Our Story
Cassius' journey into our life begins with an unexpected visit to the local humane society with my brother. We had no plans of adopting a dog that day, but we ended up finding ourselves in a small interview room. The room was no bigger than 6x6 feet, with three chairs and a table. Cassius blitzed through the door and dragged the volunteer into the room too. Our energy was no match for Cassius. Immediately; he couldn't be contained.
He began jumping on and off the table, darting under chairs, running in circles, and showering us with drool. This was his chance to impress potential new owners and he held nothing back. As much as I admired his enthusiasm, I felt it wouldn't be a good fit. My initial instinct was that we couldn't handle such a dynamic dog, but my brother saw it differently. He believed Cassius was the one.
Unfortunately, after a quick discussion, we left without Cassius.
Fast forward a few days, I walk out of the house to find Dan in the front yard with Cassius. A harness and a horse leash were attached to the dog. And again, Cassius held nothing back. My brother, a giant of a man, was laughing and smiling as he was jolted in all directions. Meanwhile, I stood there, awestruck knowing our lives were about to change significantly.
Living with Cassius during his puppy years was no easy feat. It felt impossible to keep up with his inexhaustible energy. He had the energy of a sprinting gazelle and untrained habits of a toddler. Countless times he escaped, and we had to chase him down. We questioned whether we could handle him.
As time passed, I began to develop a fondness for Cassius despite his poor habits and uncontrollable energy. He always wanted to be outside, playing non-stop. At times he would even find himself jumping through windows and landing on the roof. Yes, this is true. Getting a call about a barking dog on your roof is certainly not your typical call. Even after all this wild, and erratic behavior, we still kept him around.
The day that confirmed Cassius would be part of our lives was the day he ran away. We searched for hours, but there was no sign of him. I was anxious, thinking he was gone for good. I sat on the porch, feeling disheartened. And then, just like that, out of nowhere, Cassius strolled back licking and kissing my face - as if to say, "Oh Hey, James. Where've you been, James? (using his doggy voice)."
Our journey with Cassius continued, marked by chewed-up shoes and hats, short-lived couches, and countless surprises left around the house.
As time went on, he improved his behavior and learned to be a “well-behaved dog.” We would go on countless road trips and adventures.
And at heart, he remained a wild and free spirit.
Cassius was, without a doubt, the Best Dog in the World.
Previous slide
Next slide