One of the perks of working or volunteering at the shelter, is meeting ALL of the dog and cat guests. So many staff and volunteers have adopted a dog or cat or two or three! That's what happened to a lovely dog named Mark, who is now Danny:

I adopted Danny exactly three months to the day of losing my previous dog, Tristan, and I can honestly say that he is the BEST part of my happiness. On the ride home from the shelter, he laid down in the front seat of my car, facing my direction and I don't think he has willingly taken his eyes off of me since. I tell people that there is no other explanation for us other than a total mind meld--in which he is mine and I am his. Danny anticipates my every emotion, thought, and command often before the words even leave my mouth. He follows my lead but also steps up in moments where my anxiety is high and I'm not as collected as I would like to be. There is no better calming influence in those moments than his paw reaching out to rest against me as if in reminder to take a deep breath and relax.

Danny loves to swim and hike and has made best friends with all of the dogs that frequent my life. He also comes to work with me every day where he spends 8 hrs sleeping and distracting me with all his cute antics. Danny is my absolute favorite thing, today, tomorrow, and every day after. I love him, I love him, I love him! I've become one of 'those' people, gushing every second of the day because there isn't one part of him that I don't want to shout about from the roof tops.

I can't imagine what all would have happened if I had followed my early reservations on adopting an older dog, but it is clear I would have missed out on something amazing. In record time, Danny has become my whole heart. I could not ask for a better companion.