If you know me, you know that my family and I had a tough week.   We adopted a puppy this week, our family's first baby puppy.  We named her Maggie Moo and we had her exactly 17 hours when she became very sick.  The veterinarian thinks that she consumed some kind of toxin while at the breeders home just before we picked her up. 

If you have a heart at all, you'll understand that Max and I fell instantly in love with this little puppy.  To leave her at the emergency clinic and walk away for that very bad breeder was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.  Watching my 12 year old cry himself to sleep because he finally got his puppy and she was so sick she might die is something I hope not to do again.

My husband, Jack, who had been dead set against a dog for all of our 23 years of marriage was so upset by this turn of events, he called me to tell me we had to find another dog TODAY!!! 

My very best friend has a friend who immediately sprang into action.  He found an adorable puppy at a pet store and called me to tell me about it.  I was very reluctant to buy from a pet store because I have been told that they buy their puppies from puppy mills.  I simply couldn't take the chance of exposing Max to more heartache.  After learning of my fear, my friend's friend checked out the pet store, checked out the place where they got their puppies and made me comfortable enough to go look at the cockapoo puppies there.

Leann drove me down and her friend met Max, Leann and me at Monster Pets in South Philadelphia.  This has got to be the cleanest pet store that housed animals that I have ever been in.  There were 3 male cockapoos.  The first one out just licked me all over and when he got to Max he just started shaking his little stumpy tail like crazy.  Max wanted to be sure, so we trotted out the other two cockapoos.  One was very sweet but not nearly as affectionate.  The third shot out of the back room like a bat out of hell and looked like a wild thing.  Okay, maybe not that dog!  Max opted for dog number one.  I had always kidded Jack that if I ever got a male animal I would call it Jack Junior (Jack is not the animal lover that Max and I are).

Well, my friends, please welcome J.J. (Jack Junior) to the Mangigian family!!  He got a clean bill of health from our vet who actually unbuttoned his shirt, stuffed J.J. in there, buttoned back up and looked Max in the eye.  He deadpanned... "so, did you want me to check out an animal today or did you just stop in to say hello"!  He said that J.J. appears to be a great puppy and he was so happy for us after our harrowing day with Maggie Moo.

I discovered something so important, so earth shattering, I had to share it with you.  I have discovered that the cure for a broken heart is a lick on the cheek from a healthy baby puppy.  Yep, you heard it here.  The cure for a broken heart can be found in the love of a puppy for a little boy who desperately wanted him.

I am proud to introduce you to J.J.!  The newest member of our family!

Special thanks to Ed Angelo, Leann Murphy, Liz Facenda and Larry Wright.  Their friendship and help through this devastating day in our lives can never truly be repaid.  I owe them big time and I love them dearly. 

11/7/08 Update.

I just got an invitation to a puppy reunion.  Monster Pets is inviting everyone who adopted a puppy between July and September of the year to enjoy an evening of snacks, refreshments and fun for the family as the puppies reunite with each other.  I spoke to a lovely woman named Susan Hoagland who tells me she personally visits all of the breeders before she buys a puppy and handpicks the puppies that get sold in the store.  More good news... JJ's brother, who we always called JB for Jack's Brother, was adopted as well!  Max and I are going to the reunion in the hopes that JB will be there too.  Happy endings do happen. 

JJ at 6 1/2 months old