A year ago today I went to a dog shelter in rural Ontario and picked up this:
![](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4687835267_ccbe0a553a.jpg)
He was scraggly and scrawny with a bad case of kennel cough, but I loved him already. He cuddled right into my heart and stayed there. Whiskey was brought up to Canada from a pound in Ohio because if he stayed there he was going to be put to sleep. I still can’t believe that this little fella almost didn’t make it.
![](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4688461010_91c8ee0677.jpg)
Now looking back on the past year, I think of all the places that he has been and the things that he was done.
![](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1303/4687829195_0263361f2e.jpg)
He’s always up for an adventure, whether its our weekly trip on the train to visit my family for dinner, or just a car ride to Tim Horton’s for coffee and Timbits.
![](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4687829951_114f167625.jpg)
He visited the Atlantic Ocean for the first time when we went to Maine last summer.
Lets just say that he wasn’t so crazy about the cold, salty water…
![](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4687831951_4bff5e1c54.jpg)
….he prefered to stay close and cuddle in a towel.
![](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1292/4687827907_db09f91911.jpg)
He visted Historic Quebec City and sat atop a cannon.
He became best friends with a crazy doberman named Shadow.
He used her as a giant pillow on roadtrips.
![](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4364587956_9ea8eb4591.jpg)
And she returned the favour 😉
![](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4688467594_70da7a2315.jpg)
They patrolled the lake together.
(Although he had to wear a lifejacket…for fear of falling in.)
![](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4688467322_16ccaae2c2.jpg)
He went up north to my friend’s cottage and got lost in the woods.
![](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4688464438_65f6d8e30e.jpg)
And then spent the afternoon tucked into my brother’s sweater, zipping around the lake in a boat.
.![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2561/4099925189_e11bd5aced.jpg)
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2561/4099925189_e11bd5aced.jpg)
He became the first dog to have a VIP Festival Pass to the Toronto International Film Festival and got to see George Clooney on one of his walks.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nLe_aIrpywU/S2sGOskoOTI/AAAAAAAAAhg/v6pOJ9WlXxg/s320/deskdog.jpg)
He became an office mascot.
![](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4688467484_c406bdcd3f.jpg)
He rode the streetcar to work when it was cold outside.
He met friends who weren’t always so friendly.
He redefined the word “Couch Potato” (or has I like to call him…The Tatertot)
He became known as the dog taco.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2566/4058277985_f32bacda31.jpg)
He learned the importance of a good Halloween costume.
He showed the people of Toronto that a dog could stand at a crosswalk on his hind legs and look both ways (we still get people yelling and cheering out of their cars when they see that one).
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/4159572703_dd8f4b4cd3.jpg)
He was given the nickname “The King of Christmas” by my 6 year old cousin (still scratching my head over that one).
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4149597643_c69a80801b.jpg)
He learned how to sit. And then how to stare.
![](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4436722247_d6bdbe6ff8.jpg)
He got his first taste of leprechaun.
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3514/4080956652_f6c37f331b.jpg)
He snuggled and cuddled and was loved to bits.
But most of all, he stole my heart. I love you little buddy.
Awww he’s had quite a good year! I love the life jacket, too cute. I couldn’t imagine a life without dogs.
Awww what a great year! My life has been so blessed by having a dog, Maxie is snoozing next to me as I type… 🙂
This is the sweetest post ever Amanda! Whiskey is such a blessed pup to have you as his mama. Those photos are great! He can seriously stand on his hind legs and look both ways at cross walks? I love it!
Happy Anniversary Whiskey!