Ah, obsession.

The resident boy, 14, asked me a week ago about a free dog he saw listed in the newspaper. “There’s no such thing as a free dog,” I replied.

He marvels that I am cooperating with his quest, in that I am not a dog person and only grudgingly live with the Brittany my husband coveted so long. But I tend to be that way about the inevitable, and once my mate pronounced “a boy needs a dog,” I knew there was no battle. And he is a responsible child and helps care for the existing dog, who only is about footstool size, as opposed to the loveseat he is eyeing.

He has decided he wants a Labrador retriever puppy, preferably black or chocolate. Much time has been spent poring over shelter website listings the last few days, bemoaning the lack of unmixed Labs. (There even was a Lab/dachschund mix, and we’d rather not know any more about that.)

“Free” is a key word here. There are plenty of $400 Lab pups to be had, but they’re out of the question. Basic shots, OK. Puppy food and a few new toys, OK. But that’s it.

This has been a test of his patience. I have told him, and intellectually he agrees, that this dog will be with him for 15 years or so, so waiting until the right one becomes available is worthwhile. But his heart is frustrated.

This post originally appeared on ourMidland.com, the online home of the Midland (MI) Daily News. Republished with permission.