The Best Life Decision I Ever Made

Trust your gut. You know yourself better than anyone and know what you can and cannot handle.

That being said, you also need to be realistic with yourself and think long and hard before making life-altering decisions. For me, it all started with adopting a cat named Elly.

I never had any intentions of adopting a cat four years ago (I was actually afraid of them for a majority of my life), but when I walked into PetSmart and noticed a small tabby cat eyeing me, it was game over. I brought Elly home to my parents house without giving anyone a heads up because I knew they wouldn’t be happy. My younger brother who was 12 at the time was the only one who seemed impressed or the least bit supportive. Everyone else told me it was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made, but nobody knew just how much I needed that cat.

My stress, anxiety, and depression were at an all-time high at this point in my life. Having a cat around to cuddle and take care of gave me a sense of purpose and helped distract me from everything else. Eventually, my family and friends started to notice this change, too and fell in love with Elly just as much as I had.

Three and a half years later (after I bought our house) Nick and I decided we were in a place to add to the family. Again, my parents thought I was crazy and weren’t very supportive even though I had graduated, gotten a full time job, and bought a house with a big backyard. I stumbled upon a sickly six-month-old mutt named Maverick and I knew he was a perfect fit.

Maverick had a tough past that left him malnourished, scared, and and lonely. After three months of living with us he finally started to come out of his shell. I can’t explain how rewarding it has been to watch him grow and learn to trust people again. He’s the sweetest, most gentle dog I’ve ever met and after meeting my parents one time, they were able to see everything I did. I swear they are more excited to see the animals than they are to see me sometimes! I mentioned wanting another dog and my parents said I was absolutely insane. I probably am, but I knew we had the capacity to adopt an animal in need and that was enough for me.

Then, along came six-month-old Mylah. She’s the quirky one of the bunch and loves to smile, which seems intimidating but I promise she’s just really happy. Her family no longer wanted her and she wound up at the Humane Society where she had a hard time finding a new home due to her personality that has been sadly misunderstood. She was at the shelter for almost two months before we adopted her and I’ve never seen a dog feel so at home so quickly. As soon as she stepped into our house she went right to the couch, lied down, and went to sleep. She’s been such a joy to have around and makes us laugh every day. Plus, she looks like Maverick’s twin so it was meant to be!

I’m a firm believer in adopting animals instead of going through a breeder. It might take a while to find one that fits your lifestyle, but I can assure you that once you do, it’s all worth it. There are thousands of animals (not just dogs and cats) waiting for their forever homes and you can make a huge difference by supporting shelters instead of puppy mills and breeders. If there is a certain breed you’re absolutely set on, do a Google search and look for rescues dedicated to that specific breed. I promise they are out there, you just have to do some digging!

If you ever have questions or concerns about adopting, please reach out I’d be happy to help.

Positive vibes always,

M + M