In a few days we’ll celebrate my little Happy’s 2-year-adopt-a-versary. It also marks his honorary 4th birthday (I don’t know his actual birthday). Happy is the first dog I’ve ever had and boy has he ever lived up to a lifetime full of dog ownership expectations. I always knew I wanted a dog but actually having one (make that two, Joey joined the pack last fall) is better than I ever imagined. Sure, it’s also more expensive than I realized, more responsibility and more of a mess, but it’s also great love, fun, silliness and joy.

I like to think that Happy came into my life at just the right time. I adopted him a couple months after moving 3,000 miles away from my family to a city I’d only briefly visited once. Then a little less than a year after I adopted him I lost my twin brother. Happy helped me cope (actually he and Joey are still helping me cope), he got me out of bed every day to take him for walks and he served as a huge comfort when my world was breaking. Life with a dog is way better than life without one.

Happy and me exploring Marin. A couple months after his adoption.

Aside from all the great things Happy has added to my life, I’m pretty proud of the things I’ve added to his life. He came home with my fiance and me as a shy, skinny, sweet dog who walked at a snail’s pace. He has grown more confident, gotten to a healthier weight, grown long beautiful hair, is more comfortable around new people and actually walks at a decent pace. He also knows a few tricks and handled the addition of a new dog to our household amazingly well. I try to be the best dog mom I can be and Happy rewards me greatly. Happy Adopt-a-versary Happy!

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