The Dog I did not want

Nearly four years had passed since we met.

Throughout those years, Joryce often talked about a dream he kept close to his heart: having another pug.

Before we met, he had shared several years of his life with a pug, and he always spoke about him with deep emotion. I could see that this was not simply a dog he remembered, but a true life companion.

Joryce absolutely loves animals. Every time he saw a dog, he stopped to pet it, talk to it, or simply smile at it. He loved every breed, but pugs held a very special place in his heart.

I still believed that having a dog was not compatible with our lifestyle. We loved leaving on spontaneous motorcycle road trips, discovering Quebec's most beautiful roads, exploring new destinations, and enjoying the freedom that meant so much to us. In my mind, a dog automatically meant restrictions.

Then one day, I caught myself thinking differently. After all, a pug is a small dog. Maybe he could travel with us on the motorcycle.

I began doing research. I discovered that more and more hotels welcomed dogs, that many accommodations now accepted pets, and that there were even accessories designed specifically for travelling with a dog on a motorcycle.

Little by little, all the reasons that had made me say no began to disappear. Without even realizing it, my perspective was changing.

A few weeks later, Joryce's 55th birthday was approaching. As always, I wanted to give him a gift he would remember for the rest of his life. This time, one idea kept returning to my mind.

What if the greatest gift was not an object… but a travelling companion?

I had not made my decision yet. I did not even know whether I would have the courage to go through with it. But one thing was certain. For the first time… I was truly beginning to imagine our life with a dog.

And without knowing it, that simple idea was about to completely change our future.