When my husband first joined the Army, I was looking forward to all of the fun and adventures that were sure to come. What I wasn't prepared for was the loneliness and anxiety that comes with being a military spouse.

We moved from Cincinnati, Ohio to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Sure I had been away from home before when I attended college, but home had always been accessible. Now, I was stuck 15 hours away and I didn't know a single soul in the state of Oklahoma. I tried filling my time with work, but something else was missing. Before moving, my husband and I had said "We are not getting a dog."

We barely lasted three weeks before we were looking. Now I am not a "small dog" kind of girl. I like a big, meaty, smushy dog I can love on. But when I came across an ad on Craigslist for a 3 month old Boston Terrier, I decided to inquire. My sister has a Boston and they are a wonderful breed. A small, compact fog that is tough as nails without the "small dog" complex. After negotiating with the seller, we were on our way to pick up our new dog.

Being a Field Artillery officer, my husband thought Cannon would be a good name. Boy was he right! Cannon was a fun, energetic dog. He fit right in at the dog park, which is where we spent a lot of our time in Oklahoma.

I credit Cannon for saving me during those lonely times. He forced me to get out on walks, meet new people at the dog park, and just be my overall companion when my husband was away at training.

Fast forward 8 years and Cannon has never stopped being the best dog ever. He has moved 6 times to 5 different states, lived in and out of hotels and houses, and has helped us welcome 2 beautiful babies. He would walk through fire if it meant following his family.

His loyalty, sweet disposition, and loving spirit has certainly made it impossible to look at the other dogs. We call him perfect because calling him anything less would be an insult. We love our Cannon dog and always will, forever and ever.

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