Tsunami Sammy

It was a sunny Tuesday when I found myself at our local animal shelter. My little sister had just adopted a puppy that looked exactly like my last rescue dog Emmett. Seeing little Ozzy had sparked a lot of emotions for me and after the tears I decided it was time to give the love for furry babies I had to another baby.

I was greeted by our amazing animal control officer upon arrival. He asked if I was there to meet my next feline or canine friend and I told him we should start with the canines. He led the way to the kennels, and I was flooded by emotions again. The last time I was here I found my best friend of eight years. The fuzzy boy that ran with me on the beach every morning and cuddled my son every night. The one that knew when I was stressed or exhausted and sat loyally by my side until I was better. The trusty companion that saved us from uninvited lizards in the house and the postman’s daily deliveries. The catcher of every ball and frisbee thrown and my partner on every road trip taken. Could I really find another that fit so well? That I could depend on and love?

I walked to the first kennel where I saw a cute puppy filled with excitement and wiggles. I knelt down and was greeted with licks and puppy breath. As adorable as he was, I moved on to the next kennel. Here stood a brown and brindled medium sized dog. When I walked up to the gate He stood up on the gate and anxiously awaited my pets. As soon as I touched his head, he grabbed my arm with his paws in a hug-like manner, and he hasn’t let go since.

I knew right then this was the one. My next loyal and loving companion. My Sammy. He came home with me that day and although he will never replace Emmett, he now has his own special place in my heart.

Over the next week we learned about Sammy’s past. He was found by an archeologist working on a reservation near-by my hometown. She set up a house and got him food but knew he needed to see a vet because he was injured. She reached out to the friend of our local animal shelter group and they helped get Sammy to the vet. When asked if she had given him a name, she explained that her family was from India and has been calling him Sahab, which means sir, Jee, which is a term of endearment in Punjabi. She said that Sammy is the translation from Sahab and so that is how he got his name, Sammy Jee.

I am personally a Supernatural fan, so now his name has dual meaning and I have decided that when the right rescue comes along, we will be adding a Dean to the pack as well!

We also learned that Sammy has been trained with a clicker and knows his basic commands in German. He is a wonderful dog and fits so well into our family. Hiking in our nearby mountains, swimming and fetch are a part of our regular lives. Oh, and tons of cuddles.

He has grown attached to everyone in our household. Every night he tucks my toddler into her bed and then crawls into bed with my son. He comes back every hour or so to check on my daughter through the night. Just a quick sniff sniff and when he’s assured she is okay he heads on his way, back to the end of my son’s bed.

The most unique thing about Sammy is his hugs with his front paws, legendary wiggle but and never-ending source of energy!

Sammy has hugged his way into our lives and none of us plan on letting go anytime soon!