“Maxi” and “Tucker” Dawson

Carrie recently helped me say goodbye to both of my babies, just 6 months apart. I brought a one-year-old pup named Tucker (or Little Tuck, as he came to be known) home in 2009 for what was supposed to be 2 weeks. I foster failed and kept him around for 17 more years. I can barely remember what life was like before he became part of it. I’m so lucky to have been able to love him for so long. 

I got Maxi after my last dog, Benson, died to keep Little Tuck company. She was just going to be there as a buddy for him and in my mind, I was never supposed to love her like I did. But she actually turned out to be my soul dog. The sweetest girl I’d ever known.

Losing them both so close together has been absolutely devastating, made better only by having Carrie to guide me through it all.