In Loving Memory of Evie Veleeskie Hoglund
Sometimes, people don't know that they are looking for someone... until that someone appears. Evie Veleeskie Hoglund entered the Hoglund family precisely in that way. They had gone to an adoption event with minimal intentions of leaving with a new friend; they simply wanted to look around and learn about the rescues and shelters available in the area. While the seed was planted and the family was considering growing together with another dog someday, they did not know that "someday" had already arrived. Evie was alone and still just a puppy when they first met, but something about her lingered in the hearts of the Hoglund family after they left. The feeling of "what if" didn't last long: a quick investigative call to Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue confirmed she remained available. The family's hearts had already answered the question of if Evie needed to be part of their home, and she did so that very day.
Evie was vocal, lazy, and cuddly. She was a perfect blend of characteristics that combined in perfect harmony to create a best friend. She had opinions, and she was never particularly shy about sharing them. Neighbors were well-informed of Evie's stance on several topics, as any human daring enough to cross the boundary of Evie's window-view came to expect hearing her (at times) firm stance on their choices. Yet for all her barking and boldness, Evie was also wonderfully content to simply be. She loved sleeping beneath beds and she pursued perfectiuon in the quietest and coziest places discoverable. The search for comfort brought her to many places in the home: she was known for he near-magic ability for disappearing, even in places such as the chaos of a messy kid’s room. When it came time for the distribution and reception of affection, she had no interest in waiting politely. Evie would jump right on top of the people she loved and settle in as though it was her responsibility to keep humans from floating away. She made it very clear that cuddling was not merely something she enjoyed, it was something she considered essential. Nothing was more offensive to her than another dog receiving attention she believed belonged to her; she never hesitated to place herself directly in the middle of another dog's pets.
Evie wanted her people close, and she wanted to be close to them. The highest position of regard Evie held in her family was definitely for her human, Alex. She was Alex’s comfort dog and Alex was her comfort human, though those words scarcely scratch the surface of their bond. During difficult nights, Evie remained an anchor. She was there when comfort was needed and she feeely offered the kind of companionship that does not require explanations or solutions. She simply stayed. Sometimes the most profound love an animal gives us is not loud or dramatic: it is the quiet assurance that we do not have to face a hard moment alone.
Evie was a best friend, a protector of her family, a professional napper, an enthusiastic cuddler, and (most importantly) a steady presence in the lives of the people who loved her.
Her family will miss her voice, her warmth, her determination to be in the middle of every cuddle, and the simple comfort of knowing she was nearby. Evie mattered because she was there. And sometimes, being there is the greatest gift one heart can give another.
