By Bethany & Deb Liu
Tiger Cub
My little sister, Danielle, always wanted a dog. When Danielle was little, you told her
you had a headache. Danielle, with her infinite six-year-old wisdom said, “Mommy.
Please don’t die. If you die I’ll be really sad, but I’ll also be a little bit happy.” You were
confused and asked her why. She replied, “Because then I can finally get a dog.” This
is now one of your favorite Danielle stories, a telling fact about both of you.
Danielle was obsessed with the idea of getting a dog. She begged for one for years
and years and years. Naturally, her dog-related enthusiasm had begun spreading to
the rest of the family. When a friend of yours got a hypoallergenic dog during COVID
and invited us over to play with Coco, you began to warm up to getting one of our
own.
I was still a little skeptical. Even though my siblings really wanted one, I worried
about the responsibility involved with being dog owners. What if the dog scratched
up our house? What if the dog didn’t like me? What if she ate my favorite stuffed
animals? I took it as a sign when Coco wasn’t as fond of me as she was of my siblings.
I felt no one in the family was realistic about the responsibilities that having a dog
entailed, especially when everyone disavowed picking up dog’s poop. We were
headed for disaster.
Tiger Mom
For my whole life, I was against getting a dog. When I was 5 or 6 years-old, my sister,
who was in the arms of my Uncle Peter, was viciously attacked by two Dobermans.
The dogs bit both of them, and from then on, I was scared of dogs. As I grew up, I
realized I was allergic to them, so much so that I vowed never to have one. Imagine
my surprise when I married a man who had dreamed of having a dog his whole life,
only to have his mother thwart his desires and instead get him guinea pigs.
Tiger Cub
Just think of a guinea pig as a smaller dog that lives in a cage.
Tiger Mom
Don’t let your dad hear you say that. He loved his guinea pigs unironically named,
Whitey and Blackie. I can’t believe he named them that, but his excuse was that he
was only 8. He loved them, but felt they were no substitute for a dog.
I told him up front while we were dating that we could never have a dog. Over time
your Dad acquiesced. My allergies were a pretty good excuse until my friend, Mauria,
invited me over to hang out with Coco, who she claimed was hypoallergenic. I had
many allergic reactions to many dogs over the years, so I was unconvinced.
Surprisingly I had no reaction, so she urged me to bring all of you kids over too. It
turns out that there is a difference between hair dogs and fur dogs, and hair dogs are
much less allergy inducing.
A few months later, deep in the COVID lockdown, I saw a Facebook photo posted by a
co-worker of a little brown dog who was up for adoption. I sent your Dad a
screenshot and suggested we adopt her. He thought I was joking, but he and
Danielle went along with me to meet the co-worker who was fostering from
International Paw Angels. That is how we met Wanjun, the foster dog from
China.
A few days later, the newly renamed Wonton came home with us.
Tiger Cub
When I first saw Wonton, I thought that she was very cute, if a little scruffy. She was
very energetic and fond of lightly scratching people, but not a dog of equal
affections. For the first few days, she followed behind Dad, who she associated with
the kibble and treats he carried around.
I was a little concerned about who would take care of Wonton, since you said you
would agree to have a dog if you didn’t end up having to do all the work. Eventually
we settled into a schedule with Wonton. Jonathan volunteered to walk her in the morning. Dad walked her in the afternoon, and you and I walked her after dark
together. Danielle, who begged for the dog, just cuddles Wonton for hours and tells
her how cute she is.
Wonton is now integrated in our household, but she definitely has favorites. Dad is
first in her heart, then Danielle. Then maybe you and Jonathan, and I am last. I got
mad at her early on for chewing up my stuffed animals and blankets, so I think in her
hierarchy, I am definitely at the bottom.
Tiger Mom
Wonton’s affections are up for sale. She loved your Po-Po (my late mother) and Ye-Ye
(my late father-in-law) because they would sneak her food at the dinner table. If you
spent more time playing with her and giving her treats, she would love you more too.
I have a secret plan though. In our new house, Dad’s office and Danielle’s room don’t
have the big windows our rooms have. You know how much Wonton loves to sun
herself. When the time is right, you put a treat on your window seat and suddenly
you will be her favorite. Just don’t tell your sister.
Tiger Cub
That is diabolical, Mom. Danielle and Dad would never forgive us for winning over
Wonton’s affections from them. Maybe it is time to get a second dog, one that will
love me most. And I even have the perfect name — Spring Roll!
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