Meet Stievie Wonder, our 9 year old husky mix. These days, he’s the ultimate co-pilot—but it used to be a completely different story.

When we adopted this good boy back in 2018, he was terrified of almost everything, and getting him into the car was our biggest hurdle. Then it clicked: before us, car rides only meant bad news. In his past life, he was a frequent runaway, so a ride in a car usually meant:

• A trip to the pound

• Being returned to the place he was trying to escape

• Rinse and repeat

• The occasional visit to the vet

So when a stranger picked him up and took him to an unfamiliar place, he was petrified. I’ll never forget that first drive home—after a struggle just to coax him inside, he cried the entire way.

We knew we had to rewire him and show him that car rides lead to good things. We started taking him to the dog park, grabbing pup cups and ice cream, and dining on dog-friendly patios. Now? I barely have time to open the door before he leaps into the backseat.

He might still feel a little tricked whenever we pull up to the vet or the groomer, but he gets over it pretty fast.

We couldn't be happier to have him in our lives, and judging by that big smile, I think the feeling is mutual. Doesn't he look the part?