In 2013, we already had 2 rescues -- Peyton and Bailey -- but both boys had become Mama's boys while my husband was on his last tour in Afghanistan and in the Wounded Warrior project. Our groomer had recently rescued a puppy and now my husband had 'puppy fever'. We called the rescue that our kennel supports but all the puppies she had were already promised to another rescue. We decided to ride over to the Greenville Humane Society just to look as that is where our Peyton had come from as a puppy. We walked around looking at the puppies but didn't quite feel that 'pull' you feel when you know that's YOUR dog. We were walking out when a voice in my head said "Go down the hall where the older dogs are". I pulled my husband over towards the door and said we should look. We walked down the row looking at all the dogs who were barking and leaping at us but then I came to a pile of black fur lying with her back to the gate. Her name was Porsche and she was 9 months old but because of her size was with the older dogs. I spoke to her and she lifted her head with an 'I don't know why I'm here' look and turned away. I almost walked away from her but one of the volunteers spoke up and said she was about to take Porsche out for a run in the courtyard, did we want to come along? My husband and I were amazed at the beautiful dog that stood up when the volunteer opened her cage. We saw her running around the court yard with such joy that we knew she was ours. The girls at the desk were excited we were adopting Porsche and told us she was surrendered because her owners were having a baby. We named her Bella and she is now the baby of our family -- torturing her brothers (who both love her) and demanding to be the center of attention.

Melissa Eplee
Simpsonville, SC