I'm finding it hard to type as Montego is chillin' on my lap. Her front legs keep slipping off and it's gotta be as uncomfortable for her as it is for me.

She's a little dog, but still, this ain't workin.

And my god does she stink.

And not just sweet puppy smell. We're talking full on stank.

I almost bought a home grooming kit at PetCo on Sunday, but the image of a shaved and lopsided dog got the best of me. Salon grooming gets expensive, but it's better than scarring the both of us for life.

Pony and I went to the humane society on Sunday. Just to torture ourselves I think. She wants to get another kitten and that fact alone throws me for a loop. This is the same Pony who used to call cats "gross" and who'd get creeped out if she was even in the same room with one.

Now she wants two?

Sometimes I think she just borrowed her mom's opinions about stuff without ever analyzing them for herself. But for the purposes of today's story, that's neither here nor there. I'm sure I'll get into our dysfunction eventually.

So as we were leaving, empty-handed thank you, she said how Tego was a really pretty dog to find at a shelter and how lucky we were to find her.

I was floored.

Let's flashback, shall we?

Fall 1998: we make the rather impulsive decision to get a dog together and hit the shelters. We know we want a puppy and as I love labs, I wanted to get a big dog. Preferably a lab mix or something.

We're wandering around, each of us shaking our heads at the other's selection. Finally she stops in front of a little black mop. What about this one?

The dog's eyes meet mine and even though my head is screaming No yappy dogs! I shrug and take her out of the cage.

We took her into the Get Aquainted room and fell in love with her. She was so happy and eager. Plus, she already knew "sit." Too bad I didn't notice her hyperness then but ah, whatever.

Taking joint care of this animal lasted, I'm not kidding, about two days. Two days Pony walked her or fed her. What? A dog's work? And I have to spend how much money on what? Oh, well, nevermind then. Pony didn't want a dog. She wanted something to cuddle on the couch with.

Tego was four months when we got her. She wanted to play not hang on the futon watching 7th Heaven. She needed shots, flea treatment, heartgard, grooming, a crate, toys, ChaChing! Well, Pony lost interest and suddenly I was a single mother.

It was h-a-r-d. Especially when I was going to obedience school alone and Pony was basically unteaching her everything I was struggling to instill. It took me an entire year to housebreak this dog. A year. Simply because of the inconsistency.

If I had known I'd be doing, and paying for it, alone, I never would've gotten a dog. Or any pet for that matter. Never, ever, ever.

And it broke my heart because Montego loooooved Pony. She wanted to be with her, sit on her lap, give her kisses. And Pony didn't really want it.

Strangers stop me and ask me what breed she is because they're so taken with her. Everyone at the park knows her name and they all coo over her. She has about three doggie boyfriends. She's a popular girl, what can I say.

And the person who chose her - the woman who stopped in front of her shelter cage - could care less.

So it threw me a little when Pony spoke about Tego with a little love in her voice.

But you know what? Her loss. She doesn't know how it feels to have this creature put her head on your knee. Look at you with complete trust and ultimate love. So really, I'm the lucky one. I'm the lucky one whose life is better for knowing this animal. For loving her. For getting loved in return.