The First Day

In just twenty minutes, my mother’s assistant gets an address and drives us to the place. It’s a ‘puppy sanctuary’ and they have a lot of different breeds. My mother goes up to all the small, adorable dogs like Pomeranians and Shih Tzus, but that’s not what I’m drawn to. I head towards the larger puppies.

I don’t want a little rat that pees in fear all the time; I want a guard dog that is willing to kill someone if they try to hurt me. That’s what I tell the man who comes over to help me, and that’s why I end up with a two-month-old Cane Corso, he’s black with even blacker eyes, absolutely gorgeous, and I love him immediately.

Chocolate, that’s his name. Chocolate Carrington, Choky for short.

My mother tries to make me change my mind, but I already have Chocolate in my arms, I’ve clearly already named him, and I’m already in love with him. There’s no way I could ever choose another dog. This one is mine.

Even when the man gives me a sheet full of text with all the care this dog requ