How We Adopted Our Third Dog: Callie the Samoyed
Bringing home a new dog is always special, but the story of how we adopted our third pup feels especially meant to be. As a wedding photographer in New Jersey, I spend most of my time documenting love stories for couples. However, this time it felt like our own little family love story was unfolding.
How We Found Callie Through Rescue
Our newest family member, Callie, is a 7-month-old Samoyed who came to us through Real Dog Rescue. If that rescue sounds familiar, it’s because we adopted our second dog, Maya, from them too. Because of that, I’ve continued following their Instagram for updates and adoption posts.
One night, right before Christmas, I saw a post about a fluffy white puppy named Chloe (her name at the time). The second I saw her, I thought she was adorable. But honestly, I assumed there would be dozens of people applying for her, so I didn’t think we would even hear back.
Then something surprising happened. That very same night, the rescue called us.
A Very Cute Christmas Surprise
Since it was right around Christmas, the timing felt almost too perfect. My husband and I kept joking that maybe she would end up being our Christmas present.
Two days after Christmas, we brought our two dogs, Rocky and Maya, to meet her at the foster home. The last step before adoption was making sure all the dogs got along. And the setting couldn’t have been more perfect. A big snowstorm had just passed through New Jersey and dropped about seven inches of snow. Our snow-loving dog Rocky was thrilled, and Callie clearly was too. After all, this breed was built for winter.
The dogs ran and played in the foster’s fenced yard like they had known each other forever. Watching them zoom around in the snow made us so happy. The moment felt easy and natural. That day, we brought Callie home and officially started our life together.
When Your Dog Gets a Dog
Right away, Maya and Callie bonded almost instantly. I had a feeling that would happen because Maya is always trying to convince Rocky to play with her. Rocky, on the other hand, is more of a laid-back guy who prefers relaxing and keeping the peace. So in a funny way, we basically got our dog a dog.
Now Maya and Callie are completely attached to each other. Callie doesn’t even like to go outside without Maya by her side. They follow each other everywhere, play constantly, and have already become the best of friends.
Rocky, of course, is still his goofy self. He enjoys the fun but also appreciates his space and quiet time. Don’t worry though he and Maya are still getting plenty of love and snuggles, even though a lot of our energy has gone toward caring for a puppy.
A Scary Week With a Mystery Illness
Not long after bringing Callie home, something terrifying happened. One night in the middle of the night, she woke up screaming and crying in pain. It was a sound I’ll never forget. We rushed to the vet first thing in the morning. At first, no one could figure out what was wrong.
She had severe neck pain and was extremely lethargic. Over the next several days we made multiple vet visits, did bloodwork, and ran tests. Yet the results kept coming back inconclusive.
Meanwhile, Callie was getting worse. She couldn’t walk up the stairs. She couldn’t sit down or stand up without shrieking in pain. She was panting constantly and had a very high fever.
Finally, during our last emergency vet visit, the doctor said something unexpected: she believed Callie might have Steroid‑Responsive Meningitis‑Arteritis, also called SRMA. I had no idea dogs could even get meningitis.
Waiting for Answers
To confirm the diagnosis, Callie would normally need an MRI and a spinal tap. However, more snow was coming that weekend, and the neurology department couldn’t see her for three more days, if they even had an opening.
At that point, Callie had been in severe pain for nearly a week. Waiting longer felt unbearable, and the vet worried that delays could cause long-term damage. So they made the decision to start treatment immediately with steroids.
The Moment Everything Changed
Within 24 hours, we saw a dramatic improvement. Every single day after that, Callie got stronger and more like herself again. Because she responded so quickly to the steroids, the vet was confident that it truly was SRMA meningitis.
Now she’s back to being the silly, playful puppy we first met in the snow. She’s still on medication for now, and we have a follow-up appointment soon. Hopefully we’ll be able to slowly wean her off the steroids in the coming months.
Feeling Grateful for the Vets Who Helped Our Puppy
This experience reminded us how incredible veterinarians and emergency clinics truly are. We’re so grateful for the doctors who listened to our concerns, kept searching for answers, and ultimately helped our puppy feel better again.
Seeing Callie happy and comfortable now feels like the greatest relief.
Life with Three Dogs
These days our house is full of puppy energy, snowy walks, and lots of peanut butter-filled Kong toys. Life with three dogs is definitely busy, but it’s also incredibly fun. Watching Rocky, Maya, and Callie grow together has been one of the happiest experiences.As someone who spends so much time photographing love stories across New Jersey, it feels extra special to have our own little family story unfolding at home too.
And honestly, I can’t wait for all the years ahead with our newest fluffy family member. Here’s to a long, happy life together, Callie.
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