Misty's Story: From the Street to the Studio
It was Saturday, March 23rd, 2024.
I got a call from my youngest daughter.
"Dad, I found a blind dog in the middle of the road."
My first response?
"Baby, please don't bring that blind dog home. We have enough animals and just can't handle another one right now."
At the time, we already had four cats. And we’ve had as many as four dogs in the house before. We knew what it meant to take in another animal, and we just didn’t think we had the space — emotionally or otherwise.
My daughter had called the local shelter, which I believed was a no-kill shelter. They were closed, but she hoped the dog’s owner might check there first.
That evening at 7:49 PM, I got a text:
"Come to the garage rq."
I knew what that meant.
I turned to my wife and said, “I think she brought the dog here,” and showed her the message. My wife, who is forever a pet nurturer, asked, “Do you want me to come?”
I told her no. I’d check things out first.
Sure enough, in the garage, my daughter was standing there with a small Shih Tzu in her arms.
"The shelter was closed, Dad. I couldn’t just leave her out there in the middle of the street."
I sighed. I knew what was happening. I texted my wife:
"Come to the garage rq."
She came, took one look, and immediately took over. She examined the dog — a girl — and gently placed her on the grass. The dog could walk, just not see. She had severe cataracts. But she did her business and responded well.
Since it was already late, I went to get one of our crates. I told them I’d post flyers and check local neighborhood groups to see if anyone had lost her.
That night, she stayed in my wife’s game room. Later that evening, my wife came to bed and told me:
"She found her voice."
I asked,
"Oh yeah? What do you mean?"
Turns out, the dog had really enjoyed some cat treats and food we gave her — and made some joyful sounds about it.
It only took her a day or two to learn the layout of our upstairs. She only went down the stairs once (poor girl), but otherwise adapted quickly. Days passed, and no one claimed her.
We started to think she was likely from a puppy mill. She was extremely protective of her food, and based on how she interacted with other animals, we suspected her vision issues may have led to her being abandoned. We couldn’t imagine someone just losing a dog and not looking for her — not one this sweet.
The vet estimated she was about 7 or 8 years old and had previously had a litter or two. We got her vaccinated, examined, and officially made her part of our family. We named her Misty, inspired by her cloudy, cataract-covered eyes.
Later that winter, she had to have one of her eyes removed. The pain she was in is gone now, and in its place is one of the sweetest little souls we’ve ever known.
She’s our baby. We hate leaving her alone at home. I always make sure I have a camera set up to find her if I need to check in. Our second-oldest cat, Nox, has become her buddy — gently checking on her from time to time. Most often, you’ll find her hanging out with me in the studio while I work on music, or curled up with my wife while she hacks and pew-pews in her office.
Our days begin with Morning Musings with Misty — some quiet time in the backyard where she can sniff, explore, and take care of business while we drink coffee and get ready for the day.
When the weather’s good, we take a stroll around the neighborhood for more “business” and for Misty to hunt down the mysterious Frank, who’s been leaving his scent on every post and bush.
Sometimes we go to the dog park where she checks in with her furry friends. She comes shopping with us when we can take her, and she loves car rides — especially when they end with a pup cup from Starbucks, or if she’s really lucky, an unseasoned hamburger patty or hot dog. (Within reason, of course — but this girl deserves to be spoiled.)
Today, Misty is more than just our rescued Shih Tzu. She’s the face of “Misty Cam” and “The Ambient Shih Tzu” — a cozy live stream where she naps, wiggles, or stands guard while ambient music plays in the background.
She may not see the world like we do, but she’s opened our eyes to what it means to love, protect, and loaf in peace.
🎬 Watch Misty’s Debut!
Before you go, be sure to watch Misty the Ambient Shih Tzu in her heart-melting debut video for my song “Tiny Creatures” — from the album Epica. It’s a peaceful, playful glimpse into her world… and the perfect pairing of pup and ambient.