A Dog’s Perspective of Valentine’s Day

I woke up and felt slightly sad when I saw the heart shaped decorations and roses on the counter. It is Valentine’s Day. You are the one I love the most, but I know you will leave me. You and that other person leave. You walk out into the cold and the snow. I am your fluffy lovable champion all year long. I wag my tail for you every day and I always give you kisses, yet you leave me on the day when you are supposed to celebrate the love of the ones closest to you. When you could be at home, warm and snuggly with your dog, you choose to go get dinner with some person.

I like your other person just fine. They seem nice enough and they make you happy. They give me belly rubs and give me treats, but when you stop to think about it, are they really better than me? Are you sure they should be your Valentine’s Day date? What if they are picky? What if they don’t like the restaurant you choose? I always eat everything you give me. I love your food so much I even spend all my time begging for it! Can’t you see what an excellent friend I am to have along at dinner? On top of that, you had chocolate today. You said I couldn’t eat it. You said it was for someone else. This is mutiny. I am incredulous. It smells so good and I can’t have it?! Even on today? A day you say is special because it’s about being around the people you love. I am a people! I am just a very furry small people and a dog, but I still love you and I know you love me. So why do I not get a box of chocolate? And just look at my eyes. My eyes that love you more than anything else. My eyes that have loved you since the day you picked me up as a little puppy. I am also so well behaved. I protect our house day in and day out. I have never once let someone walk across our sidewalk without barking at them to let you know that there is an intruder. This is hard work, and I really think you should thank me by bringing me to dinner tonight. I am also so much fun. I run around the house for no reason other than to make you laugh sometimes. I play with toys, I fetch, I eat your shoes. Oh wait… ignore that last one. It was the squirrel not me. Anyway, back to the point.

The point is that I am a wonderful Valentine’s Day date and I do not know how one human could possibly be more fun than me. I believe I have made myself clear on why you should be with me. Alas, I see you put on your nice clothes. You also smell nicer than you usually do today. (Another reason you should’ve chosen me, I always like the way you smell). I plead with you not to go, but it is no use. You walk out and close the door. I hear your car start. You drive away to eat with someone who could not possibly love you like I do.

Even though you have left me, I still love you. I sit patiently. I wait. I think about all the fun things we will do when you get home. I plan out which toy I will pick up to shove in your face when you return. I will pick the extra loud pink squeaky ball. And I will squawk it very loud so the whole house can hear how much I missed you. I get lonely while you are gone. I sleep for a little bit. I wake up and wish you were back.

Then suddenly, I see headlights. Is it you? I think it’s your car. The garage is opening! Yes! YES! It’s you! You’re home. I grab my loud pink squeaky ball and run for the door. You walk in. I am not mad at you for not picking me as your Valentine’s Day date as you rub my head. I feel sad though when you put your keys away. You will not even take me on a February 14th drive? I missed dinner and you aren’t going to take me for a drive?!?! I am in shock.

Then I see it. You have a Styrofoam box in your hand. It is small and it smells good. You smile. You set it down on the ground. You open the lid. It is leftovers for me!!! You did not forget me after all! I am your Valentine’s Day date! And better yet, you let me rip up the box and run around the house with it when I am done licking out all the yummy food. I shake the box and run with the little pieces. It is such joy, joy, joy! You went to get dinner with your special human, but you also brought dinner back for your even more special dog. This is a happy Valentine’s Day after all.