It was the summer between my sophomore and junior year of undergrad at UT, and I had been having a really hard time. I had considered getting a pet to live with me in my tiny studio apartment, but I hadn't been able to commit yet.

I met Delgado when he was my neighbor’s foster dog. One beautiful sunny day, I had my front door open, and he waltzed in and sat down on the rug in the living room like he owned the place. I let him hang out with me for a little bit, falling in love with his little crossed eyes and messed up legs. I finally took him outside to find his owner, and my neighbor came out and said he was her medical-needs foster dog from Austin Pets Alive!

He had luxating patellas in all his knees, crossed eyes, and a massive hernia in his abdomen. And, as if to add insult to injury, he couldn't keep his tongue in his mouth. But he was so cute. I felt like he came into my apartment to tell me that he wanted to live there. I thought about it for about two hours before I went back over and knocked on her door. In a week, he was my buddy.

I was told APA! didn’t know much about his life. His previous owners had released him to the shelter because of his medical needs, and all they wrote down in the report was that they'd found him walking down South Lamar and that he loved their baby. I believe it based on his love for my much younger sister. He was estimated to be eight when I adopted him, so now he is probably twelve or thirteen. He is a tad grumpy, incredibly lazy, obsessed with blueberries, and the most supportive best friend I’ve ever had. He has been there for me in the hardest times, and I have been there to let him lounge in my lap.