Snowball is a 13 year old Bichon Frise, Bay Area born and raised. He has lived through the roughest times of the Bay Area sports woes in the mid-2000s, but has relished the success of the San Francisco 49ers and Giants as well as the Golden State Warriors.
Snowball did not know how to bark until he was about four but nowadays, whenever there is a first down, base hit, or a Stephen Curry three, we clap, cheer, and yell, and Snowball joins in on the festivities with some barking of his own.
A few years ago, he started developing skin problems so the veterinarian recommended that he switch to gluten-free dog food. This cleared up his skin, and his mood lightened up. This was a pivotal moment for our family. Taking after the dog’s healthy eating habits, we began eating differently also. We didn’t cut gluten entirely out of our diets, however we began making conscious decisions in the grocery store opting for fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish and staying away from processed foods.
“Snowball did not know how to bark until he was about four…”
Snowball is a bit high maintenance and many family decisions are dictated by him— like when we can go on vacation based on the availability of dog sitters. He is the heart of the family. We got him in 2003 when I was in second grade, so he has been a critical part of my childhood, teaching me compassion, loyalty, and most importantly, responsibility and accountability. A dog truly is a man’s best friend. I love Snowball.
