Extra-special Christmas

“Being divorced with no family nearby, my Christmases were quiet, simple…and a bit lonely. I’d considered getting a pet, but I hadn’t owned one since I lost my dog, Jasper, when I was a kid. He was a white terrier with brown circles around his eyes and two black spots on his belly. We’d had such a special bond that even all these years later, I still missed him dearly.

“One night, while sitting by my tiny Christmas tree and feeling a bit blue, I fired up my laptop and logged on to the local animal shelter’s website. Suddenly, my heart skipped as I saw a photo of a white pup named Noel, eyes peering out from brown circles…and two black spots on her belly! It was like I was a child again, feeling the magic of Christmas. Holding my breath, I messaged the shelter to see if she had a home…and three days later, she came home with me—just in time for Christmas.”