Bean was my mom's cat, a feisty Siamese kitten I rescued from a dumpster during high school. When I brought her home, my mom insisted, "No more animals!" But we agreed to foster her until she found a permanent home. Two weeks later, the day I brought Bean to her new family, my mom cried. She cried all night and the next day she asked me to bring Bean back. It was a difficult conversation, but the adoptive family was incredibly understanding, and Bean came back to us.

Over the years, my mother’s home transformed, mirroring Bean's elegant Siamese colors. Tan and black walls, warm wood floors, and striking blue accents created a space as sophisticated as Bean herself. She lived a wonderful 17 years, pampered, and loved, passing away peacefully at home, surrounded by family.

Zoe was my girl, an all-white German Shepherd with a goofy personality and loving eyes. From the moment we met, we were inseparable. She was the best dog—gentle yet protective, kind yet fierce, and incredibly intelligent. Zoe was pure love, always happy and excited to be by my side, sharing every moment with me.

In August 2023, after miraculously surviving an emergency surgery, Zoe was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. The prognosis was grim, and we clung to a fragile hope. It was absolute misery for months. Zoe passed away at home, in her favorite sunny spot, telling me it was time. For her, it wasn't a bad day. For us, it was a devastating loss, a sorrow sadly familiar to many pet parents and caregivers. She was just 6 years old.

The grief of back-to-back losses was overwhelming. Heavy and hard and empty and sick. Pain in all its forms. I don’t know what else to say about it.

People loved us through the loss. They cried with us and sat with us. They wrote nice things. They shared stories. They gave us pictures of our pets in memorial.

Those pictures were magic, evoking sorrow and joy at the same time. They were a lifeline. They cradled our grief and made us feel a tiny bit normal. That is when we decided to recreate that moment for others. Our Good Shepherd was born.

Your Purchase: By choosing "Our Good Shepherd," you're not only keeping your memories alive but also supporting others in need.