No Normal Dog
He nervously put his little puppy on the examination table. She playfully licked the doctor that was examining her. After a moment of harrowing silence, the vet finally opened his mouth and started speaking.
But Graham could never have prepared himself for what he said. He told him that she was no normal dog, and her size showed it. Graham shook his head in disbelief. He knew that his dog was a wolf hiding in sheep’s skin.
Graham Lawson
Graham Lawson grew up in Texas with his parents. All throughout his childhood, he remembered his father’s service dog - Rex. Rex made sure Graham’s father, William, was looked after.
His father needed a service dog for his PTSD. He was a marine and had deployed on the battlefield countless times over his 20-year career. When he got home, Rex was assigned to him, and the two were inseparable.
Loving Canine
Even though Rex was his father’s dog, Graham grew attached to him as he became part of the family. He was happy that his father was finally staying at home and not off fighting a war. And as a bonus, they got a loving canine.
Rex would comfort everyone when they needed it. Graham remembered his father smiling when he had his German Shepherd by his side. Something that he didn’t do very often. But another 15 years passed, and both of them were a memory.
Emotional Struggles
Now that Graham was 25, he lived in a small house on his own. He battled to pay his rent on time, and at the end of the day, he didn’t even enjoy his job. He knew he needed a change in his life.
As he started to feel unhappier in life, he started thinking more and more about his life as a kid. One thought he kept coming back to was his father and his dog. After thinking about it, he decided to take the leap.
Adoption
He decided to adopt a dog of his own. He wanted a German Shepherd just like Rex. He knew he could honor both his father and his memory by finding a companion to keep him company and emotionally stable.
All he had to do was go to a shelter and look around for the right dog for him. But he had no idea that the dog he would find would have a lot more than met the eye.
A Puppy!
After going to his local shelter, he couldn’t believe what he had found. There was a fluffy German Shepherd puppy looking up at him. It was the cutest thing he had ever seen. He knew he had to adopt it right away.
He filed the paperwork, paid for her welfare, and even got expensive food and a kennel for her. Soon she was in his car, and they were heading home. But Graham had no idea that his dog wasn’t exactly what he was hoping for.
Settling In
He decided to name the dog Mandy. She seemed quite small for a German Shepherd, even if she was a puppy. But Graham knew she would grow in time. She settled in well, and soon they were inseparable.
She reminded him of the relationship Rex had with his father. After three months, he was very fond of her, but there was one problem - she hadn’t grown even an inch since he had picked her up.
Concerns
Mandy wasn’t getting any bigger. Graham first thought that her food was the problem and switched to the best quality he could afford after a month. But after two months of great food, there was no progress.
Graham had no idea what the problem could have been. This was something he had never heard of. When he first adopted her, she was checked by a vet, and they said she was completely healthy. Did he imagine this?
Deciding To Take Action
Outside of Rex, Graham had never owned a dog before. He was concerned about her well-being and knew that he had to do something. He called the shelter he had picked her up from and asked if they had any clue on what the problem could be.
But as far as the shelter knew, she was just a regular puppy when they took her in from the streets. They were happy to give her a home with Graham but had no idea that she wouldn’t grow.
The Vet
After he couldn’t get answers, Graham decided that the best thing he could do was take his puppy to the vet. Hopefully, he could get the answers he was looking for. He put her in his car and drove.
The entire way there, he wondered what the vet would say. He just hoped that it wouldn’t be something serious. But he had no idea that the truth would change his life forever.
The Examination
He nervously put his little puppy on the examination table. She playfully licked the doctor that was examining her. After a moment of harrowing silence, the vet finally opened his mouth and started speaking.
But Graham could never have prepared himself for what he said. He told him that she was no normal dog, and her size showed it. Graham shook his head in disbelief. He knew that his dog was a wolf hiding in sheep’s skin.
The Diagnosis
The doctor further explained to Graham that she was nothing like most other dogs. She was something else entirely.
He told Graham that his wonderful canine had a rare condition called “pituitary dwarfism” and would explain her tiny size. It also had a few more implications, like a slightly shorter lifespan.
Extra Care
Graham felt like he was hit by a bus. He couldn’t believe that his puppy would never grow any bigger. But at the same time, he didn’t mind her unique condition and promised himself that he would give her extra care.
He actually thought that it was a little ironic. That he had adopted her to help him get over his emotional distress, and now he would look after her and take care of her special condition.
Other Symptoms
Parallels between his father entered his mind again. His service dog made sure that he was okay and took care of his PTSD, and now Graham was looking after a dog with a condition. He knew his father would be proud.
The condition means that Mandy would never get bigger than she was when he picked her up from the shelter. There were other difficulties like a loss of appetite and dry skin and fur. But that never bothered Graham.
A Happy Life
Graham took Mandy home after the trip to the vet and had gotten all of the things he needed to help treat her. He got special shampoo that would help with her skin and fur and bought plenty of treats for when she wouldn’t eat her food.
Graham looked at his little pup that would stay that way forever. He smiled and told himself that he couldn’t have been happier. She was one-of-a-kind and special. Something he would never forget.