I went to Walmart for cat litter and trash bags—nothing more. But then I saw him: a large, scruffy dog sitting by the cart return, quietly watching every car as if waiting for someone who left him behind. When I approached, he didn’t flinch—just leaned against me with tired eyes and gave me a paw-wrapped leg hug, like he’d chosen me. Animal control said someone had abandoned him that morning. No chip,

, no collar. When they tried to take him, he panicked and looked back at me. I wasn’t planning on getting a dog, but when I asked what would happen if no one claimed him, I learned he’d be euthanized in 72 hours. I couldn’t let that happen. I took him home and named him Rufus.