First, he got adopted by a naïve but well-intentioned woman who buckled down and studied up on how to be a responsible dog owner (that would be me)and how to ensure that he would grow up to be a healthy and well-trained dog. In that first year, several momentous things happened in little Rascal’s life. “Rascally fair one” seemed exactly right for the handsome little pup. We decided he needed a middle name (how else would know when he is in trouble?) and settled on Finnegan which is Gaelic for ‘fair one’. In the adoption photos, little Rascal looks confused and suspicious of his new surroundings but it is easy to see that I was already smitten. “No, it’s Rascal,” I said finally as I picked up and cuddled the little ball of fluff to me and held him close. My friend pointed a finger at Curly, Rascal’s brother, repeatedly while I continued evaluating. That pup was darn cute, and my second choice. My friend who’d accompanied me was pushing pretty hard for one puppy that resembled his own dogs in coloring. To be fair I set him down and tried out a few of the other puppies. Upon meeting Rascal at the shelter I performed the temperament tests which I’d read about on him: Will he let me hold him on his back, does he startle at loud noises but not panic, does he seem to like people, and so on. His litter had all been given western-themed names – Bandit, Curly, Rascal – we thought Rascal was a suitable name for the impish little pup. After submitting an extensive application and making some arrangements I made an appointment to meet Rascal – and some of his brothers, just in case someone had snapped up baby Rascal – and drove from the Seattle area up to the mountains in Yakima on December 2, 2006, to meet Rascal and to take him home.

(I was in my late 30s and had never had a dog before, but the universe works in mysterious ways and forces aligned just in time for baby Rascal to be delivered into my life). I didn’t know anything about dogs, mind you – but somehow I knew that baby Rascal belonged with me. When I saw Rascal’s picture online I knew immediately.

His litter of siblings were all born healthy at the rescue and were put up for adoption at the end of November. He was allegedly an English Springer Spaniel/German Shepherd puppy, along with a few other things. Rascal Finnegan Bigham was born at a rescue shelter in Yakima, WA in September 2006.

Let It Be Me by Kate Noble