So the minute Marvin was born, my husband pulled him out of the box and said we are keeping him.  Marvin stood out immediately.  When you look at the puppies you’ll notice one with reddish brown speckles at the end of his coat hairs, that’s Marvin.  Rodrigo said he will grow up to be most like Belafonte.  I wasn’t so sure I wanted to have Belo share attention with another male.  Rodrigo spent months trying to convince me to keep Marvin.  Finally we agreed we would work to find someone who would take care of him as much as we took care of Belo and be able to visit Marvin regularly.  Obviously things changed and we kept Marvin.  Also true to Rodrigo’s prophecy, Marvin does look like Belafonte.

I call Marvin my little lion because he sits in front of our bedroom like a lion overseeing his kingdom.  His presence just like his dad’s is very intense.  Most people are apprehensive to come near him.  However just like his dad, Belo, he is over the top playful and happy.  He does tend to get over excited and jump on people sometimes hurting them.  I am working with him to manage his excitement.  One of the reasons I think he can’t control himself is because he still is intact.  This is a point of contention with me and my husband.  I apparently cannot win this argument.

I remember when Belo was around and Marvin just wanted to play with him.  Belo already upset that these little ones were taking attention away from him was not entertained by this mini – Belo wanting to play.  Marvin used to do the puppy bow and bark in that tiny puppy bark and then try to growl and jump on him.  Belo would just look at Marvin sometimes letting out one loud bark as to say no.  I am sure Belo and Marvin would have grown up together well.  I was already seeing Belo reprimand Marvin when he did things like try to get into our trash and such.

Every time I look at Marvin, I see Belafonte.   When Belo’s death was recent, I couldn’t stop crying each time I looked at Marvin.  Poor little guy he probably has some sort of complex. I think Zena feels the same as I do because I do see her look at Marvin and then seem to be depressed.  But, Marvin is his own dog and not Belafonte.  He is growing up to be the protector of the girls and a great lion.

I think this song best suits him.