When Gabriel walked into Humane Society Silicon Valley, he wasn’t sure what he would find. He had visited several shelters across the Bay Area in the months leading up to that day, searching for the right fit. What he didn’t expect was how quickly everything would fall into place once he met Zander.
“It was love at first sight,” Gabriel says.
The year leading up to their meeting had been one of profound loss. Gabriel had lost his beloved dog in September 2024 due to an incurable illness. Just a few months later, his wife passed away. Soon after, he made the decision to retire — a transition that left him with both time and an acute sense of loneliness.
“I went from a very full life to suddenly having too much quiet,” he says.
After striking out at a few shelters that didn’t quite feel right for his small apartment and lifestyle, Gabriel decided to drive to Milpitas to visit HSSV. He remembers being immediately struck by the space — calm, welcoming, and thoughtfully designed. What he didn’t notice at first were the kennels in the back.
That’s where Cecilia stepped in.
Cecilia, an HSSV adoption counselor, introduced Gabriel to Zander. Patient, knowledgeable, and warm, she answered his rapid-fire questions with ease. “She handled everything with total aplomb,” Gabriel says. “I was really impressed.”
Zander didn’t disappoint. A park visit sealed the deal.
Now settled at home in San Francisco, Zander has become Gabriel’s constant companion. “He’s fallen right out of heaven into my lap,” Gabriel says. “He’s so chill, so sweet, and friendly with everyone — people, dogs, even a neighbor’s pot-bellied pig.”
Their days are simple and steady. Morning routines. Long walks along the Great Highway. Evenings together at home. Zander sleeps on the bed, offers daily hugs and kisses, and has perfected a very expressive howl — usually when he thinks Gabriel should share more of whatever he’s eating.
“He’s my partner in crime,” Gabriel says.
Zander hasn’t just filled the house — he’s helped Gabriel heal.
“The thing about dealing with the slings and arrows of life,” Gabriel reflects, “is that it always takes much longer than you think. But it does get better. Be patient. When you’re ready, the universe has a way of putting what you need right in front of you.”
For Gabriel, that turned out to be a dog with a gentle soul, a goofy howl, and a heart big enough for two.
And for anyone considering adoption?
“A dog isn’t a toy or an accessory,” Gabriel says. “It’s a living, breathing being. If you’re ready to make that commitment, there are very compelling reasons to choose a shelter.”
For Gabriel and Zander, it was the beginning of exactly what they both needed — together.