‘He is… the reason I wake up every day’: 18-year-old daughter tragically loses her father, the next day she impulsively adopts a puppy from a homeless man after feeling an instant connection with one derpy pup

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Mar 31, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Stories like these just always bring out the waterworks, animal fam. Do you remember your first soul dog? We do. Well, we remember them because they're still alive, but we remember the first day we brought them home like it was yesterday. We found her on an adoption day from a local rescue organization. All alone - a scared, tiny little thing that looked into our eyes, and the rest was history. We couldn't not take her home. Who else was going to love her as much as we did?

We went through our fair share of stories from her puppyhood as well. Emergency trips to the vet, shoes "mysteriously" eaten, and even a few very expensive electronics that became chew toys. No puppy is pawfect, but the memories you make with them will stay with you for the rest of your lives. This daughter in the post below explains exactly that - how after the passing of her father, she made an impulsive decision to adopt a puppy, and that one decision would change her life for the better. Read the full story below!

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  • 01
    When I was 18, I lost my dad. The next day, I saw a homeless man selling puppies in a cardboard box. I was heartbroken and when I looked into one pup's eyes, I felt this instant connection, I took the most impulsive and crazy decision of my life: I took him home.
    via u/SandraCruzzz

  • Our decision was not impulsive, and it was still a big deal. We were prepared. We had the cage, the food bowls, puppy pads, toys, the whole works, and it still took us for the ride of our lives. Raising children (even four-legged ones) is hard!

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    I had no idea what I was in for. He was full of energy-he slept 20 hours a day but the 4 hours he was awake... oh my! Like someone injected caffeine in his veins. I lived in a tiny apartment, barely making ends meet, but I spent all my money on him. He destroyed my furniture, got into
    via u/SandraCruzzz
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    all kinds of trouble (including emergency vet visits because he ate anything and everything), and during walks, he'd pull so hard that I'd end up face-first on the ground. Oh, and he also broke my arm once-oops. Not exactly on my bucket list, but here we are. But he was ALWAYS there for me, he was my loyal companion.
    via u/SandraCruzzz
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    No vayas de inocente
    via u/SandraCruzzz
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    ah
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    In the five years since, he's been my constant through many big changes in my life. He is my son, my best friend, the reason I wake up everyday, and why I work so hard-to give him a better life and, hopefully, a house with a yard.
    via u/SandraCruzzz
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    If you're thinking about adopting or buying a pitbull mix, here's my advice: think it through. Research the breed, be ready for the responsibility, and make sure you have money saved for their care. It's a big commitment, and yes, be prepared to replace some furniture too
    via u/SandraCruzzz
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    SandraCruzzz OP PS: I don't live in a tiny apartment anymore, we upgraded to a condo with a terrace, still working towards the big yard tho! Let's go Xoak!
    via u/SandraCruzzz
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    via u/SandraCruzzz

  • Once a derp, always a derp. Sure, their pawsonalities do change a bit as they get older, but if you look closely enough, you can still see that tiny puppy inside of them in those happy moments. If we keep talking about it, we're definitely going to start crying.

  • 19
    Ravenheart0913 This is good advice. And yes, they are totally worth it! Good for you!
    via u/Ravenheart0913
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    McCHitman Thank you for rescuing the pup! Also that tattoo is adorable!
    via u/McCHitman
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    PreparationKey2843 They do change your life, don't they? For the better. My buddies have kept me from doing some stupid things. "If I do this or that, who's going to take care of them? I guess I better not do it." They've saved me, and they don't realize it. But, I do.
    via u/PreparationKey2843
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    You have a lifetime unconditional friend and companion. Take care of him, and he'll take care of you. But, you already know that.
    via u/PreparationKey2843
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    BabciaLinda Thank you for your heartfelt and truthful post! My granddogs are pitties or pit- mixes, and as deeply as I love them, I know that I no longer have the energy to have one of my own. In fact, I'm the favorite human of Barley, but when he sits on me I can't get up.
    via u/BabciaLinda
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    FieldMarshallP7 Great advice!! Dog ownership is about really caring for another being. The love and comfort they give back is unmatched to the price we pay. They make us stronger even when we don't realize it 100
    via u/FieldMarshallP7

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aww pups wholesome derpy dogs adorable adoption heartwarming puppy kindhearted homeless animal rescue cute animals cute doggos doggo daughter animals Father rescue
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