Amanda Lamb: Hello Dolly

We just knew it was the right time. Our beloved dog Bella died in November 2017 after a difficult battle with cancer. Right after she died, we couldn’t even think about getting another dog. You can’t replace one dog with another.

But as the months went by, and and then the months turned into a year, our family felt like something was missing. We had always been a dog family. You know those people who take their dog everywhere in the car, take them to restaurants, take them on trips.

We started looking casually, putting out feelers, visiting shelters, applying to rescues, talking to people who knew breeders. Our challenge was to find a dog that our animal-allergic family could handle. More than that, our challenge was to find a forever dog who we would love just as much as we loved Bella.

My husband was the biggest skeptic. He kept saying we had to wait until we found the right fit. While I agreed with him, I also knew that my daughters were aching to fill the void left by not having a dog for so long. Honestly, I was too.

It turns out we didn’t have to worry about anyone questioning that Dolly was the “right” dog for us. We fell in love with her from the moment we saw her. And I’m pretty sure she fell in love with us too.

So, I apologize in advance for any of those who follow me on social media. Dolly is my new muse, my forever-dog, the missing piece of our family. I’m afraid she is going to dominate my posts for years to come ...