Born tenth in a line of eleven (nearly all sisters) Cooper stood out from the start. At just nine weeks old, he locked eyes with his future and seemed to already understand what his role would be. Curious, attentive, and unmistakably loyal, he picked his person that day at Kenlyn Kennels in Edgerton, WI, and never let go.

Dexter—Dex, Buddy Bear, Doo Doo, Mr. Bear—came into the world looking like a bear cub, and he grew into a guardian, a companion, and a love that was as fierce as it was loyal. From the moment we chose each other at the pet store, he became a best friend and a protector. In ways only he could, he became the one who shaped his family’s story: our story.

Popi Nakasato the Third 

El perrito mordelón (the biting little dog)  

You were beloved,  

and one of a pair of Misqa’s childhood dogs 

That Sunrise day in 2011 when we spot both of you as inseparable puppies 

Then playing at the West Acres Mall pet shop we knew so different colors and opposite characters 

Are your really brothers? 

Banjo, affectionately called Banjo Boy, came into this world with a few rough edges, a past that left him cautious, and a spirit waiting to be seen. He found his way into the hearts of his family at a meet-and-greet hosted by 4 Luv of Dog. His online description had already piqued their curiosity—this quirky boy could jump and twirl—but seeing him in person was something else entirely.

Bailey came into the world a little timid, a little unsure—and yet, from her earliest days, she found her place as a source of quiet courage and steady love for those who were lucky enough to know her. Adopted as a puppy from the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, she became more than a pet; she became a true companion, a confidant, and a fixture in her family’s most important chapters.