Meet Sam.

I have to admit I was one of the naysayers. You want another big dog I said to my daughter? Why?

Adopting big dogs is not the easy thing to do. Having a home visit for approval by the local humane society is not the easy thing to do. Adopting a dog from out of province...out of country....definitely not the easy thing to do.

But when I saw Gracey Lou and Sam together I knew it was the right thing to do.

Both of these dogs had sad beginnings. Unwanted, unloved, mistreated, no permanent home and close to the end of the line.

But they are full of love. Full of adoring eyes, wagging tails, lean on you, sit on your feet so you don't leave, overjoyed to meet you, lick you all over, ALL CAPS LOVE.

They were sleeping side by side after one day.

So this is what adopting from a rescue or shelter is all about: giving a dog another chance at having a real home.

And I'm a naysayer no longer.

Hear and bless thy beasts and singing birds
And guard with tenderness
Small things that have no words.
~~Traditional