Hello Sparky

(Introduction: I never liked dogs and was even afraid of them—then along came Sparky. Read this heartwarming dog story about how he won my heart.)

Sparky is our dog’s name. A few years ago, I would never have imagined having a dog. Here’s something you must know: I was afraid of dogs! If you come from a background similar to mine, you may understand why. Plus, I was a neat freak. A smelly dog? One that might sit on my sofa? No. No. No…

However, saying no to the kids begging me for a dog was never easy. Even though I made myself sound loud and firm, I actually felt sorry. I knew it was my problem — I wasn’t used to dogs. Kids love dogs by nature, right? So, no surprise, I gave in eventually.

Meeting Sparky

The first time we saw Sparky, we fell in love with him. He was only eight weeks old — white fur, tender eyes, and an innocent look. But he gave me a heart attack when he carefully chose to poop on the beautiful wooden floor of my living room. Oh no!

That night, we put him in a cage. After we went to bed, he barked non-stop until my husband made a bed on the floor beside his cage — the little fellow just needed company!

Sparky loves food

Sparky grew into a large dog in just a few months. His hair was long and thick, and his color changed to yellow. He loves food! When he’s hungry, he’ll approach you and make a low murmuring noise, letting you know it’s mealtime.

Whatever you’re eating, he’ll sit nearby, staring at you with his big, innocent eyes. His lips will smack until you feel you have no heart to resist giving him something. Because of his good appetite, Sparky is getting fat. When he walks, his hips sway from side to side, looking very much like a model strutting on stage.

Sparky loves people

Sparky loves people! Whenever someone approaches our house, he knows it right away and starts barking excitedly. If we have a visitor, he gives his most sincere and enthusiastic greetings by wagging his tail vigorously, along with something special: his warm, wet kisses!

Ugh, that’s something I have never learned to appreciate. Yes, I can’t stand when Sparky licks me. However, sometimes the fellow attacks me by surprise!

Sparky’s adventures

Sparky loves to play! He pulls the family outdoors. Almost every weekend, we take him to the forest park nearby, where he can have a wild, unleashed run.

In summer, his favorite activity is chasing a ball in the creek. We throw the ball as far as we can in the water, and he brings it back again and again.

He loves exploring the woods. One day, during one of his fun adventures with my husband, Sparky suddenly disappeared. My husband couldn’t see or hear him. After an anxious search, he finally spotted Sparky—but was shocked by what he saw: Sparky was trapped on a steep cliff. One more step could have been disastrous!

Sparky was clearly frightened and refused to move when my husband tried to bring him up. In the end, my husband had to call 911. More than ten firefighters arrived and launched a two-hour rescue mission. This event made the top news in local newspapers, and word spread across the neighborhood. Without meaning to, Sparky became a star!

Sparky’s quirks

Now you know a little about Sparky. He loves food, he’s friendly, and he’s playful. You must be wondering—what kind of dog is he? He’s a golden retriever.

Despite all his lovely traits, he has one annoying habit—he sheds a lot! His hair can be seen everywhere on the floor. It really got on my nerves in the beginning. But life goes on, and people can change, including me! Now, I can stay calm even when I see dog hair on the dinner table.

Sparky gives us a scare

That said, I’m still a neat freak by nature. I carefully keep Sparky from shedding on me. When he licks me by surprise, I scold him with a loud “No, Sparky!”

Then one day, Sparky got sick. He lost his appetite. For a few days, he only drank water and vomited frequently. His stomach made strange noises.

My son searched online and, based on the symptoms, determined that Sparky might have a serious disease. According to his findings, Sparky might only live a few more months.

That night, after my husband and sons went to bed, I came to Sparky with my heart full of sorrow. He was lying there, half-asleep. I gently stroked him, tears in my eyes. “Poor fellow! I’m sorry for being mean to you. Can you forgive me? How can we live without you?”

Sparky lifted his eyelids, glanced at me, and went back to sleep, unimpressed by my repentance.

A happy ending

Fortunately, Sparky turned out fine, although neither the doctor nor any of us could determine what was wrong. Now he’s back to being the energetic, playful Sparky we love. Seeing him rush to his food, we all feel so happy and relieved!