Our Dog Daughter- Thelma "Starfish" Bennett

It is true what they say. Soon after becoming husband and wife, Anthony and I felt the urge to hear the pitter-patter of little feet on the hardwood floors. So with some convincing by myself we went to the Jacksonville Humane Society on Beach Blvd to adopt our very own cat or kitten. We figured that would be the perfect companion for this loving and busy family of two but of course, the cat selection was low and my slightly (or extremely) superstitious Italian husband vetoed the idea of a black cat. We were ready to head home but then I thought what about a dog.

Walking through the cages was so sad. With little wagging tails and eager faces, these furry babies just wanted a home. After talking with an adoption counselor, she said she had just the pup. Viva was her name and they guessed she was a two year old pug and beagle mix which they were wrong about on both accounts. After spending sometime in the outdoor play pen with her and letting her run with Anthony, we couldsee that this viviacious dog already loved us. She came home the next day.

Thelma on her ride home from the Humane Society

Where did the name Thelma come from? You must find it odd to name a dog Thelma but she loves her name. Anthony said there was no way in this world he would call out, "Come here Viva." And he immediately declined my mom's suggestion of naming her Diva instead. So we had to find a name with a strong "a" sound at the end and after going through a list of ideas, we came up with Thelma after my great grandmother on my Dad's side of the family. The starfish was a nickname given to her by my friend Mandy who said that when she lays sprawled out on the floor, she looks like a starfish. I like it so it has become a middle name.

That is her mess in the background and she is not ashamed!

Isn't she the most precious little lap dog?

Daddy's girl is playing football

May not have ended up with the name Diva but she has to rest in style

So four-legged feet may not have been the pitter-patter that you had originally imagined at the start of this story but she truly has brought a lot of joy and education to the Bennett family. We've learned how to clean up again, again, and again after little messes. We've been woken up in the early light to a crying pup wanting to go out and we've come home to a destroyed mess that would put Chance from Homeward Bound to shame. Even with all the work, it has been worth it. Knowing that Thelma keeps Anthony company when he runs in the evening puts me at ease and the way she respects and loves her Daddy is so special. Thelma loves playing with squeak toys, footballs, and sticks and since joining the family has traveled to Destin, Marianna and even went camping. Going from rags to riches, this pooch makes us appreciate the things we may have otherwise taken for granted and we love how much love she brings us.

Fun Things We Do with Thelma

• Go on a walk as a family- Nice talk time for us... Thelma's kind of quiet.
• Check out local dog parks- Great place to meet other dogs and catch fleas.
• Go camping- Do NOT share a tent with the dog. Thelma ate Anthony's wallet, didn't sleep a wink, sat on my head, chewed up a bar of soap, and pretty much kept us up ALL night. The outdoors was so much fun though!
• Doggie Play Dates- We went on a play date with Maximus, TJ's bird dog. It was great because we got to chat while the dogs got to play.
• Play football- Thelma likes to tackle people that are already on the ground. Mahony and Andrew fell victims to Thelma's killer tackling skills... once they were on the ground first.
• Throw sticks- Reminds you that sometimes the simplest things can be fun.
• Training Classes- Thelma can sit, stay, lay down, roll over, and bang! (bang = rolling around and falling dead on the floor) Anthony called this class a diploma mill but he is so proud of teaching Thelma bang! She plays wounded and still moving a little better than dead.
• Run with the dog- Anthony is the only one that does this. I don't know how to run.
• Go to a Pet superstore- Pet superstores are amazing for humans and pets! We can look at all the cool stuff and Thelma can try before we buy. It is also a great place to get some stranger love from small children, pet lovers, store workers, etc. and Thelma loves the attention too. 
• Cuddle- Our precious 35 lb. pooch thinks she's a lap dog.