Reader Rescue Stories: Sasha and Chucha

This week’s rescue stories are about two dogs full of love to give, but were searching for their furever homes. Luckily, they found them. We hope you enjoy reading their stories as much as we did.

If you are the pet parent of a rescued dog, we want to share your story, too! For information about submitting your story, click here.

A Sweet Mama with a Rough Beginning Finds Love
By Julia Saltanovich

I recently bought a house and my friend, John, was helping me do some work on it. Our conversations eventually came to the topic of dogs and I said how I couldn’t wait to get another pup someday. He brought to my attention a Lab-Whippet puppy named Sasha that his family had adopted from a kill shelter in New York City.

She had been a stray in the city, had broken her leg at some point (which healed on its own) and had had puppies, all before her first birthday! When they adopted her, she was full of energy and in heat. His family’s female dog did not like the hormonal and playful pooch; she would take her rough housing as a threat and attack Sasha.

It got so bad that they could not be out of their crates or in the same room at the same time without a fight. I offered to take Sasha until we could find a loving home for her.

During our search for a furever home, my girlfriend and I feel in love with her. She was adorable, smart and most importantly, safe and happy. Her adoption became unofficially official when I took her to the pet store, saw dog tags in the checkout line and got her one!

She eats fresh eggs with her breakfast, gets a bath once a week and sleeps in our bed curled up at our feet. She loves to cuddle on the couch and I get jealous if I’m not the lap she chooses to rest her head on.

Sasha has her own fenced-in backyard and bedroom, and now that the weather is better, I am training her to be my trail buddy when I mountain bike.

She has gained weight and learned some commands including Come, Sit and Stay. Basically, she’s now living the life of a princess. To imagine this amazing dog was wandering the streets with a broken leg, pregnant and ultimately facing a death sentence baffles me. The fact that she is the friendliest, happiest dog I’ve ever seen is an inspiration to me. I tell her story to whoever will listen.

We could not imagine our lives without her. I never considered adopting a stray but it makes me love her that much more knowing she’s now safe and happy, because of our love.

An Unwanted Visitor Turns Into a Permanent Resident
By Gabriel Cantu

Chucha showed up at my house one day and was very dirty, like a mop after a full day of cleaning the house.

She had very long hair and was full of fleas. At first, I told her to go away, but she wouldn’t leave. After doing this for two or three days, my friend, Teresa, came over and the first thing she said to me was, “Do you see the way she looks at you? It’s like a little girl hungry for love.”

After she pointed that out to me, I really began to see this dog in a new light and realized that she showed up in my time of need. I had just gone through a recent separation that left me feeling very sad.

So I took Chucha out into the backyard and gave her a bath and a haircut. I’m not a dog groomer, so the haircut looked pretty ugly, but I didn’t care and neither did she.

I got her into the car and we went to the vet for vaccinations and a deeper cleaning.

Since then, Chucha is always next to me. Eight years have passed since that day and she continues to bring me unconditional love, company and honest friendship.

Days, friends, places – all come and go, but she remains faithful to me.

I didn’t know Chucha’s age, or her past. All I know is that she is mine and I am hers. Chucha was my first pet and I’m grateful for that.

PHOTOS: Julia Saltanovich and Kantu

i Love Dogs, Inc.

i Love Dogs, Inc.’s three websites – ilovedogs.com, ilovedogfriendly.com and findavet.us – provide information and up-to-the-minute news to keep pet parents aware of all things dog. A premium canine vitamins and lifestyle company, i Love Dogs is famous for its line of diamond dog collars. The name says it all — at i Love Dogs, we are committed to the health and happiness of our canine companions.