I’ve always believed that you end up getting the dog you need, even if you don’t know how or why. Rose, the working dog, entered my life when I desperately needed help running a farm for the first time. Izzy arrived as I nearly cracked up, and led me into hospice work and accompanied me on my early ventures into photography, two things that saved my mind, and to some extent, my life. Lenore came into my life when I was looking for love and had forgotten how to feel it, and she kept love alive for me until I could find what I was looking for.

Frieda reminded me of the spiritual nature and importance of training, and brought out the best instincts in me. She also helped lead me to Maria, for which I can hardly express my gratitude. These things are not accidents, I think. On some level, we find the dog we need, and in the glorious traditions of dogs, and if we open ourselves to ti, they open us up and help us get where we need to go. I am blessed in dogs, as in many other things.

This photograph would not have been possible even a few months ago. Now it is routine. They follow us into our lives.