Story #53: A New Chapter Begins at Sunrise
As told by Melanie Beard, Adopter
After our two 14-year-old cattle dogs passed away within just a few weeks of each other, we were completely heartbroken.
Our home felt so quiet. For years, everything revolved around them. Their routines were our routines. Their presence filled every room. Losing them so close together left an emptiness that was hard to put into words.
We knew we would adopt again. Rescue has always been part of who we are. We just could not decide if we were ready for one dog or if our hearts had room for two.
When I saw Gracie listed for the October Subaru Pet Adoption Event through Anderson Humane, I instantly felt something.
I had not even met her yet, but I knew. It was love at first sight.
The night before the event, my husband came across Remington’s photo and said he felt the same way about her. Suddenly, our one-or two-debate did not matter anymore. We looked at each other and said, we are doing this. We are going for both.
Since the event was first come first serve, we were not taking any chances.
I called my mom and my sister, and the four of us showed up around four or five in the morning to make sure we were first in line.
We sat there together in the dark, wrapped in blankets and hope. There was nervous excitement in the air. We were grieving, yes, but we were also ready to open our hearts again.
A volunteer named Grace came over and started chatting with us before the doors opened. She asked what we planned to name our new family members. I told her one of the dogs would be named Grace. We both laughed at the coincidence. It felt like such a sweet and meaningful moment before everything officially began.
We also ended up sitting next to the family who was there to adopt Remington’s brother. We talked, shared stories, and passed the time together. It did not feel like we were just waiting in line. It felt like we were part of something special.
From the moment Gracie and Remington came home, the house felt alive again.
The sound of paws on the floor. The soft sighs when they curl up to rest. The excitement when we walk through the door.
They are both so sweet and full of personality. They bring joy into every corner of our home. After losing our two senior dogs, I did not know how long it would take for our hearts to feel full again. What I have learned is that love does not replace what was lost. It grows alongside it.
Gracie and Remington did not take away our grief. They helped transform it into something hopeful.
The kindness we experienced that day has always stayed with me.
The volunteers, the fosters, the other adopters. Everyone was welcoming and genuinely happy for one another. It was not just about adopting a dog. It was about community.
We love Anderson Humane and are so grateful for the care and compassion they show every animal. Celebrating 60 years of connecting animals with families feels personal to us because we are one of those families whose lives were changed.
Opening our hearts again was not easy.
But standing in that early morning line, surrounded by hope, was the beginning of something beautiful.
Do you have a story about how Anderson Humane changed your life?
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Ready to start your own rescue story?
Meet adoptable animals at Anderson Humane by visiting ahconnects.org/adopt, or help make the next 60 stories possible by donating in honor of our 60th Anniversary.
