FREMONT, Michigan — The Baldes household in Fremont has a motto.

"Hello again," Sarah Baldes says, smiling to her husband, Joe.

It's a phrase Sarah and Joe have repeated more often lately—ever since their new additions to the family arrived.

"This is Eddie. Eddie Beans," said Joe, gesturing to the white and black Shih Tzu mix on his lap.

"And this is Sophia Rose," said Sarah, about the brown one on hers.

The two dogs came into their lives after loss. The couple's previous dogs, Chelli and Josie, had both passed away. They swore off getting another pet.

"It's too hard," Sarah explained.

But Joe was struggling. He still talked to Josie every single day.

"Sarah mentioned, 'I think you need a companion. I think we need to start talking about another dog,'" Joe recalled.

He found Sophi

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