The Day Sammie Found Us

Sometimes love finds us when we’re not looking for it.
We walk into a place expecting one thing and walk out changed — our hearts quietly claimed by a soul we didn’t even know was missing.

This is the story of how one scruffy little furball walked into our lives, chose us without hesitation, and taught us once again that love doesn’t always arrive in the shape we expect.

A few years back, Terry and I went to the animal shelter after a volunteer told us they were looking for a home for a Rottweiler.

She was a beautiful Rottie—strong, regal, and a little shy—but somehow, we didn’t click. She was timid yet particular, and we could both sense that the connection just wasn’t there.

As we were getting ready to leave, a volunteer came out holding a ragged-looking ball of fur. She resembled a golden retriever, though not quite—her tail curled tightly over her back, and her coat looked like it had seen better days. They called her Willa.

The volunteer explained that Willa had only been there for a week and that they were still hoping to find her owner. I said hello to the poor girl and was handed her leash. We went for a short walk—honestly, the most perfect walk I’ve ever had with any dog. She stayed right by my side, eyes lifted to mine the whole time, as if she’d been waiting for me her entire life.

When it was time to say goodbye, I handed the leash back to the volunteer. But before I knew it, that little Furball leapt straight into Terry’s lap in the driver’s seat. We laughed, helpless. We had no choice but to take her home “just as a foster.”

From the very first day, the Furball made herself at home. Within a week—with no owner coming forward—she had become one of us.

We soon realized she didn’t respond to the name “Willa” at all. So Terry and I started calling out different names, hoping one might fit. I tried “Sammie,” and that was it. She bounded toward us, tail wagging, eyes shining, as if to say, “Finally! Someone got my name right.”

And from that moment on, Sammie was ours—and we were hers.