In October 2020, my wife, Jodi, and I lost our beloved West Highland terrier, Sophie. As spoiled as she was, Sophie was our baby. She was with us during some big life moments, and while we were happy to see her live through her 14th birthday, saying goodbye was really hard. For Jodi in particular, coming home to a quiet, dogless house was devastating.

Shortly after Sophie’s death, we knew we had to add another dog to our home. It just wasn’t the same without the clicking of dog nails and a furry friend who was excited to see us when we came home. I knew I wanted to adopt a dog from a local rescue. I have nothing against responsible breeders and those who adopt puppies, but I had always wanted to give a loving home to a dog in need of one. ... CONTINUE READING