Samantha Miller

Just outside Gore, Samantha Miller wakes up every morning to a chorus of tiny yips and yaps. For her, that sound is music—an affirmation of the life she’s chosen. Miller runs a small kennel where she raises puppies for sale, turning her lifelong devotion to dogs into a fulfilling day-to-day routine.

Her passion started as a kid.

“I always had at least one dog under my arm,” she says with a laugh. “Mom jokes I could smell a stray puppy a mile away.”

As an adult, she decided to transform this affection into a way of life: a modest kennel on a piece of land dotted with trees and shaded runs for the dogs.

From Chihuahuas to Golden Retrievers, Miller’s kennel covers a range of breeds, each care- fully chosen for temperament and health. She spends hours researching breed lines and selecting parent dogs with stable personalities.

“If I’m raising puppies, I owe it to them to ensure they start off on the right paw,” she explains. “I only pick dogs that are healthy, well-tempered, and fit for family life.”

Her routine is rigorous— early mornings to feed the dogs, afternoons spent cleaning kennels and playing with the pups, and evenings wrapping up paperwork. Yet, amidst the busyness, she finds true joy in every wagging tail and excited lick.

“ They’re work,” she admits, “but they never let me forget the good in the world.”

Raising puppies also means taking on occasional heartbreak—like the time a litter developed an unexpected health issue.

“I cried for days,” she recalls. “But you get them the best care possible and learn from the experience.”

Through it all, she remains solid in her commitment to a nurturing environment for each pup. Though her ultimate goal is to find each puppy a loving forever home, Miller treasures the short time she has with them.

“People always ask me if it’s hard to let them go,” she says, “and yes, it can be. But seeing the joy on a new owner’s face makes it worth it.”

Miller’s life is far from leisurely. She’s a firm believer in early socialization, guiding young puppies to be comfortable around children, household sounds, and even vacuum cleaners. At the end of the day, she flops onto the couch, exhausted but fulfilled.

“Every puppy that goes out healthy, happy and confident, that’s my success,” she says.

Miller insists that her kennel isn’t just about selling puppies—it’s about sharing a piece of the love she’s always had for dogs.

“Raising puppies might be messy, loud, and sometimes chaotic,” she says, smiling at the sound of another litter yapping for dinner, “but it’s the best thing I could ever imagine doing.”

Just Folks is Your TIMES way of honoring the regular people of Sequoyah County, recognizing their unique talents, personalities, jobs, abilities, etc. Your TIMES appreciates the cooperation of each Just Folks and the public’s nominations for this feature. If you know of someone you think might be a good story, contact Amie at 918775-4433.