Around 2011, burned out from his corporate photography job, Theron Humphrey hatched an idea to travel the country, interview people and take their portraits in all 50 states. He quit his job, crowdfunded $16,000 and prepared to hit the road for a year in his 1994 Toyota pickup truck.

But there was one thing missing from his travel plans: a dog.

Theron Humphrey and Maddie traveled the country together.Theron Humphrey

Maddie gained more than a million followers on Instagram.Theron Humphrey

Mr. Humphrey, who was 28 at the time, had never owned a dog, but growing up in the South, hounds were always around. He typed “coonhound” into an online registry of adoptable pets, and an image of a caramel and white spotted dog with squinty eyes was the first result.

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. She looks like a

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