Lily was a surprise.
Our granddaughter received a new puppy, a chihuahua named Lily. While she would visit us when our granddaughter did, we tried not to grow too attached – after all, it was our granddaughter’s puppy, not ours.
Then, Lilly got parvo (canine parvovirus). A common issue among dogs in Shiprock, New Mexico, it can be cured if the shot is received soon enough, but more often than not, the dog doesn’t manage to live through it even then. Since we were both disabled (so not working) and our granddaughter had to go to school, Carmella took the puppy to nurse her through the sickness.
Unsurprisingly, Carmella grew attached.
Always a soft heart for a dog in need, nursing Lily through the sickness caused Carmella to develop a strong bond with the puppy. Our granddaughter, who grew fearful of losing the puppy after Lily got sick, willingly gave the dog to Carmella.
As Carmella’s support animal, Lily started to travel everywhere with the couple, and eventually, Reid became attached as well. Lily even managed to get along with Stella, with Stella seeming to look at her as some sort of rodent (and obviously no threat).
From the moment she recovered from parvo, Lily has been very protective of Carmella. Slowly, she became protective of Reid as well, and will growl if a stranger comes near. Those who ignore her are in for a surprise, as she will attack. While she has only managed to bite a work boot (and did no damage whatsoever), Carmella will usually now swoop Lily into her arms if a stranger is coming close. The granddaughters, of course, have never had anything to fear, as Lily has always treated them like family.
4 years later…
Now, after 4 years, she has become a welcome addition to the family – even if her introduction was a bit of a surprise. With Stella passing away in 2021, Lily has become more protective of the couple than ever – even if her bark is much, much worse than her bite.