Piccolo is an Italian Greyhound I brought into my life on the 1st of January, 2009 - a great way to start a new year.  He was born on the 25th of September, 2008.  He is a purebred and AKC registered.

Growing up, my family had a beautiful collie (like Lassie) who was with us for almost seventeen years.  This dog was more like having a human being, she was super-smart and as a child it was always awesome coming home to her.  When she passed away, I was twenty-one years old, so she was with me most of my life.  I still to this day have dreams about her.

Being a collie, she had this incredible coat of hair – lots of it – and even a daily brushing did not prevent shedding.  As a child, I didn’t care that much, but as I got older, I did not like having my clothing with little hairs stuck on the fabrics.  Actually I was so sensitive to it that I remember making sure I stayed away from the pooch in the mornings before going to school.

So, when she passed away, I told myself it would be the last animal I would ever have in my household.  I did not want to go through the whole process of training a dog to “go”, I did not want to pick up any “mishaps”, because no matter what, it would happen.  But the major thing was I would not tolerate dog hairs on my suits, especially the black ones. 

Add my hectic travel schedule, and there was no way I could have a pet of any kind. 

Over the years, I would see people talk about their dogs (and cats) as if they were human beings.  I remember my dog, but I couldn’t understand how people can get so goo-goo about their pets.   I would watch Peoples Court or Judge Judy and see people break down and cry because someone harmed their pet.  I couldn’t relate, empathize maybe, but I thought it was strange to be honest with you.

Warren, Marco, myself, and Mariana

Then in November of 2008, my sister in Old Greenwich bought a bearded collie for her son and daughter.  “Katerina, does he shed?” was my first question.  I mean, she is more neurotic than I am, she’s got a beautiful home with African Black Ebony wood floors, just magnificent.  One hair on the floor, let alone hundreds would drive her crazy.  She told me Bearded Collies, who they named “Marco” is hypo-allergenic and does NOT shed.  I did not believe it because this dog is very very hairy.

This is where I became smitten with Marco.

A visited my sister, brother-in-law and her two kids in December of 2008, and met this Marco, who I immediately fell in love with.  I did not want to leave him, I spent two days, kissing, hugging and playing with him.  Even when I would pull his hair, it would not NOT shed.  I wore black purposely (and velvet!) and not one hair on my jacket.  I was then I thought I was time for a dog of my own.

Christmas came and went, and on New Year’s Day, I had breakfast with some friends and the idea came to go to a dog show where breeders were showing their dogs.  They were all pure-breds and AKC (American Kennel Club) approved.

I didn’t think at that time I was going to come home with a dog, and being New Year’s Day, almost everything was closed so there wasn’t that many options. 

There were tons of kids with their families.  It was awesome to see a child holding a puppy begging their father or mother how badly they wanted to take them home.  Walking through the different windows of puppies they had them all, Bulldogs, German Shepards, Pitbulls, even the “boutique dogs” like  .  But then it happened.  A little Italian Greyhound, all by himself, curled up, sleeping.  When I looked, he opened up one eye, saw me, and came up to the window.  My finger touched the window and once I did that, his front paw met my finger, the window between us.  Our eyes met and it was love at first sight.  I turned to my friend and said, “I want him, find out how much he costs.”

The first five minutes I held him and this picture was taken.

As my mind was racing, I get on my Blackberry and type in “Italian Greyhound.”  The first thing that popped up with its’ real name:  Piccolo Levriero Italiano or “IG” or “IGGY”  I’m going to name him “Piccolo” (which in Italian means "small") was the first thing that came to my mind.  I went on to read that it’s hypo-allergenic, and sheds almost nothing.  That’s all I needed to hear.  I bought him (my friend took the picture of me holding him note the red name tag around it’s neck), along with toys, food, etc. and he slept the entire ride on my lap in a tiny ball.

From that moment on, this dog, born on September 25th, 2008, named “Piccolo” changed my life forever.

I will talk about my journey with Piccolo in future blogs.  Main picture above is Piccolo waiting for his owner to take him to Starbucks.