Burdy, a black lab mix who is now approximately four and a half years old, came into our lives in March of 2016. My husband and I were looking for a companion for our then-six-year-old black lab mix, Josie. Josie was a fabulous dog, so we decided we would look for a dog who needed a little more TLC. We didn't want a puppy, and we didn't want the dog who was willing to jump right into our arms. We wanted the dog who needed and deserved to know what the good life was like. I was scrolling through the Austin Pets Alive! website when I spotted the sweetest, loneliest, most soulful little eyes I had ever seen. I had looked at hundreds of dogs, but when I saw Burdy, I knew she was the one. I e-mailed her foster mom and set up a time to bring Josie for a meet and greet.

Burdy was picked up by APA! from a kill shelter near San Antonio. She was approximately a year old and pregnant, and she had just been hit by a car. She had severe separation anxiety, was afraid to go for walks, wasn't food motivated, was a flight risk, and would prefer to hide in the corner than be near a human, so she’d been kept in the "special needs" section at APA! Those details would scare most, but they intrigued me, and I knew I’d found my passion project. When we got Burdy home, it was my mission to give her the best life I could, full of unconditional love. It’s taken a tremendous amount of work and even more patience. More than three years later, we are still working with her, but she is a completely different dog.

I was a dog lover before I rescued Burdy, but she has taught me more than I could have ever imagined about love, loyalty, and routine. Her favorite things include long walks, car rides, swimming, trips to Michigan, and time with her sister, Josie. Her personality has finally shone through, and she is outgoing, loyal, and sweet as can be. I truly believe we were destined to have her in our family.