Have you ever had a pet play matchmaker for you? I didn’t think it was a thing until my golden retriever decided to take charge of my love life. Yep, you read that right—my dog played a pivotal role in finding my husband.
It all started with my volunteering gig. My husband-to-be and I crossed paths while working with the Sierra Club Inner City Outings (ICO). Picture this: a bunch of eager volunteers heading to Anacostia in Washington DC, gathering up kids for outdoor adventures. We’d go hiking, rafting, or just enjoy nature, bringing along lunches for the kids and even stopping for fresh fruit and veggies on our way back. It was a blast, but that’s not the juicy part.
I’d just moved into a house with a yard and finally got myself a golden retriever. Now, before you shake your head at me for going for a purebred, hear me out—I had my reasons. With kids around and my active volunteering, a golden retriever seemed like the perfect fit. Plus, I’d always dreamed of having one.
Have you ever had a pet play matchmaker for you? I didn’t think it was a thing until my golden retriever decided to take charge of my love life. Yep, you read that right—my dog played a pivotal role in finding my husband.
It all started with my volunteering gig. My husband-to-be and I crossed paths while working with the Sierra Club Inner City Outings (ICO). Picture this: a bunch of eager volunteers heading to Anacostia in Washington DC, gathering up kids for outdoor adventures. We’d go hiking, rafting, or just enjoy nature, bringing along lunches for the kids and even stopping for fresh fruit and veggies on our way back. It was a blast, but that’s not the juicy part.
I’d just moved into a house with a yard and finally got myself a golden retriever. Now, before you shake your head at me for going for a purebred, hear me out—I had my reasons. With kids around and my active volunteering, a golden retriever seemed like the perfect fit. Plus, I’d always dreamed of having one.
Tucker the Sidekick and Matchmaker
Tucker was more than just a pet; he was my sidekick. Canine Good Citizen Certified, he was great with kids and had a knack for sensing our destination whenever we crossed over the Potomac River into DC.
He loved those outings as much as I did, especially the part where the kids would play fetch with him and use hand signals to command him to sit, shake, and lie down.
But here’s where it gets interesting. After a good year or so of these outings, my dog started showing a particular interest in one volunteer—my future husband. Call it canine intuition or plain old good judgment, but my sister joked that maybe my dog knew something I didn’t. And boy, was she onto something!
I paid closer attention to this guy my dog was so fond of, and we began to spend time together outside of volunteering. Fast forward, and now we’re married with a family of our own. Who knew a furry friend could double as a matchmaker?
Tucker was more than just a pet; he was my sidekick. Canine Good Citizen Certified, he was great with kids and had a knack for sensing our destination whenever we crossed over the Potomac River into DC.
He loved those outings as much as I did, especially the part where the kids would play fetch with him and use hand signals to command him to sit, shake, and lie down.
But here’s where it gets interesting. After a good year or so of these outings, my dog started showing a particular interest in one volunteer—my future husband. Call it canine intuition or plain old good judgment, but my sister joked that maybe my dog knew something I didn’t. And boy, was she onto something!
I paid closer attention to this guy my dog was so fond of, and we began to spend time together outside of volunteering. Fast forward, and now we’re married with a family of our own. Who knew a furry friend could double as a matchmaker?
Volunteering: A Great Way to Help A Community and Meet New People
Volunteering wasn’t a clandestine strategy to find a spouse. I’ve volunteered in different areas all my life, beginning as a candy striper in my local nursing home as a young girl. I’ve found it personally fulfilling, and as an introvert, it has led me to amazing people and experiences.
After relocating to a new city for career growth, establishing friendships beyond the office can be challenging. In DC, where young professionals thrive, it’s easy to get caught up in work circles and seemingly endless happy hours. That’s when volunteering emerged as my unexpected social anchor. It not only connected me with incredible people but also introduced me to the love of my life.
So, to anyone out there relocating or simply looking to expand their social horizons, I recommend finding a volunteer opportunity where you can do something you enjoy, connect with others who enjoy it too, and make a difference. Whether it’s cooking and serving hungry people, building homes, or travel volunteering, there’s something for everyone. It’s not just about giving back; it’s about forging connections, having a blast, and maybe, just maybe, finding your own four-legged matchmaker.
It’s funny how life throws surprises our way when we least expect them. Who would’ve thought that my golden retriever, a long-term volunteering commitment, and a guy my dog adored would pave the way to the love of my life? It’s a reminder that sometimes the best things happen when we’re not looking for them.
So, here’s to the unexpected, the four-legged matchmakers, and the adventures that come from simply saying yes to new experiences. Cheers to love finding us in the most unexpected places!
Here are some fun and unique volunteer activities that I and my family have done:
Sierra Club Inner City Outings/Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) Join organized groups that take inner-city or underprivileged kids on hikes, camping, and other adventures outdoors.
Habitat for Humanity Build homes for people who need them in your community, or abroad. Great volunteer service for individuals or groups.
Facing Homelessness This is one of the rare ones that would allow our children to participate when they were younger than 12. The human connection was key for my family.
Compassion International We have sponsored two children for more than 10 years, but interestingly how we learned about the program was through a roadshow that they did in our community. They regularly tour with these and when they visit a city, they seek out volunteers from their member networks.
Build-A-Bike My hands-down favorite team-building activity for high-impact team meetings. My teams have loved it. It has the highest emotional impact and memory imprint when it is combined with leadership training prior, then teams build the bikes – a little contest among teams can be fun – then you deliver the bikes to the kids who will own them. That final part can be a tear-jerker and makes it all one of those moments you never forget.
Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) Volunteer travel adventures for teenagers in locations ranging from Alaska and Hawaii to Costa Rica, Africa, and beyond. These are great opportunities for teenagers to branch out to find their independence and gain leadership skills while contributing to something bigger than themselves. This one isn’t free, nor is it cheap. My son went to Maui for a 10-day Turtle conservation program one summer with a group of about 15 kids. They camped in huts right on the beach, did beach clean-up, learned about caring for turtle habits – and learned to surf. It was his first time flying solo and I swear that he grew 2 inches taller and a solid decibel more confident and emotionally mature.
There are other ways to scratch the itch to give back including mentoring and skills-based volunteering. It doesn’t take long to find a perfect fit for your life and passion to contribute to your community.
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