I have a new dog, and his name is Arden. All is right with the world again. I said goodbye to earthly Mac almost three years ago. My purpose in life died with him. I’ve been ready for a new four-legged baby for a while, waiting for the perfect time that would never come.

I saw these two pictures of Arden on Amanda Foundation’s January 31 Instagram post. Described as 5-6 years-old, medium-sized Lab mix, he had been treated and cured for cancer, and was ready for adoption. They called him their soul-dog which resonated with me. His size and age were what I was looking for, and that face with his outstretched paw touched my heart through the screen. I was leaving for a 2-week vacation soon and told myself I would check to see if he was still available when I returned. While away, I checked Instagram every few days and found myself putting my hand to his paw in the picture.

We returned on a Sunday, and I had taken off the following day to rest from the 14-hour flight. It was March 24, the day of Kobe and Giana Bryant’s memorial service. I watched and wept as Kobe’s strong, brave, articulate wife and those who loved and knew Kobe best eulogized the lives of those taken way to soon. When the 3-hour service ended, I was drained from jetlag and the emotional trip I’d just been on. My friend Lisa was staying with me and said, “Are we going to meet Arden?”

“I don’t think so. I want to take a nap.”

“Ahh, come on, let’s go.”

A short time later we arrived at Amanda Foundation. “Is Arden still here?”

“Yes, he is.”

Since I’m a volunteer, I signed in and looked on the board to find that Arden was in kennel number 10. As soon as I opened the gate and entered to leash him, Arden jumped up and lightly put his front paws on my shoulders and showered me with sloppy kisses. This was going good so far. Swipe right. Lisa and I took him for a walk around the block and sat with him a bit before returning to the office.

“I’d like to adopt him.”

Amanda Foundation’s amazing Tracy told me as much as she knew. Arden was picked up by Animal Services in San Diego and taken to the local Humane Society. He was very sick. Diagnosed with transmissible venereal tumors, TVT for short, his penis was covered with tumors. Tracy said this was not uncommon in unfixed dogs who roam the streets. In another words, he was a player. The Human Society did not have the resources to treat Arden so they called Amanda Foundation, knowing they had a hospital. Amanda Foundation took him, paid for surgery, chemo and radiation. Arden was now cancer free and ready for his new home. Cancer didn’t scare me. Mac had lived through two bouts in his 13-years. The next step was a home visit on Wednesday, and ready for pickup on Saturday.

It’s been two weeks, and it’s been an easy adjustment for Arden and me. Lisa’s been staying with us, so she’s a great help when I’m at work and in general. The two things I’ve missed most about not having a dog are having someone to walk with and sleep with. Walking in the morning alone feels okay, but I’m not comfortable walking alone at night.

Arden is my second dog. I hand-picked Mac from his mother’s care when he was seven-weeks-old. Except for his first 49 days, I knew everything about Mac, his birthday, his parents, where he was born, and how he got his name. Anything that happened to him happened with me.

It’s different with Arden. He came to Amanda Foundation with that name. Since he’d had it for at least five months, and I liked it. I kept it. I’m not really sure what breed Arden is. They said Lab mix, but I don’t see much Lab. I asked a neighbor who rescues hunting dogs, and she said, “Hmmm, that’s a good one. I’d have to say Heinz 57, which best describes the color of Arden’s coat. If he didn’t already have a name, I think I would call him Heinz.

I look into his sweet face, and his eyes give me a glimpse of his soul touching mine. He looks at me like I hung the moon, and gave him every dog treat the moon has to offer. I wonder about his life before me. Why does he draw back when a man reaches to pet him? How did he get the scratch under his eye, and who or what took a chunk out of his right ear?

I felt as though I could never love another dog after Mac. I knew in my head that I would, but my head hadn’t told my heart. What I wasn’t prepared for is how much he loves me. He follows me around like my shadow. Whenever I sit, he jumps on my lap. He stares into my eyes for long periods of time. Lisa has been there the whole time, but he just knows he’s mine. In his intense stare I hear thank you; are you going to leave me too; I love you. It’s a stare that I’ve missed since June 22, 2017. It’s good to be someone’s idol again.