Posted by Lieutenant Commander Alexis Kane (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Adopting Frigga
Alexis sat on her couch watching the latest videos from the university of Betazed about prenatal surgery to correct defects in the heart of an unborn baby. She was totally engrossed in watching the procedure and taking in all the information that was being provided and watching, despite the sometimes bad angle of the video, the procedure so she could recreate it.

“Voff VOFF” the crisp carrying bark of Frigga and a very wet nose then forcing its way under her hand. “VOFF,” again the bark and then sharp teeth very gently tugging at her hand. Alexis finally looked at Frigga and shook her head. “Computer, pause playback.” The video paused and she shook her head again. “Frigga, I need to watch this for my course. I have to know this.” It was clear Frigga was disappointed as she laid her head flat on Alexis’ leg and whined while barely wagging her tail

Alexis looked down to see a wide range of her toys dropped at her feet. Brown eyes stared at her as if she understood that her mommy needed to be looked after. “Oh alright. But when we get back you better be quiet.” A lolling tongue and wagging tail were the only answer she got until she stood up and the small monster began to bounce around her quarters from her to the door and back in single bounds. “VOFF VOFF” Alexis shook her head with a smile remembering the day she’d adopted the sheepdog.

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2394: Alexis and the counselor had decided that a pet would be the best thing for her. It wasn’t that Alexis was socially awkward, without an understanding of how to interact with people, she just got so caught up in her books and research that she didn’t spend time with the people around her. Lt Suckitup had thought that a pet would force her to get out of her own head everyday in the need to take care of an animal. The Hathaway was orbiting a small farming colony. The temperatures were much colder than the tropical heats of Betazed that she was used to, and to her surprise she found she enjoyed it. It was comfortable to be wrapped in warmer clothes with the air so chilly. She was walking down the street towards a house at the very end. The couple who lived there bred Huskies. She’d seen the puppies in the school room the day before and had decided that a Husky was what she wanted for a pet. So now she found herself knocking on the door.

An older woman answered the door. Her skin was sun tanned, but still glowed rather than looking leathery from her time working outside. “Lt Rox?” Alexis nodded. “Come on around back. My Owen and I were so happy when you commed down to say you wanted to adopt one of the puppies. The last few years we’ve been keeping all the dogs in the colony, and needed them as working animals, but this year we are very excited to find them new homes.” Ms. Devers led her around the back of the house to a large fence that when the gate opened was a veritable k-9 paradise. Or so it appeared to Alexis. There were ramps, tunnels, toys, dirt, a small pool, and lots of other dogs to play with. A small enclosure actually held the puppies. There were 7 puppies in total. Some were sable and white and the rest tan and white. Only one was white, tan, and black. Alexis, in true fashion, had spent the night before researching everything she could find on raising a puppy, choosing one, and specifically what she should know about Icelandic Sheepdogs. She felt well informed to pick a puppy. She soon found out that all the facts had nothing to do with choosing a pet. Fur color, eye color, birth order, and size had nothing to do with picking the best pet for you. Good thing Frigga knew that even when she didn’t.

“Oh! Oh! Look at her!” Frigga nudged the female pup next to her who was busy ripping at an old sock. She harrumphed. “Yeah so?”

“HER! She’s going to be MY mom.”

“You don’t know that, go find that bone you buried.”

But Frigga, of course her name wasn’t Frigga yet, but was unpronounceable by humanoid standards, was enraptured by the two legged woman that walked into the fence. She kept looking at something in her hand and then at all her brothers and sisters, trying to figure something out. “I know what it is, she’s trying to find me, but doesn’t know how.” So, in pure puppy fashion she began running around the yard, trying to impress her with everything she could do. Which wasn’t much more than falling over her puppy feet as she ran around. The woman knelt down and made those crazy nonsense sounds all two-leggers made to them when they came in. His mother told them they were supposed to go over and see the person, but Frigga didn’t understand why.

Now she was sitting on the ground trying to grab at her rambunctious siblings. She was talking about not wanting the strongest or the runt….she didn’t know what that meant. Then she was up and walking around again, staring at that thing in her hand, and if not for Frigga would have tripped over a ball. Quick as her little puppy legs would take her, she had the woman by the pant leg and was tugging for all she was worth.

“What!” Alexis looked down. The thing was trying to bite her! She jerked away, almost stepping backwards on another toy. Frigga barked, coming out more like a yip and as she continued to step back she barked again, this time more serious, deep and reverberating, that stopped Alexis from moving, a little fearful. Frigga bounded around behind her, picking up the toy out of her way and then dropping it in front of her. Alexis tilted her head to the side and watched, turning, keeping the aggressive little fur ball in her sight. Seeing her pick up and then move the toy made her curious. She knelt down, brown eyes looked into bright brown eyes and Alexis looked at the puppy like it was a fascinating specimen. “Were you trying to warn me? That is a remarkable amount of intelligence for a K9.” Frigga, having finally got the woman’s attention, and making her realize how heroic she was, jumped and licked at Alexis’ nose. Alexis, startled, fell into the dirt, “Oooff.” Frigga, having her new mom where she wanted her settled into her lap. She could tell the woman was overly excitable so she would have to be the calm one. That was fine with her. She looked up at her letting out a content puppy sigh. “Okay so you are my two legged mom now. You need to just accept it and let’s get out of here.” Frigga did NOT want one of her siblings changing her mind.

Alexis stared at the puppy in her lap, all white and tan with some black here and there. And those intelligent brown eyes. She was totally smitten. She started to pet her, and when she flopped totally over on her back, the deal was done. There was no way Alexis was leaving without her.

Alexis and Frigga

Frigga’s Log, Stardate…

The puppies head tipped to the side. She didn’t know what a stardate was, but her hooman mum always said that.

My new mom is A LOT of work. I don’t think her ears work. I have to bark really loud and so much to get her mom’s attention that she needed water all the time. And it always startled her. Poor thing needs a protector.

My poor mom disappeared the other day. Hours! I was sure something had happened to her. I barked and barked, but no one noticed. I tried to dig under the door, but all I did was hurt my claws. It took awhile before she noticed and then even longer for her to get done taking care of them. Buy she did a very good job, and I feel much better. I gave her lips of kisses and tail wags.

Frigga, Thera-pet