Clarity. This is the word I would describe when I first found my fur baby. I remember the morning like it was yesterday even though it was over two years ago. My freshman year was a rough year; I was stuck in a hard place and an ending relationship that I felt I could never escape. Once I found Tucker, it was like all of my worries faded in an instant. I told my then boyfriend about my new found love and he immediately told me to return the dog. This was impossible so I chose between him and the dog. The dog it was.

Freezing. This was the word I would describe the day. It was in the middle of February when I went on an early morning run with my roommate. A fresh layer of frost was still on the grass. While running our usual route, something remarkable happened. I remember the exact spot my life changed for the better, I had passed this same spot almost every day for a semester and would for the next three years. But today was different. While passing through the usual farmlands and dumpy forest areas something caught my eye: a two-month-old spotted scruffy puppy dog in the distance. We called him and he immediately sprinted towards us at full speed, shaking his butt back and forth in joy (his nickname is still Wiggly Butt). I bent down and he jumped right into my arms and I knew I had found my best friend. He was filthy, with no collar, and obviously hadn’t been taken care of, so we took matters into our own hands.

Sneaky. That's the best word to describe how we behaved to protect this dog. As a freshman I lived in a dorm, I had found many dogs before but never once thought about keeping them as my own. This one was different. My boyfriend called me stupid and immature but I would prove him wrong. I walked back with this sweet dog in my arms, cold paws and all. He was happy and so was I. He was what I had been missing in my life; someone who would love me through all of my flaws and on my worst days. After my roommates and I named him, Tucker would be staying forever. Sneaking him in and out of the dorm to go to the restroom was almost the best part. He was the perfect sized dog to hide, he never made a peep and could fit into a duffle bag when needed. We would all line up down the hallway like we were on a secret mission trying to sneak the president out. Once the coast was clear, I would sprint down the stairs and take him to his designated potty spot. No one caught on to our top-secret guest. That's mainly because he was a good dog. I have never met a dog who was potty trained after living in the wild. It’s like he aimed to please me and never disappointed.

Clarity. That is the best word to describe how I felt after finding Tucker. This may be cliché but I could care less. I light up when someone asks me about my dog because he is the best part of my life. I may be a little obsessed with him, but in my defense, if you met him, it wouldn’t take you long to love him as much as I do. I believe he has saved me in many ways from myself and from a toxic relationship that I would have never gotten away from if it weren’t for him. He has provided me with clarity on how my life should be and has given me the courage to overcome anything while giving me happiness again. Tucker taught me how to love all over again and for that, I am forever grateful for that once stray dog.