1/ Hanging out with my sweet beastie boys, it struck me that you really don't pick your animal companions, they pick you.

2/ After I lost my tuxedo cat Boots, I was really heartbroken. It was one of the worst times of my life. We started going to shelters to meet cats but, much as we love them all, I was set on another tuxedo cat because I wanted Boots II. There is no Boots II.

3/ We were at @phillypaws and said hi to all the cats but none clicked, even tuxedo cats. As we were walking out this skinny ginger cat reached out of his cage and grabbed me with his paw. We decided to take him home. He spent the whole night under the table but warmed up in time

4/ We pretty much spoiled Prince rotten, & he definitely is a more persnickety thing than Boots, who was all love 24/7. Prince definitely is part of our family & our hearts though, and we felt kinda bad that he didn't have a buddy. We wanted to get a dog, but put it off for years

5/ I wanted a lab/Goldie and looking online it was so hard to find one - adoption is a lot tougher with Covid! You can't just walk into shelters and meet. We had a few we got close to adopting but for some reason or another we didn't. Mostly we wanted to be sure Prince was safe.

6/ So two weeks ago we finally got the okay to visit La Mancha shelter. While all of the dogs were adorable - esp the St Bernard with the mohawk! - I wasn't really that sure about any of them. A whole new bunch had been brought in so we didn't know who was okay with cats, for one

7/ @OliviaAntsis pointed out Charlie. While the other dogs were barking and hopping around he seemed quiet and well-mannered. He was smaller than I wanted, and less, IDK, big and goofy of a personality? But we decided to take him for a walk.

8/ We took him by the cat cages and he totally ignored them. During the whole walk he kept running back to us for pets. We were in love with him by the time we got him back to the pen. I asked Olivia if that's the one she wanted and she said yes.

9/ Problem was he wasn't available for a few days and we couldn't put money down to reserve him. If someone got him first, that was that. We were so persistent in asking the volunteers how we could make sure we got him that they ran him through the tests right then

10/ ... which was super nice of them, I might add. We took him home that day. He's a hound from Kentucky who seems to have been an outdoor dog but definitely has taken to snoozing on the sofa like it's his. We renamed him Charlie PeanutButter.

11/ He's been terrific with the cat, is housebroken, barely barks at all, is very polite, & is just the loveliest little guy. Even though he has chewed up a few things he shouldn't, he's a dog. You have to accept a bit of collateral damage. His silly side has started to show too

12/ He even kissed Prince a few times today and Prince, who has been a great sport, accepted it before walking off. They aren't BFFs yet or anything but I think Prince secretly likes him even though he's a little jealous. Which is okay. We just need to make sure he feels loved.

13/ You could say Olivia and I picked Charlie but I saw the way he was looking at her from his cage and how he was on our walk. I think he knew we were his family. And for as much as this year has sucked I'm so happy & lucky to have Olivia, Prince, and Charlie to weather it with.

14/ Anyway, I just wanted to post something that makes me happy to counterbalance the sad posts since being grateful for what you have is important and I am very grateful for my wife and furry family. And because animals are wonderful friends and companions.

15/ Maybe they aren't for everyone but I do believe if you're struggling through this year giving a critter love and a good home does wonders for the soul. It may take some persistence but it's worth it.

16/ Your friend will find you, if you look. You've got to understand that it's work and that they're not humans so you have to work to understand them, learn and help them learn, and meet them halfway with things, but if you show them kindness they will really light up your life.

17/ Anyway, that's my not-depressing thread for the night. I love my wife, my dog, & my cat, & I'm really lucky to have them. I hope you'll consider adding a furry family member & treating them with respect/responsibility bc they make you smile and laugh when no one else can.