1. The moment is here: You are ready to get your very own pup.
2. You’re filled with more nervous glee than you anticipated as you drive to the shelter.
3. You've stalked dogs online for weeks.
4. You have no idea what to expect at the shelter.
5. You walk into a hubbub of big and little voices saying, "Pick me!"
6. Your heart hurts when you walk by a dog and they wag their tail hopefully.
7. Especially ones you can't even consider because of your building's bogus breed restrictions.
8. And you might even have to pass by dogs that are over your building's weight limit.
9. You become overwhelmed with the variety of problems the dogs have suffered through.
10. Others have special needs.
11. You notice some places are bizarrely picky — or, worse, reject your application because of a trivial detail.
12. You might even see your dream dog slip away.
13. After a while, you're so overwhelmed with trying to choose.
14. You realize it's a lot like Goldilocks and the three bears: You have to find the pup that's just right for you.
15. Some pups are calm in their kennel but go bonkers when you meet them.
16. Some are homebodies.
17. But then you see the one that's just right and you feel a surge in your gut.
18. They might look like exactly what you imagined.
19. You sign all of the paperwork, hoping you have everything in order.
20. Then they hand you the leash, and your entire life changes.
21. At first they might be a little nervous.
22. You start to discover how they play and what their favorite things are.
23. It's not long before they're a member of the family.
24. You start to make better food for them than yourself.
25. You even forgive their remodeling attempts.
26. You check your health insurance policy to make sure it covers heart explosion from too much love.
27. And by adopting, you've saved two (maybe three!) lives!
