dad & millie

My dad is not a dog person.

He wasn't exactly thrilled when he learned we adopted Henry.  So imagine how happy he was when someone dropped off a dog at his house late last fall.

My mom felt sorry for the dog -- an old pug she named Millie (after former President Bush's dog, Millie) -- and so they kept her.

Last Thanksgiving, we almost took Millie home.  My dad was still not keen on having the dog, and even though it was cold and raining outside, Millie was still outside -- under the covered porch, but still outside.  We went so far as to put her in the car with us.  As we were sitting there in my jeep discussing taking another dog into our household, my parents' garage door opened up.  My dad stood there, saw CJ with the dog in his lap, and yelled, "Leave my dog alone!  Put my dog down!"

CJ said that was the day my heart grew three sizes, because I stewed about that the entire drive home.  As soon as we got home, I called my parents and begged my mom to buy Millie a house or something to keep her out of the cold.  They took warm towels out to her for a few days, and then finally caved and let her stay in their garage.

It's all gone down hill from there.  Eventually Millie got her own pillow and her own little dog house -- all kept in the garage.  Now my dad takes Millie for rides with him in his truck -- which leads us to the point of this whole post.

A few months ago, Dad took Millie with him to the post office.  She sat in the passenger seat very quietly, enjoying herself.  Dad hopped out of the truck to run into the post office, leaving the keys in the ignition (small town America).  He came back and found that Millie had locked him out of the truck.

Somehow I doubt that this lockout will stop Dad from taking Millie on more rides.  Turns out he may not hate dogs that much after all.



P.S.  I should probably note in here the last time we went to my parents' house, I noticed my parents had three large Sam's Club-size bags of dog treats.  Henry might get one treat per day, and that's if he's been extra good and most likely if he's performed some sort of trick for us (even if that trick is sitting down).  But, Millie?  She gets a treat in the morning, after work, just whenever.  Can we say spoiled?