Profile Blog Post

            She's one of my best friends. I've only known her for a little over a year, but it feels like it's been so much longer. She's always happy and excited to see me. She's not always the brightest crayon in the box, but she knows how to have fun.

            She's also super fluffy and likes to lick faces and go on long walks. I couldn't imagine life without my wonderful dog, Joy. Having a dog has been an amazing experience and it's really brought my family together.

            The pivotal moment was when we had a family meeting to decide whether or not to adopt her. We had seen her over the weekend at her breeder's house, and had to come to a yes or no decision. After only a month of researching about dogs, we didn't know if we were quite ready yet, but she was available and we had to decide. It was “now or never,” so we came to a consensus to go adopt her.

            The breeder that we bought our little shetland sheepdog from lives in Pennsylvania, so we drove up there the day we adopted her to bring her home. She was small enough to carry in one arm, and small enough to fit in the little basket for her in the backseat of the car. It was her first car ride, and she probably thought she was being abducted by aliens. The facts were just sinking in for my family and I: Joy was our dog.

            We had never had a dog before, so it was all new and exciting. Certainly a challenge, but a rewarding one. We got her on the weekend of Hurricane Sandy, which made it even tougher. She was just a little puppy and we had to clean up all her messes, train her not to destroy stuff, and watch over her continuously. It was such a handful!

            As the months went by, she learned to use the backyard as her potty instead of the carpet. She could sit, lie down, roll over, and she loved to play. She is a great, well-behaved dog now. All the hard work paid off, and she is a priceless addition to the family. She keeps us company, doesn't judge us, and keeps us entertained.

            I'm immensely glad that we decided to get her. I would completely recommend getting a dog for anyone. What better way to gain a best friend, one who will be with you no matter what? I am so happy with my best buddy, and I wouldn't trade her for anything. Right now we're working on her agility skills to compete her some day.