In case you missed it, we have a winner for TrustedHousesitter’s “Happiest Pet on Earth,” and it’s no other than Supai! Looking at her eyes and smile, she was a clear shoo-in. She looks like someone who is leaving her life and at peace. But what you don’t know is that there was a point in her life when she was one of the stray dogs that roamed around the Havasupai Indian Reservation at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. But a decade later, she’s already gracing the internet after being crowned as the “Happiest Pet on Earth.” How did this happen? Read on.
Supai would have to thank her former home, the Grand Canyon, for the happiness that surrounds her now. This is where her owner, Torey Mill, met her.
Mill was on a trip to the Canyon in 2014 when she spotted the 6-month-old puppy Supai. During that time, Supai was one of the 30 to 40 wild dogs living at the bottom of the canyon. Mill saw that Supai was dehydrated, and her nose was sunburnt from trailing all day at the Canyon.
As she hiked around the Canyon, Mill said that every morning, there were dogs waiting for her outside her tent, seeking food. Mill knew by then that they were just reliant on tourists for food and water. Mill was about to leave when she and Supai locked eyes and both of them felt a special connection — it was the connection that she never felt when looking at other dogs.
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Supai’s Journey in California
Mill was a college student back then, and she would always share her beef jerky supply with Supai. This simple handling of food became the reason why they became inseparable. It was then that they both hiked the 6-mile journey up and out of the Canyon.
When they were back at the reservation, Mill confirmed with a local that Supai was free to go with her. Soon, they were on their way back to California to start a life together. Mill told the Arizona Republic that she could feel that Supai needed her. She thought that Supai couldn’t make it any longer if she left her at the Canyon. She was weak and frail, and without enough food and water, she would slowly die down.
It turned out that Supai was suffering from health problems, but before long, she lived her days as a healthy young puppy full of energy.
Soon enough, Supai finished her time in college, and both of them spent the next 10 years living in various states across the West. They went and left around Arizona, California, Montana, Colorado, and Oregon. Supai’s energy matched her life full of traveling and running alongside her adventurous owner.
Mill shared that she and Supai had an amazing life together. While Supai loved the snow, as she developed a liking for it, some things never change. Supai still carries her roots as she will always find ways to search for the sun. She likes lengthy sunbathing sessions, hiking, and going to the beach.
Mill and Supai have developed their own way of communicating after locking eyes from years ago. Mill said that Supai was incredibly smart as she kept a lot of personalities within her. Mill knew Supai’s emotions, whenever she was happy and whatever she needed.
“The Happiest Pet on Earth”
As a result of Supai’s win, she and her owner, Mill, won a vacation with $5,000 in vouchers for flights and accommodations. Now, isn’t this the perfect prize for the adventurous duo? The prize package includes a complimentary TrustedHousesitter’s membership, allowing them to go on adventures with pet-loving sitters. Supai also gets to enjoy a one-year supply of free dog food that will fuel her over her next adventures outdoors.
Mill said that Supai was the sweetest girl ever, and anyone who met her would always say that Supai was the most special dog that they ever met.
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From The Club
This story really strengthens my belief that you don’t get to choose the dog as the dog chooses you. 😂 Supai got me in that locked-in moment, as it looks like she’s convincing Mill to stay with her forever. Kidding aside, it’s nice to think about Supai getting an adventurous owner who loves the outdoors as much as her. Mill never took out that outdoor nature in Supai, and that’s what made her win the “Happiest Pet on Earth” title. Congratulations, Supai!
