When Rescue Dogs Change Your Life

They should have named him Destructo-Dog – he destroyed just about everything in sight. I had lost count of the number of blankets, comforters, and dog beds he had chewed through – tufts of plush innards strewn about the apartment, remains of tattered material randomly thrown around. The casualties of bedding were nothing compared to the over-turned plants, knocked over picture frames and vases, stolen socks and shoes, half-eaten hair clips, and piles of recyclables here and there, not to mention the accidents.

In the first couple of days and weeks, my small apartment went from neat and tidy – decorated with the typical home furnishings – to a cyclonic disaster.

But, they named him Chase.

And rightfully so – he’d chase anything, anywhere. Later, I had to admit the name was pretty perfect.

I was both proud and mortified when Chase launched a 6-foot fence to catch a chipmunk. In one fluid motion, he had raced across the yard, scaled the fence, and caught the chipmunk just as it was running over the top. That poor little chipmunk probably thought it was getting away, too.

To this day, I can still picture the incredibly proud look on Chase’s face when he came back down with the chipmunk set squarely in his mouth, like he won the ultimate prize.

The day I picked him up from the rescue that saved him (a hot Saturday in August 2009) should have been my first red flag for what was to come.

He was the last dog off the transport truck. All of the other adopted dogs were 8- to 12-week-old puppies that were carried off the truck by the couple who ran the rescue. The adopted puppies were then gently handed over to their excited new families.

Then there was Chase. A long, tall, frightened, and anxious 1-year-old German Shepherd, Golden Retriever mix, pretty much full size at about 70 pounds, dragging the husband off the back of the truck – like a hound, nose down, ears back, and full speed ahead.

Yep, this one was mine.

And he was a handful.

But he also turned out to be my savior.

The rescue fostering Chase stated he was an abused puppy who had been left behind, tied to a tree or fence post, and was rescued just in time from complete neglect. He had been near death and covered in abuse. I thought I knew what I was getting into.

I did not.

I soon learned it was a combination of much-needed physical, mental, psychological, and social healing. I went all in. I spent every waking moment figuring out how to heal him. I was familiar with obedience training but new to rehabilitation. I quickly learned they were different animals and sought help immediately. Thanks to Victoria Stilwell’s Positively training methods, Chase improved in leaps and bounds, and we healed more than his wounded soul.

“In order for things to change, you have to change.” – Jim Rohn

I had no idea who Jim Rohn was when I adopted Chase, but Chase eventually led me to Jim Rohn.

The economic crash of 2009 was a wave many in the financial sector saw coming long before it hit. Stress at work was palpable and the SEC was literally breathing down our necks. Those were not fun times. People were getting laid off left and right, weekly hours slashed, and pay cut. Things got tough.

As the economy began to slide and the housing market stumble, my dad was battling Alzheimer’s. The man I looked to as a solid source of inspiration and stability, the man I called a friend, the man I called dad – this man was declining in one of the worst ways imaginable.

That was not really territory I was ready to navigate. Chase and I bonded over our mutual need for stability and companionship. He was the soul I leaned on to figure out how to move forward through some of the most tumultuous times. We became a tight team while I was reeling from a massive drop in income, watching my dad slip away, and in the midst of my own health issues.

Chase was my best friend. He was there for the long-night cries and much-needed laughs. He changed my life in ways I never saw coming. While I learned how to treat his health and behavioral issues, he taught me about persistence and gratitude. Never give up or give in striving for better, but be grateful for the present moment.

Here was a dog who had seen the worst side of humanity and was still so full of life for a small act of kindness. We had a hell of a time with rehabilitation, but he tried over and over again, and because he was so persistent to do better, I became just as persistent in finding ways for him to succeed. Together, we did it.

“In order for things to change, you have to change.” – Jim Rohn

I really didn’t “discover” Jim Rohn until much later, years later, when I was searching for positive and practical speakers. It’s a popular quote by Jim Rohn, but it made me pause. Mostly because it’s true and because it makes me think of Chase.

A simple yet profound statement. The only way your world changes is if you change. You can change your circumstances – Chase was rescued and saved from death, but ultimately, unless you yourself change, your change in circumstance or surroundings will only take you so far. Chase had to learn to trust again, build confidence, and quite frankly, learn to be a dog. He had to change in order for his world to change. And I had to change with him.

Neither Chase nor I are the same souls when we first met. Thirteen years later, still joined at the hip, we have overcome major hurdles, obstacles, and tragedies. Along the way, we welcomed both Topez and my husband into the mix. Together, we formed a tight-knit family that stands strong and faces everything as a solid unit.