Big Poppa has always been a friendly and energetic dog that adores everyone he meets. His building has a lot of youngsters, and he usually enjoys playing with them whenever he has the chance.
“There is always a child playing in the courtyard or riding a skateboard in the garage on weekends when we walk or early evenings,” Rae Ellis, Big Poppa’s mother, told The Dodo. “He enjoys it, especially if they are playing with a ball, skateboard, or scooter. He’ll attempt to get it and play with it, but he’s too small. They typically let him try and give him a lot of rubbings.”
Big Poppa used to look forward to his daily playdates, but owing to his current health problems, he hasn’t been able to play with any of his favorite kids in quite some time. His mother had recently begun to notice how melancholy he seemed, and how all he wanted to do was sit on the balcony and watch the kids play below.
“I noticed him attempting unsuccessfully to attract the attention of the kids outdoors,” Ellis added.
Big Poppa now sits on his balcony multiple times a day, watching for different kids getting some fresh air outside. They didn’t realize he was there at first, and he constantly seemed sad — but once they knew he was watching, they made it a point to say hello to him every time.
“Now that they know he’s watching, they yell BIG POPPA over and again, and he hops around and is giddy,” Ellis explained.
Hearing his favorite kids call his name always brightens his day, and his mother enjoys seeing him so joyful after being sad for so long.
Big Poppa misses his buddies terribly, but for the time being, he’s content to watch them from the balcony, waiting for the day when he can once again have playdates.