One year ago, I got the itch to go and look into adopting an animal.

I came across a small dark faced puppy, with an odd body shape. Yet as soon as I picked that little guy up, I knew we had a connection. I laid him on my chest and he licked my nose, and I knew it was fate.

He was adopted and named shortly after this moment, Brutus Alexander.

This is a thank you to him.

Brutus was a rescue from a puppy mill. His original owner, an old woman who let her dogs breed however they pleased. Meaning, I will probably never know his actual breed. But the thing is, I don't want to know. Brutus is one of a kind, and although I may have picked him out of a rescue and adopted him. In the end, he is really the one who rescued me.

In college, many people talk about how having a dog is unrealistic. I am here to state that anything can be unrealistic if you let it be. The day I adopted Brutus was utter, and complete fate, and here are a few reasons why:

Dear Brutus Alexander,

Thank you for being my best friend. Many say that dogs are man's best friend, and I wouldn't argue with them for a minute. Since the day I adopted you, we have been two peas in one pod.

You were the easiest, smartest dog I have ever trained, and I am not sure if that is because of how intelligent you actually are or just how hard you tried. But I do know one thing, you took to every new rule almost instantly.

You also never showed any aggression towards me or other dogs. Even when I give you dreaded bathes, or that first time I tried to cut your hair at home, and completely butchered you.

You have continuously showed me love and affection in a way that I can't even describe. I have never loved anything as much as I love you, and I know you feel the same. (Thanks to your nose kisses, which I know you only give to a select few.)

You're not only the perfect dog, but the perfect adventure partner. I am so thankful for how excited you get when I say do you want to go bye-bye, or grab my backpack for hiking. You're immediate jumping to the door, and sitting with anticipation will never fail to make me laugh.

You motivate me when I am having a down day to go take a walk, and get some air. You have licked my tears when I have cried, and made me laugh so hard that I have cried as well.

You have taught me so many things about life, and love. About adventure and how to live, and I admire that you are only ever living in the present. I would not trade you for any other pet in the world, and I am truly lucky that you picked me.

Thank you for letting me adopt you, but most of all. Thank you for rescuing me, when I didn't even know I needed to be rescued.