We are picking up a beagle pup June 27th.

On June 27th, we become dog owners.

By the end of the month, our family is acquiring a new member.

I’m uneasy. I grew up afraid of dogs. The extent of pet-ownership was the successive string of gold fish my mother put in my brother’s room. Now, a parent myself, I worry that depriving my children a dog-owning experience would be selfish.

I’m daunted by all the work it will take. I’m scared I’ll weary of the training, that I’ll settle for some bad habits.

I’m scared I’ll fall in love with this dumb furry life change that its intrusion will prove too short and that I’ll be heartbroken in 13 years.