Yakety Yak
Daisy, Belle top name list of coveted canines

By Sara Eiesland

Mirror Assistant Editor
February 29, 2008

When I sit at the stoplight on the corner of 49th Street and Louise Ave. in Sioux Falls, I hold my breath each time. I can already see the store from where my car sits, waiting for a green beam of permission to allow me to cross, inching further and further to my latest dream.

The stoplight finally changes to green and I step on the gas, driving east. I hit the gas pedal hard, anxious to experience my daily 30-second crash course in euphoria.

On my right sits a store that signifies the eventual realization of my dream.

It’s a modest building, with an unpretentious sign proclaiming the store’s name:  Mini-Critters. Merely driving by this store gets my heart pumping; I’m afraid of what would happen if I went inside.

My latest dream manifests itself in owning a lovable, cuddly dog that yips whenever I walk into or leave a room. A dog who I can carry around in a purse if I want, but who will never pee inside that purse. A dog who is little enough to cuddle with, but big enough so I won’t step on her. A dog who will lovingly lap my cheek with her tongue, but not be smelly or annoying or loud. I want the perfect dog, and I’m going to get her someday.

My ideal dog would be a Yorkie. I’ve also decided that I want a girl dog, not a boy dog. A girl dog will enjoy being toted around in a purse much more than a boy dog. Plus, I can put little ribbons in her hair! As a girly-girl, I can’t wait to dress my little pooch up in ribbons and sweaters and show her off around town.

Of course, driving by Mini-Critters isn’t the only thing that gets my heart palpitating to the beat of a dog’s woof. Whenever I see someone walking a dog on the street, I’m reminded of my fanatic desire for a dog. If someone is talking about dogs, my ears perk up just like my canine friends. If I merely see someone that I know owns a dog, my saliva glands begin to wet. I want a dog so badly that, at times, I seem to act like one.

Why don’t I have a dog, you ask? Well, the truth is three-fold:  one, I live on campus. I know that Campus Safety has a lot on its plate, what with parking tickets running rampant these days, but I just don’t think I could get away with hiding a yippy dog in my campus apartment.

Two, apparently dogs are not cheap. I know that dogs require food, regular veterinarian appointments and grooming, but how expensive can that run? My parents tell me it’s too hefty a price for a college student working part-time, and because they’re generally smart about those things, I trust them.

And three, I’m ultimately too picky: like I said, I want the perfect dog, not just your regular old mutt. Not that mutts aren’t all-together adorable, but I want to find the ideal dog, no matter the price.

Speaking of price tags, I’ve been contemplating whether to buy my perfect little canine from a breeder or a pet store. I’m more inclined to buy from a breeder, since I’m after that ideal dog, but at the same time, I understand that breeders run a high price tag for these pedigree pooches. The humanitarian in me would love to adopt a cute little puppy from the Humane Society in Sioux Falls. I see all of those little dogs on the SPCA commercials that have been abused or mistreated, and these animals break my dog-loving heart.

At this point, I want a dog so badly that I don’t care what I have to do. I would literally give away all of my jeans to have a dog, and if you know me, you know that every time I shop, I come home with a new pair. So for me to say I’d give up my jean obsession for a puppy… that’s a pretty big deal.

I’m not one of those frou-frou women who names her dog “Princess” or “Muffy.” My perfect dog deserves the perfect name, and I’ll exhaust all resources to find it. Before I recently decided to get a girl dog, I wanted a boy dog because I had a boy dog name picked out. I wanted to name my little pooch Dempsey, after the one and only Patrick Dempsey of Grey’s Anatomy. Now that I want a girl dog, I’m still basing my possible dog names after lovable television, film or literary characters. On my short list are Joey, after the enchanting Joey Potter of Dawson’s Creek; Belle, from Beauty and the Beast; and Daisy, after the unforgettable Daisy Buchanan of The Great Gatsby.

My ultimate goal is to get my perfect little puppy after I graduate from Augustana next May. As soon as I know where I’m headed, I’ll find a pet-friendly apartment and purchase my treat-loving, affectionate little girl pooch. Until then, I’ll have to be satisfied with merely driving by Mini-Critters.