I had just been medically discharged from the Marines when I adopted Cherry. I had actually been looking for a dog to surprise my husband with for his birthday. However, It quickly became clear that she was mine. She had been badly neglected and was returned multiple times to the SPCA because of her anxiety. The first night she stayed at our house she paced the floor, obviously nervous, I invited her to sleep on the bed with me and that was it. We were attached by the hip. That was exactly what I needed as I transitioned back into the civilian world. Her transformation from scared and anxiety to sociable and relaxed really taught me how powerful love and patience could be.