How can people go around dumping a dog god knows where and then go on living their life as if nothing happened? You took a member of your family and left them on the side of the road!! You abandon your dog with no care in the world.
I know this blog is about personal growth and it has so many topics I would love to discuss because personal growth is about everything you do in your life. I will eventually get to them. But one thing I don’t talk about is how much of an animal lover I am. I will fight tooth and nail for any animal. Especially when it comes to cats and dogs.
I always said that if I owned my own house with land I would turn my backyard into a rescue for cats and dogs. My fiance Mike has never once fought me on my decision. He actually really loves the idea. That is how I know I have been with the right person for the last 10 years.
It started on June 9, 2022. Mike sent me a video from his job site. It was a cute video of 2 dogs that were skittish at first barking and growling at people. Not aggressively but in defense. Mike being Mike leaned over and said “Hi puppies” and they started wagging their tails while barking. He knew they weren’t aggressive. They both came running over to him wanting to be petted. One of the dogs was a female and the other male. Cute and friendly as could be.
Co-workers of his started feeding the dogs when they were at the shop. Mike’s boss gave both of them some ribs he made the day before. Friday, June 10th Mike calls me on his way home and says when he got to the shop a coworker told him they found the body of his female companion back in the wooded area either attacked by a coyote or she was hit by a car. Either way, she did not survive.
Mike found the other one and brought him home. We weren’t going to keep him. The plan was never to keep him because we have cats. The cats barely liked each other, but after so many years they tolerate each other. But anyway that’s beside the point.
Going to the Vet
Shortly after getting him in the house, we closed him off in our living room to keep him separate from the cats. Mike and I took him to the nearby vet to see if he was chipped. We put a leash on him that we had from when we used to try to take out cats on walks. This dog clearly has NEVER been on a leash. He didn’t know what to do. Mike had to pick up this 60-70lbs dog and carry him into the vet’s office.
They scanned him but unfortunately, he was not chipped. While there we started chatting up this older lady who was finishing up her visit for her beagle puppy. We were telling her the story of how he came to be in our possession. Her heart sank and without hesitation, she said if we waited for her to finish paying she has half a bag of food in her car that she can’t use.
While we waited she said to the receptionist I just gave the other girl a bag of treats could I get those back to give to these people. The lady said of course and went to retrieve them.
You see she had 2 beagles who lived to be about 15 years old and they recently passed. She decided to get another beagle. So her daughter brought her a puppy from North Carolina. So all the things she had for her previous dogs could not be used by the new puppy. We graciously accepted. We got her half a bag of food from her and then she said she lived just down the street. If we follow her to her house she will give us some canned dog food and anything else she may have.
Normally I don’t condone going to a stranger’s house, but there was just something about this lady. You can tell another animal lover when you are one yourself. She just wanted to help. We followed her down the street and I walked up to the door. She went in and about 10 minutes later she comes out with a bag of goodies. 5 cans of wet dog food, 5 packages of some alpine treat things. A collar and a leash that was big enough to fit his big ol’ pitbull neck.
A message to make you think
What she said to me really stuck with me even though I am not a religious person. But I will always remember her words. “I am a big believer that God puts in you places when you are needed the most.”
We were meant to find this dog. It was meant for us to meet her. We were meant to be the go-between for this dog being dumped and to find his new home. Mike and I are SUPPOSED to show him love and affection after the loss of his best friend. It was meant to be.
I think a lot about where he came from and how long he has been living outside with his best friend. Were they siblings in a household together or were they strangers who just meant while on an adventure? I don’t know what his story is but it breaks my heart. Someone made the conscious decision to drive their car and start dumping a dog… maybe multiple dogs by the industrial area of town. Where a lot of semi-trucks drive… They could have easily been hit by one.
Friday night Mike slept in the living room with him so if he needed to go to the bathroom Mike was there to take him out. I went to sleep in our bed. I woke up in the morning and walked into the living room and was greeted by a big ol’ poop and he peed on the floor. Mike thought he would have winced at the door if he wanted to go. but he is not house-trained like that boo boo. LOL We cleaned up the mess and went on with our day.
Be a damn dog
I tried making him some toys to play with while he was at our house. I had some rope that I cut up and made some braids and some knots. It wasn’t much but I didn’t want him to be bored. He didn’t know how to play. He didn’t know how to run. It broke my heart that he didn’t know how to have fun.
I would try to play tug a war with him and he would just let his end go. I tried and tried.
Our YouTube recommended became nothing but videos about Pitbulls. We watched so many videos about them and how to train them. Mike has been working with him to sit and give paw. He can do it but it takes a little bit to get him there.
We have been working on that one a lot. Sit and paw. He loved it so much that he gave us a double paw!!! LOL
Outside he wouldn’t run. Mike was trying to get him to but would just run a few feet then stop. Sticks… not interested in ’em. By Sunday he was playing fetch with us with his little raggedy rope toys I made him. in fact, he loves them. As soon as you pick them up his tail and butt start wagging. We took him outside again and this time he started rolling on the ground.
It’s been a week and he knows how to play. He can fetch, we play tag (he runs), and he dances. Such a big difference when you can finally relax that you are in a safe space.
Finding his owner or home
All the while giving him love, snuggles, playing, and teaching him things I have been frantically posting in as many groups or pages I could find to post about him on Facebook. A doggy this precious can’t be without a home? I even search their past posts thinking if he got out now. Maybe he has gotten out before. I messaged everyone I could. Called any and all places in Hillsborough. No one had space available and no one reported him missing. I posted on Nextdoor and Instagram. Made a post about him on Tiktok. Went live on Tiktok. Some of my friends shared my post on Facebook to get more people to see it.
No one was biting. Many people praised me for what I was doing or just reacting to the post. But no one said they wanted him. That is what broke me. Because by Tuesday Mike and I wanted to keep him. But my landlord said that the last tenant got a pitbull without her knowledge and when he moved out she went and added no Pitbulls or rottweilers to her policy.
That threw a wrench in our plan. I didn’t realize how attached I was to him until my landlord texted me that he had to be out by Friday. Meaning today when this blog post was published. I sobbed I ugly cried like I have never ugly cried before.
I couldn’t let him go to the shelter or to animal control. He was too sweet and precious to go there. My heart breaks because he is such a good dog. He needs a little bit more training. I think this bothers me so much because I have said it before and I will say it again… I know what it feels like to be unwanted or unloved. Abandoned… I don’t want any person or ANIMAL. Especially an animal to feel that.
He has a home!!!
After getting some friends to share my posts about him. We had a friend of a friend make her own post about him and someone commented on it saying if she didn’t just move to Georgia She would take him. I immediately messaged her on Facebook. If we could figure out a way to get him to her. From Tuesday up until we left to go to Georgia she has been messaging me asking questions, and sharing videos and pictures. I am sad to see him go but so excited for his new adventure. So Friday, June 17, 2022, in the evening Mike and I are making the 4-hour trip to bring him to his new home.
What makes this even sweeter is that many people in my community on nextdoor.com and in our neighborhood Facebook group have really been rooting for him to get a new home. I have three wonderful ladies who are helping us out with gas money, dog food, treats, and toys for him to bring with him.
The new owner messages me so excited that they got him a new dog bed, a crate, toys, a collar, and a leash. I couldn’t have found him a home without the help of these 3 ladies and my few friends who shared my post. I am so overly emotional I wish I could hug you all. But I can’t so I am gonna give all my snuggles to my bubbee. My name for the dog. A mix of Buddy and Puppy. LOL
A message for the new owner
We got to make a lot of memories in the week he was here. I took so many pictures and videos. Even though he may not physically be with me there is a special place for him in my heart.
I also told the new owners if it doesn’t work out with them. All they have to do is give us a call and we will come to get him. No questions asked. But if she is willing to be patient and put in the work my little bubbee will be worth it.
How could you abandon your dog
When you make the conscious decision to bring a pet into your home. It is YOUR responsibility to take care of them no matter what. If something happens to where you can’t keep them… AGAIN it is still your responsibility to take care of them WHILE you find them a new home. It might take some time but it’s the responsible thing to do. I get it. Really I do get it. I have had to give a few pets away in my life and I regret and have to live with the guilt of that.
I understand life happens, but you opened up your home to this animal… you let it become a part of your family. Family doesn’t drop each other off on the side of the road to fend for themselves. So many pet owners refer to their cats or dogs as their furbaby. This animal is my CHILD. How could you DROP YOUR CHILD OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD??? This animal trusted you and you threw it away like trash.
I couldn’t really express how I was feeling last night while writing so I made a little message for the bitch ass pet owners in gifs. It makes me so mad you abandoned your dog…
A message for those who dump their animals
To Bubbee
First I want to say that I am so SORRY we can’t keep you. We would in a heartbeat, but our landlord has it written in her insurance policy no Pitbulls or Rottweilers. If we could just up and move to a place that would allow you… again we would in a heartbeat. But since we can’t. One of my 2 jobs this week was to love you unconditionally. Mike and I were sent to you to show you how you are SUPPOSED TO BE LOVED. How a REAL family should treat you.
My heart goes out to you because in a week you lost your best friend. You moved into a stranger’s home and in 15 hours you will be in another stranger’s home. We come full circle. Back to what that lady at the vet’s said.
“I am a big believer that God puts in you places when you are needed the most.”
As sad as I am you are going to your new home by the end of today. I truly believe that you were brought to us when you needed us the most. It has only been a week, but you have a special place in my heart and I will never forget you. I am friends with your new owner on Facebook so I can watch you live your best life. We will see each other again my friend this is not goodbye this is a see you later.
Until next time. Have a great day! You are a Badass! (not to the little punk ass bitches who abandon your pets. I hope you step on legos with no shoes on for the rest of your life.)
