Adopter Name

Carly Jo Mellencamp

Rescue Dog’s Name

Melvin

Where Did You Find Your Dog?

Dreamhouse Rescue, Cincinnati

Tell Us About the Moment When You Knew that You Two Were Meant for Each Other.

It was a grey Sunday when I traveled to the local pet store to grab some food for the pup I was watching for my friend while she was away for college. I had been watching my friend’s dog, Bella for about a month at this point, and she had come home from college for the weekend to spend some time with her doggy. I wanted to have some good food for her and some new toys when Bella arrived back at my home, so she wouldn’t miss her mommy too much. As I walked in the pet store, I noticed a sign in the front of the store that read, “Dog Adoptions Today”. Curiously, and somewhat excited, I traveled to the location in the store where they were holding the adoptions. There were a lot of people playing with the pups and I figured I would take a stroll around the area to look at all of the dogs. The dogs were in crates; many were barking at me, a few were sleeping, but there was one in particular that caught my eye. He was a little guy, a 12-week-old shepherd/hound mix, hiding in the corner of his crate. He looked as if he wanted to be invisible—like he just wanted to be left alone. My heart dropped, my knees were weak, and my eyes filled with tears. I knelt down next to his crate very slowly with the side of my body facing the crate to let him know that I was not trying to harm him; I wanted to help him. He gently leaned back in the corner of his crate looking very unsure. I opened his crate and gave him a mo ment, but he did not budge. I lent him my hand ever so gently, and sure enough, he followed it out of his crate. Sauntering slowly, he finally made it to my feet and allowed me to pick him up. I took him over to a bench and sat down with him on my lap. He softly laid his head on my lap and at that moment, I knew that this guy would be my forever friend. Although the atmosphere was somewhat hectic around us, it was peaceful sitting with him. I knew he felt it too as he closed his eyes and rested calmly on my lap. I filled out the adoption forms and took him home with me. I named him Melvin. I couldn’t be happier with this wonderful, life changing experience. I wouldn’t be the same without my loyal companion, my sidekick, my Melvin.

How Has Your Hero Changed Your Life?

We are two peas in a pod–we do everything together! He teaches me how to be a good leader, calm, and balanced. He’s my little sidekick and I wouldn’t have it any other way.