Melvin came into our lives in the most unexpected and perfect way. One day, his fuzzy little face showed up on my feed through AJK Family Rescue. I took a screenshot, sent it to Dave, and said nothing else. The next morning, Dave looked at me and asked, “So, are we going to see about this dog?” I said, “You don’t go see about a dog… you get the dog.” And just like that, Melvin was ours.

He came with the name Sheldon, but that didn’t stick. Harper was tasked with finding a new name that sounded kinda like Sheldon, and without hesitation, she shouted, “MELVIN!” 

Melvin—he’s a lovable weirdo. He has a strong preference for meeting women over men, he’ll go full drama queen if you even think about trimming his toenails, and he is the king of the couch (a fact easily verified by the state of said couch). Despite his quirks, he’s a world-class howler, and Sunset Canyon Vet deserves a medal for gaining his trust enough to give him vaccines without sedation. 

Melvin is about 4-ish years old, and he’s been part of our family ever since we had to say goodbye to our first dog, Stella. He’s our protector now, especially when it comes to the kids, Harper and Riley. Speaking of Riley, there was a time when Melvin (as a puppy) would chase her across the yard, grab her jacket, and drag her down like some kind of mini linebacker. I was sure the neighbors were going to report us to animal control.

But what we love most about him? His soft, floppy ears. And the way he’s made himself completely at home in our lives. He’s filled our home with laughter, chaos, and comfort ever since.

He didn’t just become our pet—he claimed us, and we’re so glad he did.