As a Potterhead, I’ve always known that the wand chooses its wizard. It wasn’t Harry who chose his wand. His wand has chosen him. I’d like to think the same rule applies in the Muggle world when it comes to adopting a furry friend: the pup chooses its owner.

One spring day on April 4, 2017, I finally made the bold decision to adopt a puppy. A family member gave me the free will of choosing 1 out of 3 puppies she had brought home, all just a few weeks old. Nerve-racking and unsure of what to decide, I found myself peeking into the trunk of her car where a box of puppies rested quietly inside.

As I leaned in out of curiosity, one particular pup caught me by surprise. One that stood out among her siblings. While the others slept soundly, this little one climbed toward the edge of the box, as if determined to reach and cradle me frantically. She wagged her tail enthusiastically, like I was a familiar face already, like an old friend from another lifetime. Before I could choose her, I realized, she had already chosen me.

I named her Coco because of her pan de coco–colored fur, and from that moment on, she became my furry best friend.