Skylar's life with dogs
Skylar Halpern has been one of my best friends for about 11 years now and she is by far the biggest animal lover I know. She is from Syosset, NY and currently attends Indiana University. I interviewed Skylar via facetime.
Rachel: So Sky, I know that you have had dogs your whole entire life. Can you please give a brief overview of each of them?
Skylar: First, I had a black poodle named Georgi. Georgi was my mom’s dog since she was sixteen years old. While Georgi was getting very old, we got a yellow lab, Jeter. Georgi and Jeter only lived about two months together. We saw how big Jeter’s dad was, so we got a female dog and named her Jeter. She was a terrible puppy. She destroyed the entire kitchen, picked up all of the tiles--- we spent more money on the house, than we spent on the dog. A few years later, we moved to a bigger house because my siblings were born and my first house wasn’t big enough for all of us. Since there was enough room in my new house, we wanted to give Jeter a friend so we got a cocker spaniel and named him Willy. My next-door neighbor bought Willy for their grandma after their grandpa died. However, the grandma wanted a bigger dog so she would feel safe. I somehow was able to convince my parents to buy the dog from my neighbors. Willy is just kind of there. He always would follow Jeter and annoy her by biting her ears. Later in life, he became a good boy. Years later, when Jeter was reaching the age of twelve, the veterinarian suggested that we get another puppy to stimulate Jeter. So, we ordered Chelsea, a silver lab, from a breeder in Wisconsin. Because of Chelsea, Jeter lived five more years.
R: Do you have a favorite dog?
S: Well, I grew up with Jeter the most and he was definitely the most respectful dog.
R: Did Jeter know she was the favorite?
S: Jeter definitely knew that she came first before anyone.
R: Were you Jeter’s favorite?
S: No, my dad was. But, I’m Willy’s favorite.
R: Do you feel comfortable talking about Jeter’s death?
S: Yes. Jeter passed away in her sleep one night of old age when we were in the Hamptons for Thanksgiving. It’s kind of sweet how she passed away peacefully in her favorite place in the world. We decided to put her ashes in the ocean so she could eternally stay in the Hamptons.
R: Did you keep any of Jeter’s things to remind yourself of him?
S: I saved the collar that he was wearing when he died and I keep it in my bedroom at home. Jeter wore a dark pink collar her whole life because we wanted people to know that she was a girl despite her masculine name. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of all of the memories I had with my favorite dog.
R: It is very clear that your dogs have had such an impact on your life. Do you think having dogs have shaped you as a person?
S: Yes. My parents worked and as the oldest child, it was my responsibility to take care of them. I would let them outside, feed them, and play fetch with them. I am definitely more responsible because of them. I seriously could not imagine my life without a dog. I will never not have a dog in my life.
R: Would you consider getting a dog at college?
S: No, because I can’t only have one dog. I feel like my dog would get so lonely while I’m at class and it would definitely need another playmate.
Rachel: So Sky, I know that you have had dogs your whole entire life. Can you please give a brief overview of each of them?
Skylar: First, I had a black poodle named Georgi. Georgi was my mom’s dog since she was sixteen years old. While Georgi was getting very old, we got a yellow lab, Jeter. Georgi and Jeter only lived about two months together. We saw how big Jeter’s dad was, so we got a female dog and named her Jeter. She was a terrible puppy. She destroyed the entire kitchen, picked up all of the tiles--- we spent more money on the house, than we spent on the dog. A few years later, we moved to a bigger house because my siblings were born and my first house wasn’t big enough for all of us. Since there was enough room in my new house, we wanted to give Jeter a friend so we got a cocker spaniel and named him Willy. My next-door neighbor bought Willy for their grandma after their grandpa died. However, the grandma wanted a bigger dog so she would feel safe. I somehow was able to convince my parents to buy the dog from my neighbors. Willy is just kind of there. He always would follow Jeter and annoy her by biting her ears. Later in life, he became a good boy. Years later, when Jeter was reaching the age of twelve, the veterinarian suggested that we get another puppy to stimulate Jeter. So, we ordered Chelsea, a silver lab, from a breeder in Wisconsin. Because of Chelsea, Jeter lived five more years.
R: Do you have a favorite dog?
S: Well, I grew up with Jeter the most and he was definitely the most respectful dog.
R: Did Jeter know she was the favorite?
S: Jeter definitely knew that she came first before anyone.
R: Were you Jeter’s favorite?
S: No, my dad was. But, I’m Willy’s favorite.
R: Do you feel comfortable talking about Jeter’s death?
S: Yes. Jeter passed away in her sleep one night of old age when we were in the Hamptons for Thanksgiving. It’s kind of sweet how she passed away peacefully in her favorite place in the world. We decided to put her ashes in the ocean so she could eternally stay in the Hamptons.
R: Did you keep any of Jeter’s things to remind yourself of him?
S: I saved the collar that he was wearing when he died and I keep it in my bedroom at home. Jeter wore a dark pink collar her whole life because we wanted people to know that she was a girl despite her masculine name. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of all of the memories I had with my favorite dog.
R: It is very clear that your dogs have had such an impact on your life. Do you think having dogs have shaped you as a person?
S: Yes. My parents worked and as the oldest child, it was my responsibility to take care of them. I would let them outside, feed them, and play fetch with them. I am definitely more responsible because of them. I seriously could not imagine my life without a dog. I will never not have a dog in my life.
R: Would you consider getting a dog at college?
S: No, because I can’t only have one dog. I feel like my dog would get so lonely while I’m at class and it would definitely need another playmate.