People Shared How Their Rescue Dogs Changed Their Lives And It's So Heartwarming I Could Cry
Recently I asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell me about their rescue dogs, simply because, I like to see dogs and their stories make me smile. The people and dogs did not disappoint. Here's what they said.
1."Some piece of excrement personified left a dozen puppies on the side of the highway in a pen in Texas in the middle of winter. Some of them didn't make it. A couple were unresponsive when they were found. One of those was Finny. It took a few weeks until he was well enough to travel, but he spent the first night at home cuddled on my chest and now he spends every night snuggled between my husband and I. He's the literal sunshine of my life and the happiest dog I've ever met. Also waaay too smart for his own good but that's another post entirely."
2."I have suffered from severe anxiety and PTSD for most of my life. I considered applying for a service dog but decided to adopt instead. Porsha was rescued with a group of strays, starved and terrified of humans, but thanks to amazing shelter volunteers, Porsha began to trust, and our paths crossed...
...Having a dog with anxiety has helped me and given me a sense of purpose. I made it my mission to protect and comfort her, and continue to help her overcome. Since Porsha is part pitbull, things can be difficult due to misconceptions about her breed. I realized that dressing her up when we go out comforts her and also makes it more likely for people to approach and begin a conversation. This helped Porsha to build her trust, and also changed people’s perceptions of her 'scary' breed. Advocating for Porsha has opened me up through these interactions as well. Some think I’m a 'Crazy Dog Lady', but I consider the whole situation a WIN!" —arileesc88
3."Luis Miguel is the most precious nugget of all time. We rescued him from being a street dog in Peru. He had mange, cancer (cured now), and he’s mostly blind. However, from the very beginning he has been the sweetest, most trusting dog you have ever met. He hasn’t met an animal or person who isn’t his friend. He brightens our day everyday and teaches us that love conquers all."
4."This is Luca! He was found on the street and taken to the kill shelter at five months old. He was lucky enough to be saved by a rescue and my boyfriend and I fell in love with his cute little face on Petfinder. ... We applied for him and he made the long trek up from Alabama to us! It was definitely an adjustment for us and for him, but we’ve had him for over two months and couldn’t imagine life without him! It’s been so wonderful watching him be able to do real dog things after all he’s been through. He is happy, healthy, and loving life!"
5."My boy Baxter was adopted 16 years ago from a local shelter. He was only a year old and had been surrendered because the people were having a baby and didn’t want a puppy at the same time. Their loss and my absolute gain. I have never been so close to another living being, including my husband! I tell him everyday he is my favorite person. At this point in his life he has taught me compassion and patience; he is basically deaf and senile, on arthritis meds, and sometimes poop just sorta falls out (literally when he is eating sometimes which is a little funny). He is my heart!"
6."This is Murphy. As I was finishing grad school in December 2019, I came across a Facebook post for a puppy and immediately was drawn to him. Somebody had already taken him in when I reached out, but I knew it was fate when the next day I received a message first thing that “the family who took him has two small dogs who are not taking well to him.” I rushed over and scooped up those fluffy ears after being told this was his fourth home at just five months old, with the first being abusive. Fast forward two months and COVID hit. I had a built-in best friend who forced me to get outside multiple times a day and ended up helping me meet my partner. Every day I’m beyond thankful he came into my life."
7."My Chisum. I adopted him from a rescue when he was about eight weeks old. He had been confiscated alongside a bunch of other starving dogs of various ages. He's had a pretty rough life. The first six months I had him he refused to interact with anyone except for me — which was really hard as I have anxiety myself and there was no chance for any sort of break. He also was a very severe resource guarder and ended up being extremely reactive to strange people/dogs. And then health problems began to trickle in. He's eight years old now and has about six people that he actually likes and two dog friends. He still has pretty severe challenges but he has come so incredibly far. I have learned so much about behavior from him and he has certainly changed my opinion on a lot of issues. I am thankful every day that I get to be his person."
8."This is our Daisy. We adopted her a year ago. She was found as a stray after being attacked by another dog — rescue thinks she was bred to be a bait dog. Her front legs were four times their size from the damage and swelling. But through all of that, Daisy kept her spirits up and was so loving and affectionate. She still loves people despite having had a rough first two years of life. When the shelter suggested we meet her, we said absolutely and the rest is history. She and our two-year-old daughter (NB) clicked the moment they met. NB has some speech delays and had few words when we got Daisy, but she was able to say Daisy’s name right away...
...Having Daisy around has been a huge help this past year with NB’s speech. They are such best friends and Daisy sleeps at NB’s feet every night. And Daisy's been a huge help with my mental health as well. Watching how she overcame so much and still has this zest for life (and chasing birds lol), helps push me to keep going when I’m in my dark spots. Daisy was left with several scars on her front legs from her attack, and when we met her for the first time I looked her in the eyes and said, 'I have lots of scars too. It’s like you’re me, but a dog.' So now we wear our scars proudly and are a comfort to each other when we need it. And I mean c’mon — no one gives snuggles like a happy pittie. She has made our lives an amazing combination of love, gratitude, resilience, chaos, and sloppy wet kisses. ❤️"
9."I got Rev during my last semester of college with my now ex. Not only has he eased my anxiety and depression, but he was there for me during the worst of my active alcoholism. Thankfully, I’m now 2+ years sober and Rev has continued to help me grow as a person and stay active. I call him my angel baby because, as cheesy as it is, I rescued him but he saved me."
10."Nula: husky. Was found tied to a pole on an inner city road. Super skinny and had a broken tooth. Best lady anyone could dream of having. Cole: Newfie mix. Taken in as an unwanted pup. Most loving thing imaginable. Chunk: barn kitten, an absolute smoosh. Thinks Cole is his mama. They absolutely complete us."
11."We searched Petfinder for four months looking to adopt a lab. You know a cuddly dog who lounges around the house toying with our two cats. We ended up with a four-wheel-drive, high-energy Siberian Husky we named Skye. The greatest dog in the world is now my trainer and best friend. We hike five miles each day and share wonderful experiences together. My family loves this dog like a child. She came from a rescue organization in Tennessee and traveled by truck to Hartford, CT. We brought this beautiful one-year-old female husky to our world and during the past year and a half, she has shown us her world."
12.This is our pup, Pippa! We adopted her in July 2017 when she was six months old in Lexington, Kentucky. The rescue doesn't know much about her backstory but the moment we met her we knew she was meant for us! She has the sweetest temperament, has never met a stranger and is by far the worst watchdog ever! She's been with us through so much from traveling, to my own struggles with anxiety & depression, our engagement, a pandemic, our wedding (pup of honor, of course), the loss of a father, a miscarriage, her own battle with epilepsy, pregnancy & now she is the best big sis to her baby (human) brother. She has continuously shown us unconditional love and we couldn't imagine life without her!
13."This is my pup, Bucky! My husband and I were engaged, set to be married in June of 2020. The weekend after lockdown began, not only was our wedding up in the air, but my grandmother, who I was extremely close to, passed away unexpectedly. With my dream wedding becoming a nightmare, plus grief over my grandmother, I fell into a fairly deep depression. So, one day as an idea to help me, my then-fiance suggested we adopt a puppy. We looked around, but every shelter was empty since everyone was stuck at home. Eventually, a girl my then-fiance knew growing up posted that she was fostering this puppy who needed a home. As soon as he cuddled up to me, my heart began to heal from all the pain of the previous months. Having Bucky in my life really drew me out of my depression and helped me push through that difficult time. We adopted him, had him at our (MUCH smaller-than-planned-but-still-wonderful) wedding, and he's been my best friend ever since!"
14."As if the Covid lockdowns weren’t hard enough, we lost our 12-year-old Boston Terrier in early May 2020. We got him when my daughter was only a year old, so she knew no life where he wasn’t in it. It was incredibly painful and I swore we wouldn't ever get another dog. Fast forward to October 2020 and our local animal shelter posted this goofy-looking girl with weird eyes (they are both multicolored) and I fell in love with her picture. I was still very firm about not getting another dog, but something about her made me have to meet her...
...I was waiting outside of the animal shelter before they opened their doors so I could be the first in line to meet her. They brought her to me and there was no way I was leaving without her. I instantly knew her crazy would blend well with our crazy.
She was three months old when we brought her home and the shelter knew very little about her, but you could tell she had been traumatized. She didn’t like men, at first, and certain stances made her flinch.
She’s almost two years old now and she is the silliest dog I’ve ever met. She loves everyone and is so good with kids. She keeps us entertained with her shenanigans.
I miss my Randal Danger every single day, but Little Miss Roxy has definitely eased that pain some."
15."This is Bonita. I had just moved to Mexico after a decade of traveling. I had a dog-friendly house and wanted a reason to just be a homebody for a few years. I adopted her from a no-kill refuge. She was rescued by them at one year old and I adopted her at 11 years old! She had never lived with a human before. I had never had a dog. We figured it out together. It’s been four years and you would never guess she’s nearly 16 years old. She is sweet and funny and gentle. I am very lucky to have found her."
16."Knowing that we would be overwhelmed with affection for all dogs at the shelter, we decided to go about it very methodically: we made a ranked list of those available in an order we thought made sense, and met with each in that order. There were seven total available and, sure enough, our list was totally wrong. One by one they came into the visiting room and either weren’t very interested or exhibited some behaviors we knew we couldn’t care for. Number six on the list, Sprinkle (renamed Gage), came in and stole the show and our hearts right along with it. He danced, was super into us, and was just a beaming ray of sunshine. We didn’t think twice and walked out with him that day...
...He’s been the best dog I’ve ever had, and there have been many, though I’ve loved them all deeply. He had one accident in the house the day we brought him home, and that’s it. He’s so smart, so engaged, and so loving. He’s a water boy and a fetch king and the absolute love of my life. I’m so grateful for every minute I’ve had with him."
17."We got Charlie after my friend who has a family member that runs a dog rescue kept hounding us to meet this dog that she had been spending a lot of time with when she visited. He was picked up as a stray in San Diego, only 40 pounds, and COVERED in ticks. He spent a while in the ICU in an O2 tent and with a feeding tube, and then had to get a non-cancerous tumor removed from his mouth after his discharge. We had recently lost our first dog, and she and my family had been really close since she was our first dog (a shepherd mix that was sharp as a tack and a master manipulator, but we loved her to bits). Seeing the change in my family, especially my sister who’s never been too crazy about dogs, after we took Charlie in has been amazing, and even though he can be quite the handful (he’s a red heeler/husky cross so he has TONS of energy) he’s wormed his way into our hearts with his boundless love for life (and very fluffy pants)."
18."My husband and I got Maisie (brown) at six months old when her prior family couldn’t handle the bratty stage; she’s now three. We got Maisie when my husband was undergoing chemo. He was home on disability, which was needed because he couldn’t have focused on work or made it through a whole workday. But he needed some purpose outside of himself, and having to get up to feed and walk Maisie gave him that...
...Maisie’s sister, Monday (black), is two. Monday was supposed to be a foster, but she and Maisie became BFFs instantly, and we realized we couldn’t separate them. Monday was saved from the local euthanasia list. We saved her a few months after losing a very beloved cat who’d been with me for 15 years. Monday showed me that there are still creatures that need me, and I now volunteer for a local rescue." —chaicat
19."My long-distance boyfriend adopted a dog during the pandemic. At the time, shelters were overwhelmed, and of course, because of the precautions, it was harder to arrange to come and meet a dog before adoption. He sent me a picture one day and said he found her and was going to pick her up the next day. She had no name, just a number, and no history, so we had no idea what her temperament was or how she was going to adjust. The shelter was running a free special but also there was no trial so the dogs essentially had their spay/neuter surgeries to leave the clinic and their new owners picked them up sight unseen. Our girl was literally "curbside pickup" and we started fresh. She is the best thing to happen to us!! She is sweet and smart and so well-behaved but also has a lot of anxiety, especially in new places, so we have learned to adjust and grow with her. We named her Sam."
20."I had lost my dog of 15 years in early 2019. In September, I started looking on Petfinder and saw a dog I wanted to meet. I talked to the rescue and agreed that it wouldn't be a good fit. It didn't pan out for two more dogs then the head of the rescue asked if I was interested in a dog coming from Bahrain. Of course, I said yes. It was a foster-with-intent-to-adopt situation. When she was found she had terrible mange and was scheduled to be put down. She had given her paw to a vet tech and the vet decided to give her a chance. She arrived in the US on October 6, 2019, I picked her up on October 7 and we officially adopted her Oct 11...
...She is now a therapy dog who has helped a local college's Animal Assisted Therapy program and videos of her are being used for distance education. She also has multiple AKC ribbons for obedience.
The vet who saved her checks in often to see how she is doing and has saved dogs which normally wouldn't be given a chance.
Meet Daisy Luna Queen of the Floof!"
21."This is Oscar. I found him on Facebook and I knew immediately that he was coming home with us. I messaged the rescue group and told them I wanted to bring him into our family. I called my boyfriend at work and told him, 'I know you are working overtime today but you need to drive an hour to pick up this dog I found.' Once he came home, we fell in love with each other. He was very anxious and cowered around men and was dog aggressive at first. I eventually got his backstory to understand him better, and he was living in a housing situation for the first year of his life, rescued with about 50 other dogs...
...After a few months, he was transferred to another state to give him more chances to be adopted because he didn’t have any luck at the first rescue. I was the only one interested in him for two weeks. He has taught our family to be more calm and empathetic because he is working through his trauma. We also found out that he is slowly going blind. He was so depressed and looked so sad but now, he loves wearing T-shirts, pajamas, bandanas, and costumes. He’s such a happy and spoiled boy and is gaining more confidence every day."
22."I was in an abusive relationship, more psychological than physical, but Thomas gave me the love and courage to leave. He is a rescue and my first pet alone. A lot of work, but tons of love. We've been together for six years. He's my best friend."
23."My Lola Lou, some sort of rat terrier mix from the humane society. She found me in 2012; They figured at that time she was about five. She is my best friend, she is the best little mama with her obsessive licking, aka kisses. She has had a lot of health issues in the past and was abused before we got her. Just like me but in a little dog...
...She loves people though more than dogs, she does not make much noise, she has a really interesting personality. I wish I could keep her forever, as she loves me completely and just wants to be by my side. She makes her nest every night, she snores, farts, winks, and occasionally smiles. She is not a good walker but that's not why I got her. Her tail spins in circles when she runs/trots, and honestly, I just want to give her the best life. She protects me and my family and that is the best you can ask for. ❤️"
24."We got my baby girl Winnie from another family who didn’t want her anymore. She was so long and shaggy and a little bit matted, but now she’s soft and curly and such a delight. She’s the absolute love of my life 💖💖."
25."Friends of ours run a rescue in Canada. During the height of the fires in California in 2020, they were in contact with a shelter there that likely would have to evacuate, and they had made the decision to euthanize many of the dogs. The rescue here drove to California and brought 10 of the dogs back. After almost adopting a different dog (who immediately was adopted to the home of his dreams with children!), we were very lucky to meet Odin. We fell in love immediately. It was a learning curve at first for all of us because he had lived on the streets for most of his life, and he was now living in a house. We have spent the last two years learning from each other, and we couldn’t imagine our lives without him...
...He and I are especially attached and we have 'Mom and Son' dates. Haha. Needing to get him out and about every day had been so helpful for my own mental and physical health as well. More importantly, he’s been great for my partner, who struggles with agoraphobia. We love him so much."
26."Freya was an abandoned mixed breed who came into our lives in the midst of the pandemic. She was only six months old when we found her. DNA analysis revealed her ancestry was 50% Schnauzer and the rest chihuahua/miniature pincher. Great little personality and one of the sharpest dogs I’ve known. The best part is that she’s also one of the most communicative and affectionate dogs I’ve known...and I needed that! Freya was the name she came with. We gave her a second name, Freya Andrea after my son-in-law, Andrew, who found her. She is now our constant companion and ruler of the house."
27."This is Rusty taking a ride with me. He came to my family when my teenage cousin tragically died in a car accident as he waited to turn onto his home street. Rusty couldn’t understand why his boy didn’t come back for him that day. In the weeks after my cousin’s passing, Rusty sat in their empty room and howled in grief. My mom told me of his situation and I knew he needed us as much as we needed him. It has been several years and Rusty is an old man now, but my family tries our best to make his days fun and full of love. He is the smartest dog I’ve ever had the honor of calling a friend, and his watchful and compassionate nature shows a heart and soul who truly cares about us, too...
...He’s a big dog but usually very quiet, communicating with clever “dances” whose meanings we’ve slowly learned to decipher. He barks at loud trucks, and I often wonder if he thinks he is hearing my cousin’s loud engine passing by. I wish I could explain his boy didn’t leave him on purpose. He’s a good boy."
28."We rescued our girl, Peggy Sue, from the Chinese meat market in Jan 2022. She was SKIN AND BONES when we got her. She was literally going to be dinner. She is the best thing that’s happened to us. She makes us laugh and smile every day, and showers us with unconditional love. I’d be lost without her."
29."I bought Porkchop from a friend for my ex boyfriend 13 years ago. He turned out to be an abusive guy and Porky protected me. He saved me more than he will ever realize. He gave me a reason to continue on and to break free. I made sure when I fled, he came with me. When I met my current husband, I told him if Po doesn’t like him, we wouldn’t continue on. Thankfully, we got 5 wonderful years as a family before he passed from cancer. I just hope he knows how much he meant to me and how he quite literally saved my life."
30."This is my dog Bonnie, she belonged to an older coworker of mine who struggled to give her dog exercise and mental stimulation. She needed help cutting her nails cause Bonnie hated it. I offered to help and when I met her, I instantly fell in love. She was 20 pounds of pure energy and potential, mixed in with love and a lot of scruff. I told her owner that if she ever thought of rehoming her, to consider me. A few months passed and she allowed us to take her in for a weekend trial...
...She never left. We visited her old family often to show how well she's doing. She went from a nervous/hyper/unfocussed little dog to a confident/hardworking/motivated and perfectly behaved dog within months. She is exactly what I needed in a dog. Perfect in every way. She learns tricks and commands faster than any dog I've ever met, she's attentive and cuddly. Apparently, she's a schnauzer and beagle cross. She's turning six years old on August 4, and I've had her since March 13, 2020." —elodiedugre16
31."My girls were adopted about a year and a half apart and both have brought so much goodness to my life! Tali (Australian Cattle Dog + Rat Terrier) has taught me to be more patient, which I'm not naturally, because she has all the energy of both breeds, and I'm convinced she has ADHD, too. Tater (brindle Pit girl) teaches me daily about loving completely and without reservation even though I know my time with her will end far too early. She has a severe heart condition and despite having a lot of restrictions and special health needs, she is truly the happiest and most joyful dog I've ever known. Both girls were abused in their past lives and trust me without question and that alone reminds me to be the kind person they see me as every day."
32."We had two senior boy dogs — mine and my husband's — up until last year. I had my big boy from the onset of my adulthood and he was with me through every step of my life. When he hit about 13, we started talking about bringing a little puppy in to help ease the pain of losing him, and also some joy for him and his tiny (also senior) brother in their old age. I knew it would be hard and we would feel the absence, but the grief of losing him hit me like a ton of bricks and all three of us were just really fuckin sad for a few months...
...I started applying at rescues again about two months after he was gone, just to feel some endorphins. We got a call about a puppy who was ready for a new home by the next week, about three months after we lost him. We weren't ready but we knew we would take a long time to be and really just needed some joy and the spark back into our family. We adopted a seven-month-old Mexi mutt and she has been our little ray of sunshine. She's so different from any dog either of us have had, but she has certain qualities our old boy had which brings us so much laughter and delight. Our remaining old boy has a new lease on life, he's lost 2 pounds (as a chihuahua, that's huge), and she forces us to get outside and just enjoy playing. She's our little angel baby and we can't imagine life without her, and we know our old boy would have absolutely loved her (and hated her energy level!)."
33."This is Ruthie B, short for Ruth Barker Ginsburg, aka Ruth the Tooth. I came across her photo on a pet adoption website and fell in love. She is a tiny thief who loves to steal random objects from all around the house and run off with them. She is also very empathetic and knows when I’m feeling down and comes and lays with me to soothe me. She brings constant joy into my life with her smiley little underbite."
