Your first pet ever

I had mostly dogs growing up, but I cannot for the life of me remember my first dog.

But the first dog that was my very own was a black miniature poodle named Fella. I found him as a stray when I was around 11 or 12 years old. He was so badly matted and abused that I didn't even know he was a poodle until I shaved off all of his hair. His stupid previous abusive owner missed out on raising the most loving, caring and intelligent dog I have ever personally known. He was so smart that he could learn any trick in a few minutes. He read my feelings and cried when I cried. He was also a gentlemen (okay...gentledog) and always let me enter a door before him.

My only regret is that I don't have too many pictures of him. I wish I had taken more. Here are the only few I have, and they are so old you can barely make Fella out.

These pictures are around 38 years old. The first one is of Fella between my mom and little sister.


This is me at 11 years old holding Fella.


This one cracks me up. It's a bit messed up. But that's me being afraid that Fella was going to jump up on my 8th-grade dinner/dance gown.


I wish I took a couple of close up shots of him once I learned how to groom him. He was so handsome.