My sister and I had been begging our parents for a dog for as long as I can remember. My mom would always say no, because she really wasn’t a dog person. Not because she doesn’t love them, but because she didn’t want the responsibility and didn’t want to make the commitment. I’m also allergic to cats and a lot of dogs. We finally figured out it’s not the dander in the fur, but in the saliva, so whenever they lick me I get hives and rashes. But thankfully, the minute I wash my face, within a few minutes it’s all gone.

So this Christmas, I’d been working her especially hard, because my step dad was starting to soften, so I figured I had a better chance than usual. I started looking online for small dogs because I really wanted to surprise my sister who wanted a puppy more than anything, and who had just about given up. I found a really cute “chonzer”, (1/2 Bichon Frisee and ½ mini schnauzer), online in Missouri. He was 7 weeks old and the cutest thing. I couldn’t believe my mom finally gave in, and said that I could surprise my sister for Christmas. What I didn’t know was that there were two dogs left in the litter and my parents were going to surprise me as well with one of my own. The breeder had to send them out before Christmas because she was going away for the holidays, so they arrived on the 20th. When my parents came home with them, they said “go get your sister, so we can give her the puppy.” I went to get Maddy and they put the kennel under the tree, and when Maddy and I returned, she was in shock. She really didn’t give the big reaction we all wanted, because she really had no idea and didn’t know what to say. When I looked in the kennel, I was shocked too. I whispered to my mom, that there were two dogs in the kennel and that the breeder must’ve made a mistake. My mom looked at me and said “it’s no mistake, we got a puppy for each of you.” I was so surprised, I couldn’t believe it. Here I was thinking I would surprise Maddy, and they totally got me. It was the best Christmas gift ever.

-Victoria Justice