By Ashley D’Ambrosia

The well-known phrase, “A dog is a man’s best friend,” is undoubtedly something all dog owners can agree upon. Dogs are animals that will always be there when you want to cuddle on the couch and watch TV or play fetch. They can always cheer you up. 

My family brought home our first dog, a cavachon (A mix between a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and a bichon frise), Duffy, four years ago, and he has been a joy in our lives ever since. He is always a pleasure to play fetch with outside and has become an expert at walking off-leash, making it more enjoyable to take him on walks. We always knew that Duffy liked other dogs and thought that one day he might want a friend to play with. We began to consider bringing home a friend for Duffy, and at the end of February, we decided it was time to get a new puppy. We had chosen to bring home a mini-goldendoodle named Winnie. We had plans to pick her up at the end of March, but when the announcement came that Collegiate would be receiving an extra week of Spring Break, and then would be moving to remote learning, we decided to pick her up on Monday, March 16.   

The ride back to our house with Winnie was a disaster. During the car ride back, she was either whining, peeing, pooping, or throwing up. Immediately, we could tell that she was going to be much more difficult than Duffy. Winnie is a bundle of energy and needs to be watched at all times. Like most puppies, Winnie has a tiny bladder and needs to be taken out at least every 30 minutes, or she will go wherever she pleases. We have now had Winnie for six weeks, and she still has at least one accident a day. My mom, Vanessa D’Ambrosia, likes to say, “Winnie may be a lot of work, but her cute face and sweet personality make it so hard to get mad at her.”

Although Winnie may get herself into trouble, she is still so amusing and adorable to have around. Every morning when I come down to greet her, she gets so excited she cannot contain herself. Winnie will stand on her hind legs with her tail wagging and mouth wide open ready to nibble you upon greeting her. Winnie is playful, yet when it is time to cuddle with her and watch TV, she is always ready to curl up in a ball and sleep on you for the duration of the show. 

We got Winnie to be a friend for Duffy, and at first, he could not stand her. Now, six weeks later, he is starting to warm up to her but will only play with her on his terms. Duffy’s favorite part about Winnie is how she leaves her treats out on the floor, so he can come over and take them without her even noticing. 

Getting a new puppy has been the best part of being in quarantine, and many other people in the Collegiate community are starting to get new puppies too. 

Parker Bradley (’22) hopped on the trend of getting a new puppy when she brought home a mini-goldendoodle named Millie four weeks ago. Bradley said, “My family has been thinking about it for a while, but now that we have tons of spare time, it seemed to be a great time.” Similar to Winnie, Bradley’s dog is having similar issues with potty training. Bradley says that “Millie is chaotic at times, and we are working very hard to get her potty trained.” Bradley loves having a puppy during quarantine because “it makes this boring time more enjoyable!”

Sarah Beth Neese (’23) and her family just recently bought a new fluffy friend into their home as well. They got an Australian shepherd named Bruno, and Neese says, “We love having our little bundle of joy trotting around the house and playing with him.” Neese has no other pets at home, so she enjoys finally having something to keep her occupied with during this time. Neese recommends anyone considering getting a new puppy that “it really is the best time for a puppy, because everyone in the family is home all day to spend time with it.” 

Charlotte Smith (’22) and her family just recently decided to get a new golden retriever puppy. Smith has wanted a new puppy for a while now, but her mom always said they could not because they were never home. Now that school is online and all extra activities are canceled, the Smith family will always be home to help with the new puppy. Smith comments on the situation: “This may be the longest time that our whole family is together again, so it is the best time to get and bond with a new puppy!”

Seniors Leslie Albrecht (’20) and Cate Hill (’20) have also brought new puppies into their homes, which have been a great addition to help brighten their mood about missing their senior year. Albrecht says, “Since I lost my senior year, my parents agreed to get a puppy. It gives me something to do while I am at home and is a positive distraction during the quarantine.” Albrecht got a goldendoodle named Sully, and she says, “He is a lot of work, but it has brought us all together to help with all of the little things. He is a lot of fun and brings a lot of happiness to our home.” 

Hill had a family dog that  passed away in February, and they missed having a dog in the house, so they got a bernedoodle (A mix between a Bernese mountain dog and a poodle) named Mabel. Hill says, “Having a dog during quarantine is great because it gives me another reason to spend time outside instead of on screens. With missing out on the rest of my senior year, she’s a great distraction to brighten my mood! Who can look at a puppy and not be automatically happy!” 

New puppies are not only finding homes within the Collegiate community but are also becoming a nationwide trend. A shelter in Palm Beach County, Florida, has emptied one of its long dog kennels for the first time in their history. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, “Shelter and rescue organizations nationwide are reporting unprecedented interest in fostering and adopting.” Kennels are emptying quickly, and the demand for a new dog is increasing as people want something to take their minds off of the situation at hand. Kelly Horan from the Boston Globe writes, “The puppy has emerged as the ultimate vector of comfort in this coronavirus time.” 

Featured image credit: Ashley D’Ambrosia.