PARMA, Ohio -- Our dog, Salsa, is a rescue from the Northeast Ohio SPCA No-Kill Pet Shelter on Brookpark Road in Parma. My daughter, Sophia, picked him out for her 15th birthday. His original name was Morgan, and someone tearfully brought him in because their daughter was allergic.
Both Sophia and her brother, Vince, decided the dog needed a happier name. Salsa is a ginger cocker spaniel mix who wiggles when he gets excited, so the name truly fits. When he came to us still a puppy, he weighed 12 pounds and had really long legs, so we really had no idea how big he would grow. He got to 18 pounds, and that was that. He is skinny and long.
I have been asked how I taught him to "prance." I didn't: He just came that way!
Salsa loves people, the smaller the better. One of his favorite walks around our deep south Parma neighborhood is during the morning, when he gets extra pats at the bus stop. If you are a grownup person, Salsa will stand on his hind legs and "hug" you. It's very sweet, and most people just melt.
Salsa anticipates the daily mail delivery, because our mailman always has a bone for him.
These days, Salsa's "alpha" is my ex-husband Dave Viglione, a retired Avon High School band director. They go on long walks through the neighborhood and the woods behind the park, and sometimes even for a car ride to fetch the morning paper.
Chasing deer and squirrels is definitely the most fun, but the homemade chicken and rice Salsa gets to eat once a day ranks right up there!
Salsa will be 13 in August, but he looks and acts just like a puppy. We hope he's here with us for a long, long time!
Mary Jo Mallchok,
Parma
Do you share your life with an animal that is near and dear to you? Tell us something about your pet - all species are welcome - and send along a photo of the two of you. Be sure to tell us which Greater Cleveland community you live in. Send everything to Ann Norman at anorman@cleveland.com.