06/16/2026
🐾 Meet Nadzeija 🐾
As Makers Market moves to the front porch, we thought it was time to introduce another member of our security team.
This is Nadzeija.
She's 4 years old and came into my life during one of the hardest seasons I've ever faced. After losing my mom, I was back in Nevada trying to figure out what life looked like without her. One day while doom scrolling Facebook, I came across a post about a pregnant German Shepherd sitting in a kill shelter in Sacramento, California. Because she was pregnant, no one wanted to adopt her, and her time was running out.
We lived about four hours away, but I reached out and told them that if they could arrange transportation, I would take her. I worked with a local pup rescue in Reno to make it happen and help find homes for the mama and the puppies that would be arriving soon. Four days later, her mom arrived at our house and avoided something no dog should ever face.
On Thanksgiving night 2021, she gave birth to nine puppies.
From the moment this little fur-ball arrived, I was smitten. Maybe it was because I helped bring her into the world by opening her sac and cleaning her up. Maybe it was because I needed a little hope myself.
Either way, I named her Nadzeija, which is Polish for "Hope."
And that is exactly what she has been ever since.
If you stop by Makers Market, you'll probably hear her announce your arrival with a classic German Shepherd bark. Don't take it personally—she's really just letting me know someone is here and wondering why you didn't bring treats.
She's never met a snack she didn't like. Dog cookies, cucumbers, vegetables, fruit... if it's edible, Nadzeija is willing to give it a try.
More than anything, she's my constant companion, always nearby, always watching, and always reminding me that sometimes hope shows up when you least expect it. ❤️🐾
