Dawn

The first time I walked into the shelter, I didn’t expect my heart to choose so quickly—but it did. There she was: Dawn. Her long body stretched gracefully across her kennel, her beautiful coat catching the light in a way that made everything else fade into the background. I didn’t know her story yet, but I knew how I felt. Something about her calm presence and gentle eyes pulled me in instantly. I stood there longer than I meant to, already imagining her beside me, already a little in love.

I learned soon after that I couldn’t take her home that day. Dawn was a media pet, and she wouldn’t be available for adoption until the next morning. So I did the only thing that made sense—I set my alarm early, barely slept, and showed up right at 10:00 AM, heart racing, hoping no one else had fallen for her the way I had. When her adoption finally opened and I saw her again, it felt just as electric as the first moment. Love at first sight, twice over.

Bringing Dawn home felt less like an adoption and more like a reunion I didn’t know I was waiting for. She didn’t just walk into my life—she fit, as if she had always belonged there. From that first glance in the shelter to the moment she became mine, Dawn reminded me that sometimes the best things don’t happen instantly, but they’re always worth waking up early for. 🐾❤️