Marni was the one who started it all. I was living in the magical highlands of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, when she quite literally followed her way into my life. One sunny day, as my friend and I hiked the winding trail from San Pedro to San Juan, this scruffy, soulful-eyed pup began trailing behind us… and never stopped.

By the end of the day, she wasn’t just a follower, she was family. We hopped on a boat back to Panajachel, and without hesitation, Marni climbed aboard like she knew she belonged. And honestly, she did.

She stayed with me for two unforgettable months, filling my days with joy, chaos, and the kind of love only a rescue dog can give. We shared meals, adventures, and a deep bond that words cant explain. I fell so deeply in love with her that I ended up writing my book Rescued -A Dogs Tale based on our journey, every trip to school, every goofy grin, every tender moment from that first tail-wag to the emotional goodbye.

Eventually, I found Marni a loving forever home in the USA. Watching her board that plane in Guatemala City, bound for Pennsylvania, was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done—but also one of the most beautiful. Because she wasn’t just rescued. She was seen, loved, and finally, home. Marni was my first rescue. She was also my first reminder that sometimes, the ones we save end up saving us right back