"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." - Josh Billings

Nearly 15 years ago, little did I know how our lives were about to change when my then-boyfriend, now husband, introduced me to the puppy we would call our own. It took us a few days to name him, eventually deciding on Oscar, a name he lives up to every day as a red (now frosty) short-haired, mini-dachshund.

His brilliance, unconditional love, as well as the joy and happiness he brings to our home and family every day never cease to amaze. The bond we share has only grown closer during the pandemic, having more time than ever to spend together.

Oscar has been instrumental in the memories we've made during life's most special moments. For our engagement he wore a custom-designed dog tag that asked me to "marry us", signifying a joint commitment to him and my now-husband, and of course, I said YES!!! Naturally, as we planned our wedding, there was never a doubt that Oscar was going to be in our wedding party, and was the perfect ring bearer!

Photography by Levi Stolove

Over the years he has perfected his rendition of "happy birthday" ending on a high pitched howl, has celebrated every special occasion and holiday, and has always been the subject of our annual holiday card. Given his size and portability, he is well-traveled and also has experienced so much of what NYC has to offer. Seeing the joy he brings to others just makes us smile often. Despite his age, everyone still thinks he is a puppy, and to us, he is a "forever puppy"!

To commemorate his 10th birthday, we had the pleasure of hiring Stylish Hip Kids Photography for a family photo shoot, and cherish the photos displayed in our home. This is our favorite photo, proudly hung above our bed! It will be time for another photoshoot as Oscar's 15th birthday approaches in December.

I look forward to sharing our continued adventures and hope Oscar can be a source of joy and light to you as well. Nothing compares to the unconditional love of a dog, and we are forever grateful for the experience!

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#dachshundlove #dogsrule