When I married a cat lover who had allergies to dogs, I always envisioned adding a dog to our family someday. My childhood dog, Max, was a mixed breed who brought endless joy—he could even ring the doorbell when he wanted to come inside! I wanted my children to experience the same companionship I had with Max.
My husband, Alex, enjoyed dogs but would often suffer from itchy eyes after spending time with them. While I didn’t mind having a cat, I wasn’t keen on the idea of spending money on a pet that would likely ignore me. Alex’s tales of growing up in England resembled something from a novel, which explained his preference for cats as a child.
Despite their early fascination with cats, my twins began requesting a puppy in first grade. By second grade, my daughter launched a persuasive writing project to advocate for a dog. I was excited about the idea but wanted to wait until they were old enough to help care for a pet. Puppies are adorable, but I was already overwhelmed with parenting and didn’t want to add to my responsibilities.
As the years passed, the twins’ desire for a dog remained strong, but Alex stood firm in his stance against getting one due to his allergies. Everything changed, however, when I stumbled upon a study from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggesting that children with dogs in the home experienced lower levels of anxiety. This news ignited a new determination in me—not only did we want a dog, we needed one. With research in my corner and the kids mature enough to pitch in, I could finally see a furry companion in our future.
At nine years old, the twins and I began searching for our new family member. Our attempts to adopt a rescue dog fell short, and visits to a local pet store ended after a friend mentioned the possibility of puppy mills. Given Alex’s allergies, we focused on finding a hypoallergenic breed, which led us to consider breeders.
After extensive research, I had my heart set on a Cockapoo—a mix of cocker spaniel and poodle. A friend, Jamie, had a Cockapoo named Cooper and shared that her husband also thought he was allergic to dogs, but it turned out his allergy was only to saliva. She brought Cooper over for Alex to meet, and while he was fine holding him, his eyes swelled after Cooper licked his face. We celebrated the possibility that Alex could manage avoiding dog spit, paving the way for our kids to enjoy a less stressful childhood.
I found a breeder in upstate New York with a high demand for her Cockapoo puppies. She didn’t take deposits; instead, it was a call-and-wait game to see when litters would be born. After several missed opportunities, I was about to give up and buy a hamster. I didn’t know if hamsters could ease anxiety, but I had my doubts. A few days before Christmas, I decided to try one last time. To my surprise, the breeder announced that one of her favorite dogs had just given birth to six puppies. “That’s our litter!” I exclaimed, eager to visit.
The day after Christmas, we traveled upstate and chose a tiny buff-colored puppy with his eyes still shut. As we waited for him to be old enough to come home, we debated names. I suggested “Angel” but the kids insisted on naming him Max, in honor of my childhood dog. Eventually, I conceded, warning them that our next pet would be named Angel.
When we brought Max home, our excitement overshadowed his shyness. At only two and a half pounds, he preferred to stay in his carrier. Thankfully, once treated for an infection and acclimated to his new surroundings, Max blossomed into a lively 20-pound companion. He has become the heart of our family and a source of comfort for everyone. As my “third child,” he follows me everywhere, is uninterested in screens, and never talks back. Considering the journey we took to welcome him, I can confidently say he was worth every effort.
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In summary, despite my husband’s allergies, our family’s love for dogs prevailed, leading us to adopt Max, who has since become a beloved member of our household. His presence has positively impacted our lives, making every challenge worthwhile.