July real–life claim story

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A high school love story

Most high school juniors are occupied with term papers, driver's licenses and navigating teenage life—not with the challenge of taking full financial and physical responsibility for a pet. But Melissa Barnett wasn't your typical high school junior.

"I was going through a really, really tough time," she explains. "I just needed something to keep me grounded."

That "something" turned out to be a puppy named Annabelle.

'This is a sign

Though Melissa knew she wanted a puppy, she didn't know what kind. She had been searching online but hadn't found The One. Out of the blue, her brother suggested a beagle.

"I hadn't seen one listing for a beagle. And then that day I actually saw a listing for beagle," Melissa recalls. "I was like, 'This is it. This is a sign.'"

The litter was advertised as including two girls, but she was only introduced to one who, Melissa knew right away, wouldn't be a good fit with her family's two older dogs ("She was too fiery, too spunky."). But when Melissa inquired about the other female pup, the owners explained that they had decided to keep her. Undeterred, the teen pressed on until they finally agreed to show the last littermate.

"They brought her out and she was sleeping. She was really calm, and I was like, 'This is the one. This is the dog. This is exactly what we’ve been waiting for,'" says Melissa.

'Like the world was crashing down'

Fast forward a few years: Now a young adult, Melissa was out of high school with a job and a best beagle friend. Life was good—until the rug was pulled out from under her.