Every dog has a past, a purpose, and a place they belong. Meet the Pack is a series sharing the stories of the dogs who walk beside us—some from rescue, some by circumstance, all deeply loved. Their stories are woven into our family’s story, and I’m honored to share them here.
Let me start by introducing my dogs. Currently, I have four, though our pack recently suffered a heartbreaking loss.
Not long ago, we had to say goodbye to our eight-year-old Rottweiler, Ruby. We welcomed Ruby into our family after my husband’s aunt passed away, and she quickly became a cherished part of our home. Sadly, Ruby was diagnosed with an aggressive, fast-acting cancer that took her from us far too quickly. While her time with us was shorter than we had hoped, Ruby lived a full and happy life, surrounded by love. She is deeply missed—especially by her kitty companion and her best friend, Willow, our pitbull.
Next, I want to introduce you to our oldest dog, Bear. Bear is technically my daughter’s dog, but when she moved out, he stayed with us because—according to her—he liked us better. We’ve had Bear for 13 wonderful years. We got him for my daughter as a Christmas gift when she desperately wanted a dog of her own, and we adopted him from our local Humane Society.
Bear adored my daughter from the very beginning. He’s a dachshund mix (with something else mixed in), and he has always had a big personality in a little body. We lovingly call him “the Sheriff” because he insists on policing everything that happens around the house. For years, he went everywhere with us and was the best traveler you could ask for.
My daughter even took Bear through 4-H training, where they did quite well together. While Bear has always been loyal and loving, he never really warmed up to our boys. We believe that stems from his past—before coming to us, he was surrendered to the Humane Society by a woman whose grandsons were not very kind to him. Despite that rough start, Bear found his place with us.
At the fair, people would often come up to my daughter and ask, “Is that Bear?” Many recognized him because they had taken him on walks during his time at the Humane Society. It was a reminder of just how memorable—and loved—he has always been.
Stay tuned as I continue introducing the dogs who make up our wonderfully unique pack—each with their own personality, story, and place in our hearts.
