Mary Tran

A little about myself is that I love animals, specifically dogs. It all started with Bo, a hyper yet friendly Australian Shepherd and Labrador mix, who instantly stole my heart. Despite my mom’s strong opposition to bringing a pet into our home, I decided to go ahead and adopt Bo regardless. My friends and I met up with the previous owners and purchased all the necessary supplies, ready to embrace the happiness of pet ownership. However, my mom’s concerns were clear: she worried Bo would be too big for our house. Indecisively, the next day I returned Bo to his original owners, only to be scammed in the process.

The couple lied and told me to contact an animal shelter for my money back since they fostered Bo. I called their number and was told that Bo was never in the system nor a foster. The very next day, I found myself back at square one. I was devastated but determined. Thankfully, I managed to get Bo back a few days later by coming up with a plan to meet up with the original owners under a different name. This experience was challenging and more importantly dangerous, but eventually won my mom over! I remember coming home that night and seeing my mother holding Bo in her arms while listening to the incident that me and my family members went through. She began to warm up to Bo. Over time, her affection for him grew stronger. It has now been a year later, not only does she adore Bo, but she welcomes another dog into our household. Entering was a small and happy Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, and Poodle mix named Lucky! They both bring us joy in our lives.

My journey having both Bo and Lucky resembles my desire as a first-year student majoring in finance at the University of Georgia. As I navigated obstacles to have Bo back, I finally found a passion for animal welfare. Furthermore, I dream of investing in and supporting dog shelters in the future. As I’m writing this, I have not seen my parents or dogs in 3 weeks. I miss them dearly, and can’t wait to go back home this weekend for Labor Day. :)