(Obsidian was one of the labs dumped in a rural area to fend for himself)

The moment I saw Obi in his kennel, I knew I had to foster him. He was a sweet boy in need of a safe and loving place to land. Bringing him home wasn’t without its challenges—loading him into the car took some effort—but getting him out was a breeze. Once we were home, I led him through the gate and set him loose in the yard. At first, he was so scared, but everything changed when my Labs joined him. Watching them run gave him the courage to join in, and before long, he was right at home. Even my cats welcomed him without hesitation.

I had braced myself for the usual puppy antics, expecting Obi to chew on everything in sight. To my surprise, he didn’t! He happily played with the chew toys I gave him, and tug-of-war with his siblings quickly became his favorite game. One of his quirks is bringing tumbleweeds through the dog door and leaving them for me—his idea of a “gift,” I suppose!

That first night, Obi slept snuggled up beside me, and my heart completely melted. He fit right in, and it felt like he’d always been part of our family.

His first vet visit, however, was hard on both of us. Obi cried the whole way there, and I cried all the way back home after dropping him off. That’s when I knew—I couldn’t let him go.

Obi is full of energy, intelligence, sweetness, and silliness. He’s also the best snuggle buddy. What’s not to love? Having him as part of our family is an incredible blessing.

Fostering has been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made, but adopting Obi? That was the best choice of all.

~Love Laurie Hyde Casel and Family