@contentandwell, Hi y'all, Judy here, I saw your conversation. If you want a pet I will tell you what I did. I'm not saying it's right, just sayin...My husband also (last husband), did not want a pet, and he was pretty adamant. I had always wanted a Golden Retriever, so one day at Christmas, the kids and I piled into the car and drove to Tacoma to find Gillians' Maggie May. She was the only little girl available but I loved her at first sight.
She was already 3 months old, and it seemed like people were choosing other dogs over her. Their loss, our gain. Anyway, my husband was in the living room when we walked in. He set his mouth in a line of disapproval and stalked into the bedroom. He said, "why did you do that"? "I really wanted a Golden". I asked him, "what if I was dying, then could I have a dog"? "Well sure", he replied. I said, "well, why do I have to be dying to have something to enjoy and love, like a dog"? He had no answers for me. Maggie became a daddy's girl and was a complete joy to be around. She was the first one out of the house to bring in the groceries. If, while she was outside, she needed to go pee, she would walk away from the grocery bag about 15-20ft, go pee, and go back for the bag. She also brought in the mail, tied up in a plastic bag of course. She was a wonder to behold, and I was never sorry that I went and got her, no, not one day. If you ever can't decide over a dog to choose, Goldens are great. They already know how to smile. That's what I did. Love you all, Judy.