Junior is more than a pet. He’s the youngest member of our family, a sibling in every way that matters.
JUNIOR
Growing together, one paw at a time
The adjustment wasn’t seamless, especially for my mom, who had been the most skeptical about bringing a dog into the house. But Junior has a way of winning people over. His energy is contagious, and his loyalty shows up in small, constant ways following us from room to room, curling up beside whoever needs him most. Before long, he became the center of our routines: morning walks, chaotic games of fetch, the sound of paws racing to the door whenever someone came home.
Five and a half years later, he’s the emotional heartbeat of our family.
There’s something grounding about the way he greets me, whether I’ve just come back from school, tennis practice, or a long day that didn’t go my way. He doesn’t care about outcomes or achievements. He’s present. Completely. And in that presence, there’s a kind of unconditional reassurance that’s hard to put into words.
A true “Covid baby,” he joined our home after nearly ten years of lobbying on my part, sparked by my childhood obsession with a neighbor’s dog (picture with me here).
Junior isn’t just a pet. He’s a reminder that love doesn’t need to be complicated to be powerful and that being present for others is one of the most important things you can do.
As I prepare to leave for college, one of the hardest parts won’t be the academics or the distance; it will be not hearing his paws outside my door every morning. But Junior has already given me something lasting. He’s taught me patience in small, daily ways. He’s shown me what steady loyalty looks like. Most of all, he’s modeled a kind of attentiveness, the simple act of showing up fully for the people you care about.
Eventually, we made the drive to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to meet a litter of labradoodles from a local Amish breeder. I still remember sitting on the ground as they ran around us, trying to decide. When I picked Junior, I didn’t realize I was choosing the companion who would quietly shape some of my most formative years.