THE BOY WHO CHANGED MY LIFE

I have always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and I strongly believe that Bodie was meant to be my dog. I had wanted my own furry friend for years, but was just waiting for the right time. This past winter, I had been going through a really hard season of life, and I told one of my friends who was over at my apartment hanging out with me that I really wanted to go to the Humane Society to look at some animals. I didn't think that I would actually find one that I connected with.

When I went to the shelter, I immediately headed towards the dog kennels. I took interest in a couple of the dogs I saw that were near the entrance, but as I made my way to the back I saw this black dog lying on his bed chewing a bone and didn't seem to have a care in the world. I don't even know if he noticed me right away. I don't know what it was, but I had a feeling about him and I wanted to take him in the meet and greet room to see more of his personality.

When I told the volunteers I was interested in him, they seemed shocked. They kept saying "We have a dog already in the back that you can see." but I told them that I wanted to see this one. The volunteer then went to another volunteer and told her I wanted to see him and I overheard her say "She really wants to see him? Does she know we already have a dog in the meet and greet room?" I was confused why everyone was so shocked that I wanted to see him, because I instantly fell in love. I soon found out that their shock came from the fact that he had been at the shelter for months. He was a transfer from another facility, and then had been at the Humane Society for two months. In his time at the Humane Society, I found out that someone adopted him before me, but brought him back to the shelter after only having him for one day because he was "too energetic". He is a one year old puppy, what did they expect?! After being at the shelter with him for only an hour, I knew this dog had to be in my life. I didn't leave there without putting a deposit down on him.

The first couple days of having him, I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. He was unsure of me and stressed out in his new environment, and I was overwhelmed. There was one moment where I was on the verge of breaking, but I'm so happy that I was patient with him because Bodie is the best thing that ever happened to me and he's been there on some of my worst days. After only a few months of being in each others lives, we have a bond unlike anything I've ever known before, which is crazy to think.

After coming home from the shelter, Bodie brought a lot of baggage with him. There are things I have to work through with him, but I wouldn't change it because we all have baggage and a story to tell. I am thankful that the one person brought him back, because otherwise he never would have ended up in my life. I like to say that I rescued him, but in reality I think he rescued me.