From Millie to Emily

Her name was Millie then. But I kept forgetting it, so I called her “Little One” on our first walk.

Samwise and I did not intend to add to our pack. We simply meant to help our friend Virginia Moore, head of the local animal shelter at the time. Atticus and I had a practice that if a dog lingered unwanted and in need of adoption, we’d make him or her more attractive by taking their photo with Atticus.

Millie first arrived in Conway as part of a large group of Houston-area dogs. A hurricane was on the way, so the city’s shelters needed to make room. Like Samwise, she made her way north from Texas at six months of age.

Millie’s scruffy photo was sent to me on her first day in New Hampshire. Her fear and bewilderment were evident.

“No, thank you.”

As time wore on, all the other Houston dogs were adopted, and more were on the way. I decided to help by posing her with Samwise and sharing the photo with 200,000 Facebook followers.

When we arrived, I could see why no one wanted her. She was hyper…