The unfortunate reality of South Carolina is the number of abused animals, most notably the dogs. My mother has always been an advocate for animals. From fostering, working in shelters, to rehoming, she has taken in so many dogs over the years to find and give them a better life. Her dedication and love spread to her children. Three years ago, with her approval, we added a new member to the family. Shiloh. While Shiloh may be a very generic beagle name, it suits our girl perfectly. Originally, she was a neglected hunting dog called “Charlotte”. Left in the blazing heat of South Carolina, all day, rarely shown love. My brother stumbled upon her first. Roaming around the dirt road we lived on at the time. Her ribs visible through her thick coat, a strange wound on her head the size of a dime. She was timid, but never aggressive. My brother lured her in with a slice of pizza, immediately falling in love with her big brown eyes. But there was a problem, she was not ours to take. My brothers and I continued to feed her, finally coming equipped with treats. Spending days bribing her and following her, finally finding her “home”. Her owner was more than happy to get rid of her, which shattered my heart. Over the week it took to gain her trust, I caught glimpses of her personality. She was sweet and silly at times. With his approval, we took her home. Soon after, our mother agreed to keep her. We filled out paper work, brought her to the vet to get a check up and shots, and mainly worked on gaining her complete trust. It was a long road. There were unexpected setbacks, escape attempts, and a lot of bribing. But Shiloh came around, and stole our hearts in the process. Understanding the relationship between a dog and a human is strange. You come to view them as a person, treating them with respect and admiration. They view you as part of their pack. Dogs are known to be fiercely loyal, but no one tells you about the love and joy they bring to your life. I can’t explain the feeling that radiates from my heart when I come home to my dogs. As Shiloh became more comfortable we were finally introduced to her many quirks. She responds to the nickname “soul eater” with a strange amount of joy. Shiloh loves to give the saddest eyes when it's time for a bath. She absolutely adores my brothers, who have lovingly nicknamed her “Bugel” after the chip, which she abhors. Shiloh cannot stand photos, she will run and hide. But my all time favorite thing about this sweet girl is how she sleeps. Shiloh prefers sleeping with her head on yours. She will not settle for anything less. During my cat naps after school, I’d wake up to her head acting as a blindfold. One of the few photos I have of her doing this will be the one included, which unfortunately has a silly Snapchat filter. Despite the unfortunate situation we found her in, Shiloh is currently thriving. She knows she has our hearts in the pads of her paw. Shiloh has proven to be one of the most resilient and loving animals I have met. It may seem silly to say, but she has influenced the way I see the world. She has shown me that you can come from a horrible situation, but learn to love, to spread joy, and to radiate light.