How the Moonlit Surprise Sparkled on Kiley’s Birthday Eve

In our family, life is anything but dull. With 3 dogs, 14 reptiles, and 2 very opinionated parents, our house is a whirlwind of chaos and love. Oh, and don’t let that sweet, innocent, and semi-toothless smile fool you, Kiley is more opinionated than us both! As our youngest, Kiley, approached her sixth birthday, the chaos found a new level of brilliance. This is the tale of how Moonlight the Rottie Poo came into our lives—and how Dad masterfully dodged the cat conversation in the process.

The Great Cat Debate

It all started with a seemingly innocent conversation. Kiley, who’s always been fascinated by animals of all shapes and sizes, started asking for a kitten. She thought a cat would make the perfect addition to our already bustling household. Mom, intrigued by the idea, seemed willing to entertain it. But Dad? Oh, no. He was on Team Anti-Cat. His reasons were, admittedly, quite valid:

Cats and heat lamps for the reptiles? A disaster waiting to happen.

Cats and delicate terrariums? Recipe for chaos.

Cats and Dad’s peace of mind? Nonexistent.

So, while Mom and Kiley daydreamed about whiskers and purring, Dad was busy concocting a plan. Enter: Operation Puppy.

The Plan Unfolds

Dad’s strategy was simple yet brilliant: distract the family from the cat idea with an irresistible puppy. He began quietly scrolling through adorable puppy photos, sending them to Mom under the guise of “just brainstorming.” Little did he know, Mom was fully on board the moment she saw the first floppy-eared bundle of joy. It didn’t take long before they stumbled upon the one: a mix of standard poodle and rottweiler—a “Rottie Poo” or “Rottle” for short.

Local, adorable, and perfect for our family, this puppy seemed like destiny. When we viewed the litter, there were three tiny furballs to choose from, but one stood out: a sweet, playful female with a dark coat and a light underbelly. She looked more like the mother rottweiler than the rest as well! Kiley would later describe her as looking like the moon glowing against the night sky. We knew she was the one.

Operation Secret Puppy

The real challenge wasn’t finding the puppy—it was keeping her a secret and resisting the urge to go pick her up every day! For two whole weeks, we carried on like nothing had changed. Our existing dogs—who were clearly in on the secret—watched as we stashed away puppy supplies from leashes to chew toys. Most of these were "gently recycled" from our current collection, tucked away under beds, in closets, and in the garage. The collection was extensive enough to outfit a small pet shop.

Finally, the big day arrived: Kiley’s Birthday Eve.

The Moonlight Moment

Picture this: Kiley stepping off the school bus, her backpack bouncing as she ran toward the house. We were waiting on the driveway, holding a tiny puppy wrapped in a soft blanket and a bag of supplies. Kiley froze mid-step, her eyes wide. Nope – that’s not how it happened, the puppy was in a deep slumber, and hidden under a blanket, Amazon knocked on the door and all the other dogs went nuts. Knowing she would have to pee right away Dad whisked her away into the backyard, frantically looking for an area with no snow and good cover, as the bus was pulling up. Oh, and did I mention I was in a T-shirt and shorts in 22 degree weather?

In the end it worked out well. Momma and her sixth sense knew what was going on with dad shivering in the back yard and brough Kiley around to look at the “Chickens” – YES, we have chickens too…. Kiley spied me and the little one and was bewildered, as she came running over asking if we got a puppy to keep! Of course we did kiddo! Happy Birthday Girl! She instantly fell in love.

Mom handed over the leash while Dad presented the pièce de résistance: a Kiley’s Kritters Semi-Official “Puppy Contract” for Kiley to sign, officially making her the owner of her new best friend. With a determined flourish, she scribbled her name and grinned from ear to ear. Mostly just ten commandments that promise to help take care of the puppy, clean up the house, and show love for the other animals. Mind you commandment #9 was that she will always remember Boony is the boss of all pets! That may be daddy’s favorite, out of the whole crew… But now we have a competitor with Moonlight!

When we asked her what she wanted to name the puppy, she paused, studying the little creature. “Moonlight,” she said decisively. “Because she looks like the moon when it’s dark, but her belly is all light.” The both of us, parents, looked at each other in shock! We for sure were preparing for a type of food, favorite restaurant or ice cream shop franchise, or a name from Captain Underpants - it's a cartoon on Netflix. You should check it out...

And just like that, Moonlight became part of the family.

Life with Moonlight (Well day one anyways...)

Moonlight has been with us for just a few hours, but it already feels like she’s always belongs here. She’s quiet yet playful and has already taken to the crate we set up for her. She’s been spending most of her time napping today, a long day for her as she also had her second round of puppy shots.

As for Kiley, she’s over the moon—pun intended. Moonlight gives her kisses, and when not napping, follows her everywhere, and has quickly become her shadow. And while the cat conversation may resurface someday (no it won’t), for now, Dad’s brilliant puppy plan has won the day.

So, here’s to Kiley, Moonlight, and the kind of birthday surprise you only get once in a lifetime (I hope). In our house, the chaos keeps growing but so does love and we wouldn’t have it any other way!