My husband and I became empty nesters in the fall of 2010. We were missing our youngest daughter who moved to San Diego for college.
Around that time, a Latina lady and her daughter were standing outside church, dangling two darling Chihuahua-like puppies.
After oohing and ahhing them, I needed to walk away for 10 minutes to gain clarity. When I returned, they placed one in my hands and her long, gangly legs were sticking out.
Her innocent grayish-brown eyes warmed my heart and she became ours.
Our pet’s name is Jillian Jesusa Loofbourrow. She is a sleek, 11-pound, dark grey miniature pinscher with lots of white hairs on her muzzle, making her appear older than her three years.
We’d been telling everyone that she was a “chiweenie” (dachshund and Chihuahua mix), until we recently saw an Internet picture of a mini-pinscher. (I guess we’ll have to stop saying the fun name!)
Jillian is a quiet lapdog most of the time.
She insists on keeping me company every morning as I contemplate the new day. She also accompanies me to my music room to practice flute, except that the high notes cause a little whimper.
We are pleased that she only barks at doorbell strangers and backyard creatures such as possums and skunks.
Although she loves resting with us, at the park she will chase and retrieve a Frisbee, proudly prancing back to us with her big prize!
At the doggie beach, she surprises us by becoming a wild racehorse that outruns the bigger dogs who look at her like she is their lunch!
Jillian is the fourth girl with a “J” in our Loofbourrow family. Our two oldest daughters, Jessica and Julia live in New York City, and Jenae resides in San Diego. Like our other girls, Jillian has a wardrobe of several dresses and bows.
She eats Spot’s Stew wet food, Blue Wilderness dry food and table scraps for dessert.
We have given her every dog treat around, and she wrinkles her snout and walks away from them! We simply adore our dog and treat her like she is our fourth daughter!
Cheryl Loofbourrow is a member of the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce with the non-profit West Coast Pops Orchestra.
