In March 2015, we welcomed Dino into our home. Immediately, he was a great younger brother to Daisy, helping her through her anxiety experienced from the time she was the only dog in our home after Izzy our yellow lab died. He’s been a great older brother to Lucy. And he’s been tolerant of our other fosterrs and adoptions since, Though I think Roy has at times tried his patience. On the flip side, LuLu has been easy on Dino, as she has on everyone in the house.

Before we adopted Dino, I planned on starting a one-year quest to find the “perfect dog.” That one year took one month. And that perfect dog, Dino, was found as a stray in rural Indiana. He was taken in by a foster family in Winfield, Illinois. That’s where we met the boy and fell in love with him.

I tell people that Dino is my spirit animal. He has many qualities I aspire to have. He’s steady, strong, loyal, accepting, and he loves his pack. Of course, Dino, like all of us, has his less than charming qualities that I don’t want to imitate. For example, I don’t think I could ever bark at the window at passing squirrels and deer as much as he does. It’s a reminder that we’re all still a work in progress.

This week, Dino has patiently stuck by my side as I recover from a nagging illness. The weather has warmed and I’ve not been up to anything more than shorter walks with him. But I’m feeling better every day and Dino has remained patient.

Along with those walks, Dino has an adoption anniversary cake in his future. Treats may be Dino’s favorite thing next to barking at squirrels. Happy anniversary to my spirit animal.