I Have Become The Human Parent To Phi Phi and Crocker, My Fur Babies

A dog story.

If you asked me six months ago, if I will ever be a fur parent, I would have told you this, ‘I can’t even take care of myself much less take care of dogs.’

But now, two dogs have me as their human companion. Yes, their parent or I prefer to be called their DaDa.

How did this happen?

If I tell you the whole story, then better prepare 5 cups of coffee as this will be a very long story. So, I will just start with Doggie and Sky.

By the way, Sky remains to be my profile photo, she’s the first dog I fell in love with in so many years.

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So, you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” ― Steve Jobs

If there is a quote, I know to be true, it’s this one from Steve Jobs. And when life becomes confusing, I pause and remember his words.

Because like when Mom passed away, everything worked out in the end.

In the building where I live, there was an aspin I call ‘Doggie,’ and only because I never knew his name. The staff of the building was supposed to take care of him, but for me, they never did a proper job.

I would give him food and water. I feel bad for Doggie because he was on a leash.

And then one day, he was gone.

A few weeks after, a new dog arrived.

Sky is a Pomeranian dog that belongs to my landlord. One day she just popped out of nowhere and entered my home.

She was quiet. She was so small and cute that I just let her come in and out as she pleased, and she ate whatever I fed her.

One day, she peed and pooped. But that never really bothered me, I picked it up, and told her,

‘You can also come here when you’re done with number one and number two.’

And she never did number one and number two again inside the house.

I bought her a few toys and her own water/food basin.

I never knew much about dogs. The last time I cared for dogs was in my teens when I lived with my auntie who had several dogs, my task was to feed them.

There was a pom inside the house and his name was Cujo, all I remember now is that it means, the ‘evil dog.’

Be careful with naming your pets, Cujo while lovable wasn’t fun to be with, especially if I have to be the one cleaning his mess.

I never bonded with Cujo, I always thought he belonged to my cousins. And to the other dogs inside their cages, I only fed them.

Sky is different from Doggie, while he was appreciative, Sky liked me.

When all the staff left during the day, she would be at my home. And she never bothered me for anything.

She would eat, sleep, and leave when the guys who took care of her were back.

In my mind, as long as I’m here in the building, Sky is my dog.

And then one day, like Doggie, she was gone.

The next days were hard and I found myself on the couch doing nothing instead of writing.

I was sad. I misse Sky. It was grief.

Phi Phi

My partner who is a cat person decided to get our own dog. At first, I wanted to adopt, but I guess he wanted to surprise me.

A two-month-old pom spitz is coming in today, he told me when he woke up that day, it was Phi Phi.

Although at first, I asked my partner to name her, he thought of a very lame name, Sunshine:) and after I saw her, I knew she has to be Phi Phi.

After days of being lethargic, I went out with him to get the ‘new puppy’ her stuff — a sleeping bed, food, and her necessities.

When she arrived, I thought she would be anxious and stressed from her 4-hour journey. I was worried about her when she came out of the bag of the motorcycle driver who ‘delivered’ her.

She wasn’t an Amazon package, but it made me sad that she appeared to be delivered that way.

When we put her on the floor as we welcomed her, not an hour passed that she was ‘at home.’

She knew her bed, her stuff, and her toys.

She also slept beside us, on our bed, which she still does to this day.

As a new fur parent, I’m hands-on, and with it came some sleepless nights. Phi Phi as we call her would wake up every two hours, so I have to check if she was OK.

Our home isn’t ‘child-proofed.’

In the first week, she got sick or that was what the veterinarian told us. And not only was I worried, but we also paid $200 for her first doctor’s appointment, and there will be more follow-up checkups.

Not only was I worried about Phi Phi, but I was worried about the money, her first bill was way more than I earn as a writer each month.

But God provides, I leaned more to my faith.

Crocker

A week ago, after I visited my 83-year-old Dad, I went to a pet fair. It was my Sunday bonding with Phi Phi.

It was also that day that I found an organization that helps people who want to adopt dogs, both rescued and abandoned.

I never knew that a new dog was coming into my life.

The next day, when I woke up, I remembered my dream. I was calling out a dog, Cracker, or was it, Crocker?

I never gave it much thought until I saw a friend’s post on Facebook, that her friend needs to re-home her dogs, as her mom is sick, and can’t be around dogs for some reason.

I immediately asked, and a decision had to be made. Otherwise, Crocker could end up in an animal shelter.

The next day he arrived at my home.

It was challenging, and there were days when I asked myself if taking in another dog was a smart decision.

Crocker as I later decided to call him instead of Cracker was afraid, distant, and turned out bigger than what I expected.

He also showed some aggression when I asked for help from the same guy who brought him to my home, to take him to the veterinarian.

I don’t know how to handle a dog bigger than Phi Phi.

Needless to say, the veterinarian visit had to be postponed for now.

The guy who was supposed to bring him to the veterinarian advised me to stay with Crocker as he eats his meals.

I did that night.

And something happened that will forever be the moment I will never forget about Crocker.

With Phi Phi in my arms, I began to talk to him, in human language. Explaining why he is now with me. Why I would start calling him Crocker instead of his old name, that the dog in my arms is Phi Phi, and finally these words came out of my mouth.

I love you, Crocker. I love you, Crocker. I love you, Crocker.

And Crocker began to sob, I began to cry and Phi Phi well, she started to lick my tears.

Final words

Yesterday, for the first time Crocker ate the treats on my palm. I also petted him on his head.

I know it is only the beginning.

It is still challenging. I have fewer hours of sleep and fewer hours to write.

With two dogs, I believe in my heart I count myself very lucky because I know I will receive twice the love.

Thank you for reading.

Here are some of my stories, all complementary.

✨When I Woke Up He Was Gone— Free Reading.

✨How Mia Khalifa’s Rebrand Makes Her $6.42 Million a Month — Free Reading.

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