The Dog Who Changed Everything
Everyone remembers their first dog.
Not just a dog - the dog. The one that stole your heart and possibly rearranged your whole life. For Ron, it happened early. He was twelve years old, growing up with a single mom and relentlessly campaigning for a dog of his own. He begged. He pleaded. He bargained. And finally, he wore her down. And one Christmas morning, it finally happened. Family lore is that Ron burst out crying the minute he saw the dog – but yeah, a dog will do that to you.
Her name was Nicki, a black-and-white collie mix and everything Ron had dreamed of - sweet, loyal, a little mischievous, and completely devoted. From the moment she arrived, life changed. Nicki became his best friend, following him everywhere and sleeping under the covers at his feet, even on the hottest nights. This bond shaped Ron’s love for animals and set the course for everything that came next.
My story is different. I didn’t grow up with dogs - I had cats - sometimes too many cats, much to my mother’s chagrin. The idea of being a “dog person” wasn’t on my radar.
Then I met Ron.
And then I met Indy.
Indy was Ron’s dog when we first started dating. A beautiful, smart, silly yellow lab with a passion for carrots who quickly made her way into my heart. As my relationship with Ron grew, so did my bond with Indy. By the time we were married, Indy was no longer just Ron’s dog - she was our dog - featured on our Christmas cards, traveling on vacations with us and our first “baby.” And unknowingly, the cornerstone of a future business built around dogs, photography, and storytelling.
Indy and the Christmas Card that Launched Our Careers
It’s not an exaggeration to say Indy changed everything for us. She turned me into a dog person for life, and she became the muse for careers that have taken us all over the world, introduced us to hundreds of other dogs, and inspired countless pieces of art, books, and campaigns.
Since then, we’ve been blessed with more dogs than we can count through dogs we’ve adopted, fostered, photographed, and loved. But that first dog, the one who started it all, always holds a special place. They’re never “just a dog.” They can be the beginning of something wonderful.
Indy & Rory - Indy was also our son’s first dog
So today, we want to hear your story. Who was the first dog you ever loved? What did they teach you, and how did they change you?
Reply in the comments or email us at info@looseleashes.com - we’d love to feature a few of your stories in an upcoming newsletter.
Because if there’s one thing we know for sure, one dog can change your life. And sometimes, they change it forever.
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