2011 – Just before Christmas, a puppy is brought to a local humane society in Texas. She doesn’t have a name but is quickly put up for adoption where a local animal rescuer falls in love with her. The American Staffordshire Terrier and German Shepherd mix spends a few more days at the shelter, visited frequently and named by the person who first saw her potential. A short while after that, Topez is brought to an adoption event, where after only a few hours, she finds her new home.
Said by the above-mentioned rescuer: “We were only there for about three hours until Topez found a home. Little did I know, Topez only stayed in her home for three days. She was surrendered to the shelter due to owner allergies. About two weeks later, I was informed that Topez had been adopted again. Then, she was back at the shelter. I was a wreck– I thought, with two returns and her being one to scale fences, chase cats, and be super hyper, there was no way for her to make it out.”
She was pretty closed off. She was definitely scared. This sweet, powerful little dog was passed around the system, and she wasn’t sure if she’d get tossed out again. After multiple fosters, multiple adopters, and what must have seemed like endless transporting, all she wanted was a family to love and be loved by, desperately. But she held very little trust in her surroundings. She was ready to bolt at any moment.
I gave her my all, and patiently waited for the day she would give me hers. Then I got a crash-course in breed-specific legislation. I was well aware of Topez’s breed when I adopted her; I just didn’t care. To me, a dog is a dog is a dog. But I soon learned how many other people cared. Breed-specific legislation became a thorn in my side, then a large burr in my sock, and finally I might as well have just walked through fire. It upended our life and taught me how nasty people can be. Thanks to breed-specific legislation, we moved more than half a dozen times, spent days in our car, over a month in a tent, years in a camper, and dealt with ‘no’ after ‘no’ because my once-abused-now-goofy dog just happened to be born a breed-mix society had turned on.
Some events that happen in your life create a distinct divide into “before” and “after.” These events not only change your life, but you – who you are at your very core. Before Topez and After Topez. I was thrown on a journey that made me discover who I am and what I can handle. Chase may have prepared me for it, but Topez helped me live it. Because of Topez, I learned the true power of love.
She makes me laugh. At her core she’s just silly, and when she lets that shine through, she has me in stitches. Whether intentional or not, Topez is always a puppy. Eager to please and excited to play, she has perfected big puppy-dog eyes and oh-my-god-I’m-going-to-burst-from-joy body wiggles. She jumps five feet high and then digs five feet deep. Boundless energy in a well-muscled body, Topez overflows with love for whomever will have it. Including her canine brother.
From day one, Topez befriended Chase. She was the quintessential little sister following her big brother around, wanting to do the big-brother things, staying close for protection and getting underfoot at the same time. Chase turned into the patient, let-me-show-you-how-things-are-done big brother, leading the way, accommodating her pushy antics, and watching over her. Together, the canine duo has shared both ups and downs, leaning on each other when in need and celebrating the wins during the good times.
The Purple Sneaker 