When Frankie Met Bryan

In the spring of 2011, I was working at a humane society. Each day, I took a few minutes away from my desk to walk down to the kennels and connect with an animal. On one particular day, I met a yellow lab mix who was visibly stressed.

I went into his kennel to spend some time with him, talking to him and petting him. He pressed his cheek against mine and leaned into me, eager to be loved. I hoped he would soon find a wonderful adopter.

Our dog Ruby had died several weeks prior, and after taking some time to grieve her, Bryan and I felt ready to adopt another dog. When we had met Ruby, I had an instant knowing the moment I saw her. It was true love at first sight, and she and I shared an incredible bond for the rest of her life.

When I met this yellow lab mix, I knew he was special. But I didn’t get that instant knowing that I’d felt with Ruby. So I called my friend Lena who had also recently lost a dog, and suggested she adopt him. “Duh! Amy, he is meant to be with you,” Lena told me.

Huh.

To be clear, there isn’t a dog in this world I could meet and not love, and Bryan is the same way. When adopting a dog, we have no criteria, other than the need for them to be compatible with any other dogs we have. They can be any size, any physical ability, any temperament… to us, they’re all perfect.

Bryan and I talked it over, and the next day I went into the work early. I hurried down to the kennels to see my new friend.

Frankie was agitated and not very attentive to me. I brought him outside, and within steps of walking through the door, he could no longer hold his bladder. He peed… and peed. The poor guy hadn’t been let out since sometime the previous afternoon, but he had been determined to keep his cage clean.

Bladder emptied, we spent some time outside, and then I brought him back to our offices. He spent the morning meandering from person to person, and didn’t seem particularly attached to me. It stung just a little – unreasonably, I had expected him to want to stay by my side.

At lunchtime, Bryan drove over to the shelter. He walked through the door, passed along the wall of cubicles, and turned the corner. Frankie was at the far end of the office.

I wish I’d had my camera ready for the moment that came next. It was magic, instant and complete unconditional love.

When Bryan saw him, he crouched down to Frankie’s level. Frankie looked up and seemingly said “Oh there you are!” It was like two long-lost friends reuniting. Frankie, who had been abused by a man, had no fear. He ran up to Bryan and melted into his arms. It was better than a scene from a movie. It was two souls in real life who were meant to be together.

Adoption paperwork complete, Frankie and Bryan headed home, with Frank’s head resting on Bryan’s shoulder the whole drive.

Frankie and I had a deep love. We spent many glorious mornings running together, a passion for both of us. It was a once-in-a-lifetime bond for me too. But Frankie was Bryan’s soul dog, two hearts that were absolutely meant to be together.