Pawrent celebrates rescue dogs adoption anniversary with heartwarming love letter thanking their pup for their tolerance and patience to try in the face of adversity, says: ‘I will forever be thankful to you for forcing me to learn all I can about dogs.’

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Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Jan 28, 2026 1:00 PM EST

While most pawrents to adopted doggos might celebrate their dog's adoption day with a new toy or canine compatible cake, this pawrent had a different approach. He opted to write his dog a love letter, detailing how he feels about him and how the dog has changed his life for the better over their first year together.

And the rest of us pupper pawrents could certainly stand to take a leaf out of this pawrent's book, because life is about the people and puppers that you fill it with. The stuff we buy is only temporary and will all be gone soon. But the memories in our minds and the minds of those around us last forever. And so under that principle it makes sense that the most worthwhile gift we can give is an appreciation for all the memories that we have gotten to share with a person or pupper who we have shared this life with.

Which is exactly what this pawrent did for his dog's Gotcha day anniversary. And we cannot deny that it brought a tear or two to our eyes to see how this hooman so lovingly writes about his doggo and their journey thus far in life. It is a reminder to appreciate the many miniscule moments in life, and their knock on effect on the bigger ones. 

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    "Happy gotcha day goober"
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    Baldur, my sweet and loving ball of fear and anxiety, We brought you home on a trial basis one year ago today, I wanted to get you the day before, but
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    the weather wouldn't cooperate. You came into our home and fit in perfectly, and I was instantly in love. I had done a some research and
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    thought I had a decent idea of what I was getting myself into. You had done so well in your last home and seemed like an easy dog, I was so wrong. I wish I knew a quarter of
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    what I know now when I brought you home and I wish I had trusted my instincts about your fearfulness. I did so many things wrong, and for that I apologize, you
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    tolerated my shortcomings and tried your best to do what I was poorly trying to train. Even while you were too overwhelmed by your surroundings
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  • You know, aside from this being a great idea in general, we have to say that it is refreshing to see a pawrent coming clean about their shortcomings. Admitting that they are not pawfect either. Because while an adopted dog needs to assimilate to the life it is given, there ought to be an appreciation that we need to make change as well. Our lives up until that point did not include a pupper, and now that they do, they ought to look a little different. And with any change comes conflict and difficulty, so we should enter the process with the appreciation that we are not perfect and will make mistakes. 

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    to be expected to focus, you gave it your best shot. I promise to continue to learn everything I can so I can become the human and trainer
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    you need me to be. I want to help you become the dog | believe you can be and I will stop at nothing to get you there. You have so much potential and
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    you are so smart and eager to learn, I will not let that go to waste. I will forever be thankful to you for forcing me to learn
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    all I can about dogs and promise to always help the dog that needs a little extra love and work. I just want to know what makes you tick and how to help you
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    thrive and be the happiest, fulfilled and confident dog you can be. You have also taught me so much about myself, I never thought I was
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    50% CATS Scoopable FRAGRANCE FREE
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  • We really should have issued a warning that while reading this story a box of tissues is a must have because this pawrent is pulling on our heart strings, hard. In this fast paced life that we lead we all too often forget to take a moment to stop and appreciate things. Especially when it comes to how things change over time. Even when we write birthday greetings we barely take time to consider how the person has affected and better our lives over the whole of the last year. But such reflection is important. It makes us appreciate all the good in our lives, as well as making us realize just how much life we have lived. 

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    capable of having the patience you have shown me I can have. I've always thought of myself as very selfish, but you've taught me I can and can even
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    enjoy putting the needs of another living being above my own. You have taught me so much in the last year, I can't wait to
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    see what you're gonna teach me over the next year! Happy gotcha day goober
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anniversary thanks celebrate heartwarming patience rescue dog reddit story love letter pawrents dog story pup dog adoption
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