She wakes me in the morning—better than any alarm clock.
She reminds me it’s snack time, again.
She lets me know the Amazon truck has arrived.
She always cleans her plate at dinner.
She’s polite, always asking for treats with a gentle “please” paw.
She lounges in my office while I write.
She loves the breeze on the patio, and she adores the snow.
She snores louder than my husband.
She is affectionately known as the “third child.”

She is Zoey. Our rescue dog. And one of the best decisions our family ever made.

A Dog We Didn’t Expect—but the One We Needed

We spent over a year researching the right kind of dog for our family. Our two boys were still young at the time, and we visited local shelters and adoption events regularly, hoping to find the perfect match. We knew we wanted a female dog—ideally a German Shepherd—for her loyalty, intelligence, and energy that could match our active household.

One day, while scrolling through the San Antonio Humane Society’s website, we spotted a pup named “Bebe.” She was just 8 weeks old and resembled a shepherd. My husband made the 90-minute drive to meet her the next day.

The shelter staff told him she was the only Shepherd mix in a litter of black Lab puppies. (We’re still not sure how that worked!) He texted me this photo:

I instantly replied: GET HER!

And he did.

Once she was home, we renamed her Zoey by family vote. She was fluffy, playful, and full of personality. From the very start, she made herself at home—and made our family feel more complete.

Thinking About Adopting a Dog?

If you’re considering adoption, here are a few tips we learned on our journey:

1. Know what type of dog suits your lifestyle.
Puppies require lots of time and training. Adult dogs may be calmer and house-trained. Seniors are often overlooked but can be wonderful low-key companions.

2. Do your homework.
Even mixed breeds show strong traits from their dominant breed. Knowing these can help you make a good match.

3. Search smart.
Websites like Petfinder let you filter by location, breed, age, and more. They also offer valuable resources—like a new adopter checklist.

4. Can’t adopt right now?

You can still help! Consider volunteering at a local shelter. Donate supplies or food toward shelter wish lists through Chewy Gives Back or support PetSmart Charities, which help fund veterinary care and disaster relief for pets.

Zoey is now eight years old. She’s considered a senior, but you wouldn’t know it—she still has energy to chase squirrels, play tug-of-war, and snuggle like a puppy. She’s not quite the German Shepherd we expected, but she’s exactly what we needed.

Her unconditional love, quirky habits, and loyal companionship have brought joy into our home—and into my quiet writing days. She reminds me daily that love, in its purest form, often comes in fur and four paws.

And yes, she’s so cute she has her own Instagram.

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For more information, read “How to Choose the Right Shelter Dog for You” in Modern Dog Magazine.  

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