Fur Real, It Was Fate
Very unexpectedly, I got a text from my mom on a quiet Sunday night. She was visiting a friend who happened to be a veterinarian.
“Are you still looking for a dog? I think I found one for you.”
The answer was a resounding yes—even if we weren’t actively searching at that exact moment. For months, my husband and I had been dreaming of adding a pup to our lives as newlyweds. I longed for that extra heartbeat in the house, and my nurturing, cuddle-loving heart was ready to care for something other than my husband (haha).
I replied instantly:
“YES!”
I didn’t ask about the breed, age, or background. All I knew was that I was ready to give a dog all the love I had to offer.
“I replied instantly: YES!”
Later that night, my mom sent a photo and explained her friend was helping someone rehome a dog. And would you believe it—a red merle Australian Shepherd with striking ocean-blue eyes. The kind of eyes that speak straight to your soul.
For months, Aussies had been our dream breed. We had fallen in love with their intelligence, loyalty, and energy. In fact, our extended family already had six of them. It felt like a sign.
To my complete surprise, my mom showed up that very night... with him in her arms.
The moment I saw him, I cried. He was perfect. He had a different name back then, but when I looked into those bright blue eyes, I knew—he was our Charlie.
“To my complete surprise, my mom showed up that very night... with him in her arms.”
From that moment on, everything changed.
Vacations became pet-friendly getaways. Saturdays turned into dog training sessions. And our free time? It became Charlie time—exploring, adventuring, and simply being together.
This is the life I had yearned for. A life with more love, more laughter, and more purpose.
Charlie completes us.
He keeps us grounded, brings us joy, and shows us every day what unconditional love really means.
In fact, he’s even part of the reason we recently moved to Cape Town. We saw an opportunity to embrace a more adventurous, pet-friendly lifestyle—complete with sundowner beach walks and weekend hikes.
What more could you want in life?
To our Charlie:
We may have rescued you, but truthfully, you’ve helped us grow in ways we never imagined.
Written by Soleil Truter (@curiously_charlie_)
