The road to adoption came to us in the form of an 10-month-old, 8-pound, white “ferocious” fluff ball of a sweetheart named Luna…aka Luna Love ❤️.
We had long wanted to bring a second dog into our home, but the timing and circumstances just weren’t right…until it was.
We knew that part of our moving from San Pancho to San Miguel de Allende would include welcoming another sentient being of love into our home, and without a doubt, a rescue.
Luna and her brother had belonged to a family who unfortunately could no longer afford to feed them. Thankfully, they did the right thing and took them to a vet’s office rather than abandoning them on the street. The veterinarian notified a woman here in SMA who is very involved in dog rescues and fostering, and viola (serendipity and luck), Luna and The O’Grady Family’s paths crossed!
We had four fun-filled home day visits with Luna including one sleepover—pillows, blankets, chew toys and all–required by her very careful and loving foster Mother, who without hesitation selected us to be Luna’s family upon seeing the love we had for her, and her for us.
Luna Love is a such a gift. She reminds us daily of the importance of staying in the moment and honoring the natural rhythm of life. Who doesn’t want to have their tummy rubbed, take multiple naps, hang out in the garden to watch the birds, and listen to the sounds of Mother Nature?
Thank you Luna, for the gift of you ❤️
I asked my son Liam, “what was the best part of and greatest lesson from Luna”. Wide-eyed and thoughtful, he said, “Mama, that anything is possible.”
Yes, son, it is.
It was an interesting adjustment for Seamus, our then 90-pound, 7-year-old chocolate lab…RIP. He was walking around with a ball in his mouth, wondering what all of this meant for him. Was she a friend, a replacement, his competition? Why could Luna sit in Mom’s lap and he couldn’t? I could see him wondering if he was no longer the only reigning furry family member in Casa O’Grady…what in the world is going on, his expression spoke to me.
Seamus will always be my Big Brown Bear King. It was now time for us to welcome a Queen into our home–and a pint-sized one at that! A love of a Gentle Giant, I knew that Seamus would accept Luna into his heart as he did with every other living being he met, small and large alike. You, Seamus, could never ever be replaced.
Life indeed changed for Seamus, but for the better. Normally an outside dog because of his size and the fact that our daughter is allergic, his allowed inside space expanded and I found myself doing more and more sweeping! The Roomba has been one of my greatest saviors in this pet and human parenting gig!
Tiny water bowl inside for Luna? Seamus got one too. Novelty toys the foster mom brought over for Luna? Seamus’s toys too. Extra attention (yes, more than normal!) for Seamus to equal all of the hugs and kisses Luna was getting? Absolutely! I became a dog’s slobber toy. Luna’s 8-pound kisses were one thing, but I now felt obligated to let Seamus lather me with his big slobbery love more than I normally did. For sure I was ready for a good shower at the end of the day! #itsadogslife
We went to the pet store and bought Seamus the world’s largest bone…a conciliatory gift of sorts to comfort his questioning heart at this time of transition.
We made sure Seamus knew that he was loved like always, and that the addition of Luna to our family only had benefits for him!
We bought Luna her own pack of pint-sized chew bones, but she was more interested in Seamus’s–imagine that, little bugger!
It’s a Dog’s Life~Lessons from Luna Love ❤️:
1. Slow down, look at the birds, smell the flowers, study the bugs, take a nap in the sun.
2. Don’t take things too seriously–laugh everyday, be silly, be playful, have fun.
3. Nothing is more important than friendship, communion, community and family.
4. Cultivate and nurture your friendships, value the love in your life.
5. Live in the moment, take it all in–it’s your here and your now that really matters.
6. There is always more room in your heart for love and happiness.
7. Love your tribe without restraint and unconditionally.
Luna is a true gift to us. I have a distinct feeling that we are to her as well. ☘️
Luna Love seeing snow for the first time in Utah
April 2, 2026 Edited to Add:
Full moons and the number 3 have always held a certain kind of magic for me…in a mysterious, sometimes painful, as in this case, way.
We arrived home late afternoon yesterday from the vet’s carrying the news that Luna Love’s cardiac condition has considerably worsened.
The continual enlargement of her heart is occupying the majority of her chest cavity and as “luck” would have it, the x-rays showed not 1, but 3 large masses–likely tumors that will be confirmed in an upcoming ultrasound–growing from the top of her beautiful heart.
Tumors. 3 of them. A rarity in small breeds and only the 3rd if its kind that Dra. Monica has seen.
No surgery ever, and no additional medications for now until we have more information.
Keep her comfortable, keep her happy, enjoy the micro moments within the moments…always.
Wrapped in her puppy-paw blanket that the foster Mom Barbara gifted to us when Luna became an O’Grady, I wanted to bring a piece of comfort for both her and for me. Comfort in the familiar.
I hated not being able to go back into the xray room, but, policy.
She turned to look at me as they lifted her out of my arms as if to say, “what’s going on here, Mom?” and, “why aren’t you coming with me?”
A side glance and locking in of the eyes that I will never forget.
I did my best to fight back the tears and was successful, until we arrived home and sat out on our treetop terraza to download the information.
After all, I have been preparing myself for this for some time, right?
This is the price of love for these sentient beings…right?
A price I would pay a thousand times over.
But as we all know, it still hurts and my heart breaks as I run through the rolodex of adventures this little buddy of mine and our family has had for 12 years now. So many.
When the gal at the clinic told me she had a dog “just like Luna” that lived until 18, I had to dig deep to keep it together.
I wrote this piece about Luna Love over 12 years ago when she chose us as her family and it still–plus so much more–holds true today.
Luna was born on a full moon night, thus her name.
As we got ready to call it a day, I looked up at the night sky and saw this gift:
❤️Lessons by Luna Love❤️
Let’s all love big…now is our chance.
~Katie
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