Bringing a new dog into your home — the wagging tails, the excited yips and the endless wet smooches (from the dog and the kids) — is a life-affirming experience. In a moment, both your family’s and the dog’s lives are transformed.
But let’s take a step back: Nationwide, shelters and rescues are filled with fur babies eager to trade kennels for couch cuddles. Whether it is a scruffy mutt steeped with personality from the local shelter to regal purebreds with hearts of gold from a rescue, when you adopt a dog, you are saving a life.
Kevin Yento of Bridgewater knows full well the profound love built on caring for a dependent soul and forged through mutual affection and solidified in trust that comes with dog ownership. Yento — the leader of Kevin Yento & Associates real estate team and a sales associate for Coldwell Banker Realty in Bedminster — is a long-time dog owner who is a staunch advocate for adoptions.
He lovingly shares the story of how he and his partner, Tony, recently welcomed a new member into their family — Rocky, an adorable 3-year-old Jack Russell and Feist mix. From the moment they met him at the shelter, they were captivated by his gentle demeanor and strikingly soulful eyes that seemed to hold a world of emotion. Unlike the usual high-energy temperament of his breed, Rocky surprised them with his calm and affectionate personality, quickly becoming a comforting presence in their home. “He has the most soulful eyes and a calm, loving personality,” he says, smiling. “It was impossible not to fall in love with him right away.”
Tell us Rocky’s adoption story.
We adopted Rocky through Peace4Paws in Westwood, N.J. Tony and I were looking to bring a rescue dog into our home and came across Rocky’s profile online. His gentle face and sweet story immediately drew us in. After speaking with the wonderful team at Peace4Paws and going through the application process, we met him — and it was love at first sight.
Rocky seemed to know right away that he was home, and we knew we had made the right decision. He’s medium-sized, super friendly and incredibly loyal. He settled into our home almost instantly and quickly became a beloved member of the family.
Tell us about how having a pet adds to your life at home.
Having Rocky in our home has brought so much joy, love and even a sense of peace. He has a calming presence, and no matter how stressful the day is, coming home to him makes everything better. He gets everyone outside for walks and helps us slow down and appreciate the little things. He’s part of our routine, our conversations and even our holiday cards.
How important is adopting a pet?
It’s one of the most rewarding decisions you can make. There are so many incredible animals out there just waiting for a second chance. Rocky came into our lives with so much love to give, and it’s hard to imagine that he might not have had that chance if not for organizations like Peace4Paws. People should know that rescue dogs are just as loving, trainable and loyal as any other. In fact, many seem to understand they’ve been saved — and they give that love back tenfold.
What do you like to do with Rocky?
Rocky loves his walks around the neighborhood and especially enjoys hiking trails on the weekends. He’s always up for an adventure, but he’s just as content curled up next to us while we’re reading or watching TV. We treat him like family — because he is. He has his own comfy bed (even though he prefers ours!) and gets lots of belly rubs, treats and attention.
We’re so grateful to Peace4Paws for bringing Rocky into our lives. Adopting him has not only made a difference for him — it’s made a huge difference for us. He’s taught us patience, unconditional love and the beauty of second chances. We hope more people will consider adopting and experience the same kind of joy.
View Yento’s properties at somersetcountyhomesnj.net.
"It’s one of the most rewarding decisions you can make. There are so many incredible animals out there just waiting for a second chance." - Kevin Yento