The Day I Adopted My Fur Baby

This past summer, I adopted my very own fur baby. Her original name was Citrus, but I thought Sophia was a better fit. Yes, Sophia was a much better fit for us both. I’d been wanting to adopt a puppy for a few years and wanted to wait until I had the space to accommodate one, so once I did, I began my search. And boy, was it an adventure!

I always planned to adopt (#adoptdontshop 😊) since adopting would be a great opportunity to give a pup a great home, so when I first started looking, I searched for a male Beagle. I thought they were the cutest and had spotted a few that were available for adoption, however, I was informed that they howl, and that noise could become problematic, so I kept searching. Next, I came across a male Labrador Retriever who I immediately wanted to adopt. He was the cutest and most adorable pup ever, so I filled out paperwork to adopt him. The only barrier was that someone else had completed paperwork to adopt him before I arrived at the adoption shelter on the same day, so there was a chance I wouldn’t be bringing him home.

Sure enough, I got a phone call that same day letting me know that the first applicant moved forward with adopting him. I was a little bummed but also had the mindset that if I didn’t get him, I’d get someone else. I was informed that the adoption shelter was planning to receive many puppies that same week and that I should check in again to see what was available. Since I fell in love with the Lab I saw, I was hoping to spot another I could bring home. Turns out, there were a ton of Labs available, however, because I was on a waitlist and not the first in line, the kind of Labs I wanted were quickly adopted. But the shelter had others pups who still needed good homes. So I took another look around.

Then I spotted a cutie with the most adorable eyes ever. She was a Siberian Husky/German Shepherd Mix who stared right back at me. I asked to play with her in a pen, and at first, she didn’t seem too playful. I was worried she didn’t like me, but once I gave her a hug and her paws were on my shoulders, the staff saw us and immediately felt like we connected. One staff member even asked if she could take pictures of us together. So after that, I decided to adopt and left the shelter with Sophia.

I love my fur baby, but I totally underestimated the work that goes into raising a puppy. It's a lot of work. A. Lot. There have been some challenging moments for sure. So know that if you plan to adopt or shop, having a puppy requires a lot of training, patience, and love. Expect indoor potty accidents, getting up early in the morning and in the middle of the night, nonstop nipping, chewed up furniture and shoes, and spending some extra money you may not have planned to spend on food, medicine, vet visits, and more. Overall, having a fur baby is a blessing. I'm glad Sophia chose me and that I got to choose her, and I'm looking forward to making great memories together in our home.

Thoughts From a Black Educator: Qualified, Credentialed, and Constantly Undermined

I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...

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Ditching Dating And Decentering Men

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Making Waves