“That’s the one,” she said, “that one right there!” Jessica smiled brightly and pointed at the small black and white puppy in the playpen. We all turned our heads and saw her for the very first time. Casey Lou, as Jessica eventually named her, looked up longingly at my daughter and it was love at first sight. Even though Casey was eight weeks old, she was small enough to fit into the palm of Jessica’s hand. When she sat down, she had a marking over her front leg and tummy that looked just like a heart. Who wouldn’t have fallen in love with her?

Jessica was as excited as child at Christmas. My daughter was in her twenties, working on a master’s degree after several years in the business world, and she was ready for some committed love– a dog of her own. We all went with her, my sister, my niece and I, to look at this litter of puppies and help her pick out the dog of her dreams.

Jessica had researched and identified the type of dog she thought would be just right for her. Casey Lou fit the bill completely. She was energetic, smart, fast, slightly anxious and a little quirky. She enthusiastically chased everything in the back yard from bees to birds. When she got obsessed barking at a possum playing possum, or just couldn’t quit digging under our air conditioner in hopes of catching a chipmunk, or climbed under the covers to snuggle and snore a little, we swore we could see a real family resemblance. We McKenzie’s were nothing if not persistent and loving. Jessica had found the perfect fit, not only for herself but for our family, and we were all smitten with Casey Lou.

The first night Jessica took Casey Lou home, she began to learn about the trials of true love. At first, despite all her cuteness, Casey Lou whined through the night, ignored potty training and regularly threw up on the living room rug. I could sense Jessica teetering on the brink of a sleep deprived meltdown. Eventually Casey made some progress but even then there were some unexpected stumbling blocks. Things came to a head one night after Jessica had taken Casey to obedience training at the local Pet Smart store. They dropped by to see me and while Casey was bouncing happily up and down, Jessica dragged in behind her wailing, “I’m a failure as a puppy mama!”

“What happened?” I asked concerned. After all, Jessica didn’t rattle easily.

“We went to the class and all the other dogs followed the simple commands they’d been taught—like sit and lay down. But Casey wouldn’t do a single one! Finally the instructor looked at me and said disapprovingly, ‘Well, those of us who spend time with our dogs can see the results!’ I felt terrible. But I swear, mom, I have been spending time with Casey. She does all the tricks at home but won’t do them at the store!” Jessica was at her wits end.

Casey Lou cocked her head and gave a quick look at the cabinet with the dog treats in it. She might not be responding to commands like sit or stay all that well, but she was a real star at finding food. I ignored her longing stare and got back to the point.

“Casey, what’s up with you?” I asked. Then without thinking, I spoke to her firmly saying. “Sit, Casey Lou.”

Casey Lou looked at Jessica and then at me. She turned and glanced behind her. Without hesitation, she backed up all the way up to the nearest rug and sat right down, no problem. Jessica and I looked at each other, clearly confused by the situation. What had happened? After a few minutes, we realized Casey knew exactly how to sit and lay down and even roll over, she just preferred to do it all on warm, soft carpet and not on cold hard floors like the ones at the training center. Ah, the tribulations of learning to read the signals of your loved one!

Our family was going through a hard time when Jessica decided to get Casey. She was the only one of us who was willing to risk loving someone new during that time. Because Jessica was brave enough to step into the unknown, we were all swept away in Casey Lou’s wake. Casey brought something to our family that we badly needed—unconditional love and an unrestrained joy at even the simple pleasures in life. While she was chasing squirrels, we somehow all learned to breathe again and play a little and hope that things would get better if we just kept moving.

Ah, the hope that loving can bring! Thank you, Jessica. Thank you, Casey Lou.

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