Sitting at the kitchen table, the girls stared at a picture on Mom’s laptop of a dog who needed a family. 

He was up for adoption, waiting for someone to choose him and give him a home. 

With his scruffy brown-and-black fur, big, bright eyes, and sweet little face, he seemed to say, “Pick me!”

Trotting past the toy aisle was a scruffy brown-and-black dog walking with his foster mom.

His tail wagged so hard that his whole body wiggled.

Wiggle. Waggle. Wiggle.

And then he flashed the biggest, silliest doggy grin.

“That dog looks so happy!” Ellie giggled.

The funny thing was…

They had no idea they were already looking at Ralphie.

A few moments later, everyone gathered inside the dog-training area.

“This is Ralphie,” said Erin, his foster mom.

She opened the little gate. Ralphie’s leash came off.

And then—

ZOOM!

Ralphie dashed across the blue mat straight toward Scarlett and Ellie.

SLURP!

One giant kiss landed right on Scarlett’s cheek.

SLURP!

Another landed right on Ellie’s nose.

The girls squealed. They giggled. 

Mom and Dad laughed.

And then he found the couch. Oh, he LOVED the couch.

With one big jump, Ralphie climbed up beside Scarlett and Ellie. He plopped his head into Scarlett’s lap and wagged his tail.

Swish. Swish. Swish.

Ellie scratched behind his ears. Ralphie closed his eyes and smiled.

Then he rolled onto his back.

Belly rubs!

His favorite.

“You’re such a good dog, Ralphie,” Ellie said.

“Who’s a good dog?” she asked.

“You are!” Scarlett giggled.

Dad laughed. “Looks like Ralphie is making himself  right at home.”

And he certainly was.

Most of the time, Ralphie was a very good dog.

Every morning, Ellie and Scarlett would pile into each other's bed with Ralphie, and he made sure they started their day off the right way—

with belly rubs and slobbery kisses!

And when it was time to play dress-up, Ralphie was the most patient dog around.

A princess crown? No problem. 

Giant sunglasses? Sure! 

A silly, curly wig? Ralphie didn’t even blink. 

Sometimes he was a pirate. Sometimes he was a king.

And once…

he was a princess pirate king! 

Ralphie didn’t seem to mind. 

After all, being loved was a pretty good job.

Ralphie took protecting his family very seriously. 

When the mailman came—

Then Mom and Dad’s.

And somehow, every bed became Ralphie’s bed. 

He stretched out. And stretched out. And stretched out some more.

Sometimes there was barely enough room for anyone else. 

Whose bed was it, anyway?

The families? Maybe?

Ralphie's? Definitely!