Just under 2 years ago, a friend who shall remain nameless held a 10 week old puppy in my face and said, “Can you give her a home?” Somehow, he must have equated being vegan with having a soft spot for cute, cuddly animals. I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive, but they sure do go well together, like curry and rice. Anyway, this cute, fat cuddly puppy was dangling in my face and I said, “Sure…. I don’t think my parents will mind.” I made arrangements to pick up the puppy the next day, and went home trying to figure out what I had just done.
First, I asked my mom, “Can I get a puppy?” She laughed at me and said, “No! We already have 2 dogs. We don’t need another one. I don’t want to clean up any more poop.” I laughed and changed the subject immediately, now even more worried about the decision I had just made.
The next day, I went to go pick up the puppy. She had a tearful goodbye with her short term caretaker, and he loaded up my car with all of her belongings: crate, chew toys, bags of food. I knew at that moment that I saw the bags of Purina dog chow that I was going to have an issue. What am I going to feed this beast?? I can’t in good conscience feed her meat, but I knew nothing about the dietary requirements of dogs. She curled up in my lap as we made the long drive home, and I knew had a ton of work to do.
Baby Chicken asleep in my lap, on her way home for the first time. 10 weeks old.
When I got home that night, I set up a little pen in the corner of my room, covered the floor with puppy pads, and played with my new best friend. She quickly fell asleep on the next of my old sweatshirts I had made for her, and turned on the computer to start making research about vegan dogs. I read everything I could, and eventually came across a book called Obligate Carnivore by Jed Gillen. I immediately purchased it. In the meantime, puppy ate organic puppy chow made with some sort of meat.
The next day I had to go to work, and I decided I would leave the puppy just for a few hours. While I was at work, I texted my little sister and said, “Go look in my room. Call me later.” She went in my room and of course discovered a tiny, adorable, puppy. She carried the little monster down the stairs and presented it to my parents, saying “Look what I found in Meg’s room!” They all fell in love with the miniature razor-toothed pitbull, and I was off the hook.
At this time, all puppy did was eat and sleep. While she was sleeping, she grew. Every time she woke up, she was a little bigger. It was amazing. I had received my book and devoured it in a matter of hours. I learned it was okay and actually healthy to have a vegan dog and I immediately made the switch over to vegan dog food, at first supplied by V-dog, later by V-dog and other sources. I got her organic vegan treats and a hemp collar, and an organic recycled bed. I treated this puppy like she was my child, and I wanted her to have the absolute best while leaving the smallest carbon footprint possible.
She eventually came to be known as Chicken Marie. This wasn’t always her name. At first she was called Miriam, by her first owner, which I thought was a terrible name and she needed something better. For a while, I called her Adagio, after my favorite part of ballet class, but this name was too complicated, both for her and people. Whenever we would play, I would call her funny animal names, like “puppy kitty” or “chicken monkey.” Eventually, these were all shortened to just Chicken. Not long after that, one of my co-workers gave her my middle name, and she became known as Chicken Marie.
It has been almost 2 years now, and my little puppy has grown into a giant monster. She is the sweetest Chicken ever, with not a single mean bone in her body. She is the most loving and loyal dog, and she is my very best friend. I care about her as if she were my own flesh and blood, and I look forward to many, many vegan years ahead of us. Happy birthday, Chicken Marie!! I love you!!
Chicken Marie, almost 2 years ago.
Chicken Marie, today, all grown up with vegan power!!
