Editor’s note: The following essay was written by Kacie Carlson about her experience with a pet adopted from the Northwoods Humane Society. The essay netted Northwoods a $50,000 donation from Petco and Halo Purely for Pets. Learn more on the front page story in this issue.
Kacie Carlson
Guest Columnist
I was approved to adopt a pitbull. I had visited Northwoods Humane Society several times looking for a spaniel, or maybe a retriever, but this time the dog in the corner, sitting patiently with her head tilted as if asking, “pet me?” caught my eye. Maple had a rough start. She was found tied up and abandoned in an alley, taken by animal control, put on death row for dogs, and rescued by Northwoods Humane Society, where she saw dogs come and go for two months. Today, I can say she’s my best friend, because she’s always the one willing to take on every adventure with me.
Being single can be tough since the best memories are made when you can share them with someone else. I didn’t always have time to wait for someone else. That’s where Maple came in. Our first big adventure was buying a houseboat. Maple and I would sit on the roof and watch the stars, fish, repair motors, swim and kayak – all things that would have been unbearably lonely alone, but she was my co-captain. Since then, adventures have been our norm – camping, backpacking, skijoring, nature therapy. Maple hasn’t committed any heroic act, but it’s the everyday things that have had immeasurable impact on me, my outlook on life, and who I’ve grown to be as a kind, compassionate person.
She motivates me every day to appreciate little things, smile, and enjoy life. She’s taught me to be a better listener, to greet people with excitement (like she does), to be a devoted companion — the list goes on. I’ve learned all this from a dog who was sentenced to death! As if those qualities aren’t enough, she really changed my world one hot day in July. The day was perfect, but the beach was crowded, so we sneaked around to a more hidden cove. We had the place to ourselves — just us and a fishing boat offshore. Then, I heard the splash. Swimming towards us was the fisherman’s dog – obviously attracted by Maple. In no time, the dogs were running, jumping and splashing. Eventually, the guys pulled up, we introduced ourselves and apologized for each other’s dog instigating the other. An hour later they invited us for pizza, and a month later Eddie and I were dating. On this day when I probably would have retreated to air conditioning, Maple brought me swimming to find the love of my life.
However, meeting Eddie didn’t mean Maple’s work was done. With Eddie’s future of odd hours as a police officer and potential for more deployments with his military police unit, I know I’ll never be alone. I’ll have Maple to keep me going. It’s hard to imagine that she was once abandoned in an alley; I can’t imagine life without her. She hasn’t changed my life – she’s made it all that it is, and continues to make me a better person every day.
Former Taylors Falls resident Kacie Carlson now works as a regional naturalist for Minnesota State Parks and Trails in Grand Rapids.