By Contributing Writer Meredith Katibah
One crisp spring morning, a new bundle of white fluff and fur in the form of a Havanese puppy became the eighth member of my family. A new puppy to snuggle and play with is practically a wish come true for most 11-year-olds. This wasn't exactly my wish at the time. I had always been a self-proclaimed cat person — and although I didn't actively dislike dogs, I'd never really understood the hype. They smelled. They drooled. They left their hair on every surface in the house.
Deacon, our family's new puppy, arrived with the energy you would expect — a tank that never depleted. Between bursts of toy possessiveness, he could play all day. One favorite game was chasing me and my siblings around the house and then leaping onto the couch to curl up for a quick snooze. None of this convinced me that dogs were a person's best friend. I didn't want a best friend who wasn't potty-trained and who snuck food off my plate.
My neutrality persisted until my dad convinced me to join him in a dog-show training class. Going through one had been his lifelong dream. According to the American Kennel Club, Havanese dogs have "immense charm" and a "playful, spirited personality." Deacon definitely had both, especially in the show ring. We learned commands, built trust between owner and canine, and it didn't take long for the two of us to become a dynamic pair both in and out of the ring.
Sixteen years later, he's still my special buddy. Our bond has strengthened over long walks and car rides. Deacon is fiercely loyal, and his protective instincts are strong. Perhaps I'm biased, but I think he is quite clever as well. He'll perform practically any trick if a delicious carrot is involved, and he adores a captive audience for his repertoire.
He is consistently my most enthusiastic greeter when I return to my parents' house — and a difficult goodbye when I leave. The signs of his inevitable aging are harder to ignore now: the slew of daily pills for digestion and other health issues, the shortened walks because his joints aren't what they were. I cherish each day I can give him a good belly rub and ample scratches on his head.
Regardless of the passing time, he still loves his blue chew toy. He still sits in the grass and basks in the sun. He will always love chicken, and he will always love his family unconditionally.
And although Deacon never won "best in show," he will always be the best dog I've ever known.
Meredith Katibah is a Stroll Firethorne contributing writer. Deacon is featured as the Precious Pet in the May 2026 issue of Stroll Firethorne — the Precious Pet column continued from Logan and Archer in April.