After months of trying to get Josh on the puppy bandwagon, he finally committed, and I began our search to find the perfect puppy for our family! I dreamed of taking this puppy to dog parks, breweries, road trips, and more. How fun it would be to watch a little fuzzball grow into his/her own and be a part of our lives for many years!

Several months later, we found our perfect “puppy” via Classic Canines, an organization that specializes in finding homes for wonderful senior dogs. This "puppy" was a ten-year-old black lab named Lane. He came with his share of baggage, and he was rather aloof upon meeting us. “Hiiii, sweet boy!” we crowed as we pitifully stood waving and patting our knees in an attempt to win love from a dog who clearly saw us as two clingers laying it on a little too thick.

By the weekend, though, Lane was a part of our family. We showed him the ropes and introduced him to Torchy’s brisket breakfast tacos. Our cats set the boundaries with a few nasty hisses, and Lane respected their rules. He got a nice bath, a new bed, and plenty of plush toys. (He’s a big fan of the squeaky hedgehog variety.) We worked on fattening up his skinny frame and healing his mange so he no longer had the bottom of a possum. We spent months working on his separation anxiety and building mutual trust; showing him that we would always return home after the workday. Lane also underwent several surgeries to remove some aggressive tumors on his body. It wasn’t the easiest first few months, but we knew Lane was on track to living his best “retirement” life once this was all out of the way.

Lane opened up a part of our hearts we didn’t even know existed. He taught us patience, trust, perseverance even through the scary and difficult times, and the notion of never giving up on someone or something even when it seems like they don’t want help. As we began to peel back all of the layers and labels Lane had been assigned throughout his years, our hearts overflowed as we watched him take back his life. He wasn’t old, dirty, sick, or set in his ways. What we found was quite the opposite. Lane is established, strong, and loyal to those who love him, and he's exactly the “puppy” our hearts needed.

It's been just over three years since Lane joined our family. Our walks have slowed down, the stairs seem to be a little steeper, and he’ll take a nice long nap on the couch over an afternoon at the brewery any day. Don’t get me wrong, he still gets a spurt of puppy energy as he sends the cats on a playful chase or while he squeaks that darn hedgehog for fifteen minutes straight. Life is just a little slower now, and that’s ok, too.

Lane has been a blessing in our lives. He has never given up on us, even in the very beginning when he had no reason to trust anyone. He has shown us his love and gratitude in his own ways, like when he finally gave in to chasing a tennis ball or when he decided it was okay to snuggle up with us on the couch, or in the gentle way he rests his head on our shoulders when we give him hugs. It’s amazing what a little love and trust can do, and I believe that works both ways. Lane will always have a very special place in our hearts, and I will always be grateful for Classic Canines for giving him a second chance at a better life.