We’ve arrived in Santiago! About 20 km out of Santiago a small, scruffy, amazingly well-behaved Spanish dog began following us, practically unstoppable and never looking back. After almost 10 km we came to realize how strange that was and that he was likely lost, we we decided to take him to the vet as soon as we arrived in the city and determine what the best move would be. The friendly veterinarian posted a photo of him online in hopes to find his owner and informed us if nobody contacted within 21 days that we’d be allowed to adopt him. He has become very attached to us very quickly, she assured us that this happens often when dogs have large litters of puppies that roam the towns around Santiago de Compostela, at least once per year. Her matter of fact attitude about the possibility of adoption and immense interest in educating us about the necessary systems grew my confidence both in the pup and in my desire to study in veterinary school. She gave him a deworming pill and some anti flea medication, loaded us up with a bag of food and we were on our way again! We searched for a hostel or albergue that would accept us with the dog, through the sunshine and the eventual torrential downpour with no avail. He was wet and dirty and still had fleas, I can understand why they wouldn’t allow it. After about 2 hours of knocking and asking and being rerouted again and again, we found a doggy boarding business. With the fear that he already had abandonment issues, it was decided we wouldn’t leave him there. One of the men who ran the business caught us outside in order to welcome us into his home for the night. His wife loaded us up into the large van parked outside with her 4 and 2 year old sons and made sure we were cozy, dry and warm inside their guest room. They’d recently purchased the large house so that they could renovate it into a magnificent family home and hotel for dogs. We bathed our dog, who we’ve been calling Guapo (handsome) and were treated to a delicious homemade dinner. They had a large, fluffy white dog named Fantasmo (phantom) and the two played for hours, running around the house with the small children until all four of them were completely exhausted. Once we went up for bed, Guapo squeezed between Hunter and I in bed and fell fast asleep. In the morning we were dropped off back in town and directed to our class’ albergue. The man who runs the albergue has been allowing us to keep the dog in the back garden and has taken a liking to Guapo. As the weather grew colder and rainier he insisted that Guapo could sleep inside in a storage closet for warmth. It took us hours to walk him and stay with him until he was finally ready for bed and then the moment we tried to leave he began barking and panicking inside the closet, scared and alone. We stayed with him outside for awhile to stop the barking and not bother the other pilgrims upstairs. After a couple hours of Hunter staying with him outside I came down I curled up and slept with Guapo in the closet. We took periodic shifts as the only way to close the door was to be locked in. Even crammed in a closet, cuddled on the tile floor with spiders and in the dark I was the happiest I could have ever been in the moment and into the morning that feeling hasn’t wavered a bit. The opportunity to care for and adore this precious, lonely puppy has opened my eyes more than ever to my need to go into veterinary practice. I want to learn how to care for dogs and cats and many other neglected animals worldwide. Happy May 12!