As we approach the one-year mark of the global pandemic upending our lives, it’s inevitable to reflect on this turbulent period and grasp for any silver linings. While many changes from our pre-Covid routines that were initially a welcome change — like working from home and having more time to cook — have lost their shiny appeal, there is one undisputable fact: our pets and the quality time we’ve been able to spend with them has been a gift. For me, that’s my Lucky Dog, Pugsley.

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago with a dog-loving family, I was lucky to have four-legged siblings throughout my childhood: Max the beagle, Tyler the bichon, and Lucy the bearded collie. As my older sisters started their own families, they too brought the joy of dogs into their lives. For me, it was never a question of if I would have a dog of my own, it was just a matter of when. Adopting any pet is a big commitment not to be taken lightly, but can feel like an especially large leap if you are single, work a time-consuming job and don’t have a large local support network. Did I have enough time? Could I find a way to escape the office to walk and feed a dog, even amid a client crisis? Could I make my finances work to cover a dog walker, vet bills and boarding when I would have to travel for work?

After long avoiding the urge to peruse adoption sites until I was ready to take on the responsibility, the timing seemed to be about right at the end of 2013. Coincidentally, two of my friends had recently begun volunteering with Lucky Dog, were impressed with the organization and loved helping animals find their forever homes. So, the opportunity on a Sunday in December to run some errands in Pentagon City, visit my friends at an adoption event, and pet some adorable pups only seemed logical. Ahead of the event I finally allowed myself to check out pups on the website, where I mentally flagged two small adult dogs I thought could work for me. One, a female beagle, had just come from transport and was quite shy upon meeting her. The other, a male pug-chihuahua mix named Tait, was there and well, sparks flew. Something about his grimace and underbite were irresistible.

After going through the adoption approval and home visit process, communicating with Tait’s foster family to better understand his behavioral quirks and arranging one more visit to see him outside of the event setting, I decided I was as ready as I could be to take on any challenges, and more importantly, the unconditional love of a pet.

Fast forward more than seven years, Tait — who I renamed Pugsley — is my constant companion and I can’t imagine live without him. Of course, there were some bumps along the way and a whole lot of ‘dog mom guilt’ balancing his well-being with a career and social life, but my spunky boy couldn’t be happier. We moved to New York, back to DC a few years later, he’s traveled to visit his dog cousins in Chicago a few times, and visited a beach just long enough to know that ocean water is even worse than a bath.

As much as I already knew how much better Pugsley had made my life, I couldn’t imagine the even greater importance that would take on over the past year while being far from friends, family and the other features of ‘normal life’ we took for granted.

That’s not to say we haven’t encountered new challenges. I often succumb to his demands for a second dinner and to share some of mine, and resort to bribery in treat form to avoid barking interruptions while on Zoom interviews. Needless to say, these temporary annoyances pale in comparison to the love, companionship and comfort he has given me.

While I hope nobody has to experience ever again the pain, suffering and rollercoaster of emotions this past year has brought, I am incredibly grateful for the quality time I’ve been able to spend with Pugsley. Even better, I’ve been able to play a tiny part in helping others find their furry best friends by volunteering with Lucky Dog’s social media and youth program teams from the comfort of my own home, with Pugsley snuggled by my side.

No matter how many years it’s been since we first rescued our best friend, they have the unique ability to rescue us right back when we need it most.