When I trace the path that led me to raising dogs who bring healing and joy to others, I see my father’s fingerprints everywhere. Elven Ray Stokes was a man of passion and paradox—equally at home behind the lens of his Canon AE-1 or under the hood of a ‘67 Mustang. He was a dog lover, a wilderness wanderer, and a father who found quiet ways to say “I love you” when words felt too heavy.

His life was not without sorrow, but it was rich with meaning. He taught me to hold tight to what matters, to seek beauty even in brokenness, and to never stop pursuing the good. That pursuit lives on in the way we raise our puppies—with care, with purpose, and with the belief that love can mend what life has wounded.

This post is for him—and for every family who finds light after loss. May we always keep searching for grace, and may we always find it.