And then there was Dot

She started as just "Baby Girl" by her breeder. Living like that for about four weeks, before being surrendered to the shelter as "Dot", and being given to a foster family with her four brothers. Three weeks, five days later, she was spayed, assessed, and then placed in a kennel with her recently-neutered brothers, and the lights went out for the night. The next day, she was placed in a room by herself, with two people and a camera, her photo was snapped, and she was re-united with her siblings. In that time, her photo was posted on the shelter's website, and she was deemed adoptable. Roughly an hour later, I rose from my bed, and did the regular routine check on the website for who's been adopted, who's still here, and most importantly, who's new. But this time, there were four adorable German Shepherd mix puppies on the website.
I was in love. The oldest-and largest- male was the one I had my eyes set on. I loved the litter's names, though, Yakko(my favorite), Wakko, Warren, and then there was Dot. The only female puppy in the litter. The only female German Shepherd in the shelter. I completely over-looked her photo, though, only taking note that there was a girl in the litter to help convince my parents to come see them.
I also had one more persuasive trick up my sleeve. That day, July 21st, 2009, was my 12th birthday. I was counting it as one more year without my dream dog, as one more year being stuck with a small corgi mix that feared lots, didn't like agility, and the biggest factor: she didn't really like me. I had my heart set on getting a German Shepherd for a long time, and I mean a LONG time. I had first heard of the German Shepherd(not to mention fall in complete love with them) when I was three, and my dad would tell stories of his dog, Snoopy, a small, faith full female German shepherd that had crossed many boundaries to stay with him and his family.
I was deathly in love with the breed, and had grown an obsession with it by the time I was seven.
Then, years later, the dogs magically appeared in the shelter on the right day, with only one girl, and the perfect breed.

The whole day went with very little discussion of "Dot", or at least descussion of her when I was with in earshot. I visited the pet store in the mall and played with an adorable little ferret, then stopped and had lunch at Sakura Japan(a yummy teriyaki chicken restaurant in the place), and on the ride home, I made one more mention that I wanted to go see the puppy.
I spent about an hour on the computer, gazing at the pup's pictures(mourning that Yakko had been adopted), checking email, updating my "journal" on a website I was on, watching YouTube videos, ect. After a while, I became impatient, and ran up the stairs to ask if we could "please-hurry-up-and-see-the-puppy" again.
My parents room door was closed, and I heard them talking, so I knocked on the door rapidly, and when it was answered, I bounced up and down and asked, "can we PLEASE go see the puppy?". My mom agreed, and we piled into the Prius, and drove off. Just the simple car choise dampened my spirits. There was no way we would bring home a dog in that car, it was way too new.
When we finally got to the shelter, I sat in the chair waiting to be called up to meet "Dot", while I stared into the window that served as a wall to the puppies kennel. I wiggled my finger near the glass as the little puppy I was there to see looked at me. Her attention was easily caught with that, and she pranced over, pawing at the window, almost like a kitten. I laughed and crooned, despite the fact she couldn't hear me, and all the other people waiting must have thought I was crazy.
When the time Finlay came, I eagerly fallowed the adopter-specialist that worked there to the meeting area outside, and sat on the ground. She then left us to retrieve Dot, and I smiled at my mom, who'd taken the camera from me to take pictures. She was sitting on one of the stone benches, because she didn't want to get puppy all over her.
When Dot finally came into the area, I called to her, and was greeted by 9 1/2 pounds of happy puppy, with her soft puppy fur, and massive paws. I smiled, and ran my fingers through her fur, played with her, had her come to me, and just over all enjoyed meeting her.
When she was in my lap, my mom asked if I could hold her up for a picture. I gladly did, holding her next to my face and smiling happily. My mom took two pictures, then put the camera down to listen to the adopter-specialist, and her going on about puppy adoption. I listened too, but I was very focused on the near-asleep puppy in my lap.
After the adopter-specialist finished, my mom said, "Well, Happy Birthday." I nodded and said, "hmm, yeah, thanks." So what, I got to meet dogs all the time, I didn't consider this much of a birthday gift. "You just have to pay for socialization classes." My mom added.
I was stunned. Did I hear that right? Was the puppy....Mine? It seemed so because my mom and the Adopter-specialist we're talking about the care package to take her home with. I was near to tears, I couldn't believe how happy I was! I pressed my face into her fur and told her, "Guess what, puppy. You're mine. And I love you." I already had a name picked for a puppy, Kai, which means "Willow" in Navajo Native American. I loved the name. Besides, "Dot" just didn't fit her.
I took her home and from that day, we've been inseparable since. It's now 5 months later, and Kai and I are still bonded. But I must say, it's difficult managing a puppy, a social life, and school all at once. But I'll make it, I'm sure.
Kai would help me all the way.