Bob James’ Dog Carter Celebrated His First Birthday [PHOTOS]

Go big or go home, right? That's what we do with birthdays for our dogs. Anyone who thinks we go a little overboard doesn't know our story.

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While I'm not going to go deeply into the poor luck Julie and I have had with our last couple of Shelties, I will tell you this. We lost Cooper in July of 2016. He was never seen again... not even a confirmed sighting. That was a horrible loss but the thing about losing a dog is that you always hope they'll be found and you'll be reunited.

Last July (yes, July again), we experienced unbearable pain when we had to put our beloved Casey to sleep following a surgery that didn't provide us with the desired outcome.

We needed another dog so badly after losing Casey, and a couple of weeks later, we adopted this little firecracker. His name is Carter.

The photo above is from the day after we brought him home. He was just over 10 weeks old. In less than two months, he posed for his 4-month photo on a rock along the walking trail at Fay M. Clark Memorial Park in Hiawatha.

Here he is on that same rock on his 1st birthday, May 15, 2023.

Time goes too fast.

Sure it's been a challenge, puppies always are. He's been to dog class the last couple of months and is a much better listener now. "Focus" is a magic word, because he actually does when we say it.

Yesterday, he got to do a lot of his favorite things, like a rare pup cup whip cream treat.

A trip to the dog park to meet some new friends. No, he's actually not doing what you think he's doing. He's just observing.

He played "bubbles".

Patiently posed for a couple of birthday photos.

And with his new toy even though he really wanted to chew on it.

Happy birthday handsome boy. Mom and dad love you.