WE83 post topics: Your first time - Meet Tommy.

I am happy to be here and this is my first time participating in these lovely weekly prompts. I believe it would get better with time and I decided to test myself with this.

It's "WE83 post topics: Your first time". You can also participate here.

Thank you for an opportunity like this, @galenkp.

Question: "Tell us about your first pet - What was it, how did you come to have it and what did that pet mean to you during the time you owned it."

Source
I was very young and couldn't get any picture of Tommy.

I was barely 6 years old; 2006 to be precise, that was when my mum’s friend came to the house with a puppy. At first, I was scared because this particular puppy was quite big for his age. He was only a few months old but I've never seen a puppy that big. Little did I know that was our new pet and my fear dissipated after I got fond of having him around and I settled in eventually.

We named him "Tommy" and he was just the coolest dog you would ever have. He wasn't an in-house dog but we often let him in the house from time to time and then wander around the compound. We were all fond of him and how playful he was.

I played with him a lot, I fed him and just enjoyed watching him play back then. He was my best friend back then. Do you know how children can be when they have a new favourite toy? Exactly how I felt when I eventually warmed up to Tommy. I always want to have him around and play with him.

A few years later down the line, we got another female dog for his company and a few months later, we had puppies all over the place. We were new to the whole thing and sadly a few of them died while we also gave a few of them out but we kept one.

This one became my second favourite dog after Tommy 😂 (how quickly I switched hahaha) so playful and rough even as a puppy. We named her "Angel". She was surreal, always matching our energy - vibrant, happy or sad. It’s like she knew these things and it was amazing. It's the truth when they say a dog is a man's best friend because a dog would be there for you through all your moods. They sense it and just feel it as deeply as you.

After going off to boarding school, I only saw them during the holidays but of course, they still recognized me but it was just different. Dogs never forget a face no matter how many years it took. They register a face and it's always fun to have them run to me whenever I get back from boarding school. Tommy was getting older and older and less active but still, a darling. Tommy was a German Shepherd and that was the breed I got used to.

One time we were away from home and we got a call that he passed away. I cried like a baby 😭😂 I mean it’s almost like losing someone you love; a best friend through thick and thin. It took a while to get over it and up till now, although I love dogs a lot, I’m still scared of having to keep one or a few only to end up losing them later but I think they’re still worth having around no matter how much little time we get to spend with them.

A few months later,Angel died as well. Since then, we’ve never really gotten another pet asides from one of my neighbour’s Lhasa Apso (Cleo) who almost practically lived with us at some point too.

I always get extremely excited whenever I see cool dogs. I could follow them to wherever they’re going, jumping like a kid that just got her first toy. I love dogs because they’re sweet and innocent, they always make me feel loved and responsible (because I get to take care of them even though they can be stressful sometimes). What's not to love about dogs?

Tommy meant a lot to me as a young kid because you know how protective a parent can be of their children. I am mostly indoor and having Tommy meant I got a best friend to share my moments with. I missed those moments...and soon, I would get another.

Thank you. Happy new year too.