Happy Birthday Cosmo

Because Jasper, my Wheaten Terrier was rescued from a shelter, I did not know his birthday. I did not even know how old he precisely was when we adopted him.

But Cosmo, my goldendoodle, is different. He is well-bred. I awaited his birth like an expectant mother. I have photos not just of his parents, but his dog-parent’s parents. I have saved pictures of all his canine siblings. And if I chose to, I could probably contact the owners of Cosmo’s  brothers and sisters through the breeder’s Facebook page.

And today, on Cosmo’s third birthday, we will celebrate.

He will enjoy some pancake bits mixed in with his morning kibble. For dinner he will have some rack of lamb. He will receive a new collar and leach to match his ginger-y  coat and play with a brand new red ball since his favorite red ball has mysteriously disappeared.

I will sing Happy Birthday and give him a cinnamon pumpkin cookie—his favorite.

And his tail will wag and he will lick my face—because Cosmo only knows all that is good in the world.

He is innocent.

And I like it that way.

Because Jasper understood that some humans could be cruel. Jasper knew about hunger and disappointment. Jasper feared separation.

It broke my heart that he was damaged—my love could never completely save him.

But he is at peace now.

And I have Cosmo-- who never breaks, but only melts my heart.  Cosmo is a furball of love and trust—a companion to all. He is my personal therapy dog. And when I blow out the candles for him today, his only birthday wish will be that his Dog-Mommy keeps making him pancakes and rack of lamb and plays red ball with him around the dining room table. He will think life is good and never worry, unlike his fur-brother Jasper always did, that tomorrow could be different than today.