just me, her, and my dad at my house. She would sit under my feet as I was loading the dishwasher. Roxie would try to get ahold of the clothes I was folding when I was doing laundry. If I was on my laptop or watching tv, most of the time anime, she would sit in my lap or right next to me in my big comfy chair. Most of the time while doing that, she would fall asleep and it would be so adorable! Those would be the times right after my chores because I would not want to move after she was so relaxed next to me.

Now that I am back at college, I miss waking up to my happy puppy in the morning who would run into my room and sit on the small pile of stuffed animals on my floor until I got up and put the stuffed animals back on my bed. Little Roxie would wait for me every morning after my siblings left for school. My siblings would take her to go to the bathroom, but eventually she would end up running into my room until my head raised from the pillow of my bed. Until my puppy saw my head rise up from the pillow, she sat in that pile of stuffed animals that she perfectly blended into.

As soon as I rose up from the pillow, she would run and stand next to my bed on her hind legs with her paws on the side of it, gripping on the best she could with her claws. Then, I would proceed to get out of bed and pick her up while she was exciting just trying to lick my face and tell me in the best way she could “Good morning and I love you!”. Seriously, a puppy cannot get much cuter than that!

With how many times I sat with my puppy, played with her, and sat with her while she ate and drank water, I found a way to kind of overcome my fear of dogs. My little puppy helped me to start overcoming something that I thought would always be there. Yes, now I am not scared as much of small dogs, especially my Roxie, but the fear of big dogs still stands and I hope that being with smaller dogs will help me to overcome my fear of bigger dogs.

In short, I miss my Roxie and my family knows I miss them along with our new pup pup. I love you all and I can not wait to see you all soon! I send you all hugs and kisses!