INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — I have a confession to make. Sometimes during the day, when all my humans seem busy with their own lives, I get lonesome.
So recently, I have been surfing the web, looking for a dog buddy to come share my life.
My ideal buddy would be under 30 pounds, happy go lucky, loving, playful and of course, cute.
I have done several features about cockapoos, and even though I’m not a fan of the designer dog phenomenon, the cockapoo seemed to fit my criteria.
One day, “Cathy’s cockapoos” web site in North County popped up on my computer screen and I gave her a call. I wanted to know more about what her cockapoos are like, and also whether Cathy had a dog buddy available.
“Sorry, Bonzo,” Cathy said. “All my puppies are spoken for. But why don’t you call a lovely couple named Alan and Cindy Millstein who adopted one of my puppies a year ago. They can tell you firsthand about my pups.”
I called the Millsteins, who live in Sea Oaks with 14-month-old Brody.
Alan answered the phone and told me Brody had been waiting for my call.
“Hi Bonzo,” Brody said. “I gotta tell you, I’ve hit the lottery with my new life and my human parents. Not only do my 4 cockapoo cousins live here in Sea Oaks, but I also have a human baby sister, Sadie Rose, my age.”
“Sadie didn’t know what to make of me at first,” Brody said. “She didn’t understand why I gave her kisses and sniffed her feet. But now we have our own mode of silent yip-yap and have decided we’ll have each other’s backs growing up together. Even though Sadie still doesn’t care for my smooches…yet.”
“Groovy,” I said. “What do you do when you’re not with Sadie?”
“I love to play ball, Frisbee, play with all of my dog buddies and take long walks on the beach,” Brady went on. “Every Wednesday there’s a tennis exhibition at the Sea Oaks tennis courts. My dog buddies and I sit in a special section called the dog pound. I sit in the front row with my dad. It’s frustrating sometimes when the tennis ball lands by the fence in front of me. I don’t get why I can’t be the ‘ball dog’.”
“Aww man, that would drive me bonkers, Brody,” I said.
“I know, Bonz,” Brody replied. “But my parents have worked super hard at teaching me who’s in charge. They get such a kick out of me when I do what they say. It makes me happy just to please them.”
Hmm. I like pleasing my humans too.
“I’m glad to have chatted with you Brody,” I said. “Thanks for telling me a few things about yourself. It seems to me a cockapoo would make the perfect addition to my home.”
“Good luck in your search, Bonz,” Brody said. “One thing I know for sure is I am perfect for my family.”
Well said, Brody.
Till next time,
The Bonz
