Diego Aguirre

It's the summer of 2012. I'm about to turn 30, and I am more lost than ever. I have a huge chip on my shoulder for years now, courtesy of a violent childhood, my time in the Marine Corps, and a dangerously irresponsible resistance to therapy. I'm angry at the world. I have a short temper. I drink too much. I fight. I'm a nightmare to my on-again, off-again girlfriend.

It's the summer of 2012. I'm about to turn 30, and I am more lost than ever. I have a huge chip on my shoulder for years now, courtesy of a violent childhood, my time in the Marine Corps, and a dangerously irresponsible resistance to therapy. I'm angry at the world. I have a short temper. I drink too much. I fight. I'm a nightmare to my on-again, off-again girlfriend.

It's the summer of 2012. I'm about to turn 30, and I am more lost than ever. I have a huge chip on my shoulder for years now, courtesy of a violent childhood, my time in the Marine Corps, and a dangerously irresponsible resistance to therapy. I'm angry at the world. I have a short temper. I drink too much. I fight. I'm a nightmare to my on-again, off-again girlfriend.

I can't keep jobs or friends. The only friends I really have are wherever I happen to be working at the time, my co-workers. And even them, eventually, I push away. I have trouble getting along with people. I don't really like them. I don't play well with others. I've never been comfortable in a room with more than five people without any alcohol in me.

I can't keep jobs or friends. The only friends I really have are wherever I happen to be working at the time, my co-workers. And even them, eventually, I push away. I have trouble getting along with people. I don't really like them. I don't play well with others. I've never been comfortable in a room with more than five people without any alcohol in me.

I can't keep jobs or friends. The only friends I really have are wherever I happen to be working at the time, my co-workers. And even them, eventually, I push away. I have trouble getting along with people. I don't really like them. I don't play well with others. I've never been comfortable in a room with more than five people without any alcohol in me.

One afternoon, during this dark time in my life, I leave work after a lunch shift, and I walk by this Petco. And outside of it, an animal rescue had set up shop. All along the sidewalk, there were crates with dogs in them up for adoption. And I spot this one beautiful gray and white pit bull. He's got the sweetest face, kindest brown eyes.

One afternoon, during this dark time in my life, I leave work after a lunch shift, and I walk by this Petco. And outside of it, an animal rescue had set up shop. All along the sidewalk, there were crates with dogs in them up for adoption. And I spot this one beautiful gray and white pit bull. He's got the sweetest face, kindest brown eyes.

One afternoon, during this dark time in my life, I leave work after a lunch shift, and I walk by this Petco. And outside of it, an animal rescue had set up shop. All along the sidewalk, there were crates with dogs in them up for adoption. And I spot this one beautiful gray and white pit bull. He's got the sweetest face, kindest brown eyes.

He's got this gnarly, fresh scar on the side of his snout here, another fresh scar across his belly. I ask the lady who runs the rescue, this sweet little Puerto Rican lady from the Bronx. I go, who's this guy, what's his story? She goes, it's here is Papi. I found him up in the Bronx a couple of weeks ago. He had just got hit by a car. His insides were all out. I'm like, Jesus.

He's got this gnarly, fresh scar on the side of his snout here, another fresh scar across his belly. I ask the lady who runs the rescue, this sweet little Puerto Rican lady from the Bronx. I go, who's this guy, what's his story? She goes, it's here is Papi. I found him up in the Bronx a couple of weeks ago. He had just got hit by a car. His insides were all out. I'm like, Jesus.

He's got this gnarly, fresh scar on the side of his snout here, another fresh scar across his belly. I ask the lady who runs the rescue, this sweet little Puerto Rican lady from the Bronx. I go, who's this guy, what's his story? She goes, it's here is Papi. I found him up in the Bronx a couple of weeks ago. He had just got hit by a car. His insides were all out. I'm like, Jesus.

He's okay, he'll be fine. He's up for adoption. I'm like, oh, man, I wish, but impossible. I work in a restaurant. I'm never home. I wouldn't have time for him. I wouldn't be able to give him the life he deserves. She's like, oh, okay, I see. Hey, could you just do me a big favor? Could you just give him a quick walk around the block for me so he can go potty? I knew what she was up to.

He's okay, he'll be fine. He's up for adoption. I'm like, oh, man, I wish, but impossible. I work in a restaurant. I'm never home. I wouldn't have time for him. I wouldn't be able to give him the life he deserves. She's like, oh, okay, I see. Hey, could you just do me a big favor? Could you just give him a quick walk around the block for me so he can go potty? I knew what she was up to.

He's okay, he'll be fine. He's up for adoption. I'm like, oh, man, I wish, but impossible. I work in a restaurant. I'm never home. I wouldn't have time for him. I wouldn't be able to give him the life he deserves. She's like, oh, okay, I see. Hey, could you just do me a big favor? Could you just give him a quick walk around the block for me so he can go potty? I knew what she was up to.

But I'm not one to pass up an opportunity to hang out with a doggy, so I take him around the block. And sure enough, by the time we get back, that was it. I'd fallen head over heels with this guy, and there was no way I was going home without him. I adopted him right then and there. So I bring him home. I sit him down. And I go, all right, first order of business, we gotta change your name.

But I'm not one to pass up an opportunity to hang out with a doggy, so I take him around the block. And sure enough, by the time we get back, that was it. I'd fallen head over heels with this guy, and there was no way I was going home without him. I adopted him right then and there. So I bring him home. I sit him down. And I go, all right, first order of business, we gotta change your name.

But I'm not one to pass up an opportunity to hang out with a doggy, so I take him around the block. And sure enough, by the time we get back, that was it. I'd fallen head over heels with this guy, and there was no way I was going home without him. I adopted him right then and there. So I bring him home. I sit him down. And I go, all right, first order of business, we gotta change your name.

Because there is no way when people ask me what's your dog's name, I'm saying Boppy. I saw this movie when I was a kid, Rumble Fish, one of my favorite movies. Main character's name is Rusty James. Love that name ever since. So I went with that. And it fit him perfectly. So I have a dog now. And everything just gets better immediately.

Because there is no way when people ask me what's your dog's name, I'm saying Boppy. I saw this movie when I was a kid, Rumble Fish, one of my favorite movies. Main character's name is Rusty James. Love that name ever since. So I went with that. And it fit him perfectly. So I have a dog now. And everything just gets better immediately.