About a year ago, a freedom ride changed my life forever. For those who don't know, a freedom ride is when a foster for a rescue takes a pup out of the shelter and into the rescue organization. At this time I was volunteering for a local rescue organization by fostering dogs until we found them a "forever home" (until they get adopted).
When we walked into the shelter all my fiance and I knew was the dog was white and looked like a husky. Little did we know we would fall in love.
After we got home, I quickly realized my life would be forever changed when I came across this scene. Pardon our pups worried reaction, Kira quickly made herself at home.
Within days we realized we were her "forever home" and quickly adopted her. I soon found a love that I had never experienced. A love that was unconditional. A dog's love is the most wholesome love.
There is excitement in always knowing there is an excited face for you when you get home. There is so much joy in looking forward to tons of puppy kisses. There's nothing like the hope that you can give her the best life that she could ever dream of.
I wonder why I can't love myself as she loves me. I have always struggled with self-image and self-worth all my life. I never feel that I am enough, but to her, I am more than enough. I look in the mirror and see a broken individual, yet she sees me as love, cuddles, and kisses.
My rescue dog became the companion I never knew I needed. Through my emotional ups and downs, she has been there. Through the late nights, the breakdowns and putting myself together again, she has been there. I always felt something was missing, but never thought the missing piece would be an amazing dog.
Through her eyes, I began to see myself through a different light. Loving yourself is hard. People obsess over imperfections that honestly don't matter. We focus on our flaws and everything that goes wrong.
My dog never points our my imperfections. She never blames me for my mistakes. We share a mutual love of support and fun. My life was forever changed when she walked into my life.
I hope that anyone reading this considers adopting a dog someday. Mine was the emotional support system I never knew I needed. There are so many amazing dogs waiting at shelters across the country to find their "forever home".
If you do decide to make a dog family, make sure you know what it entails. Consider the costs, the time commitment, and the reality that you will have a friend for many years. If you are ready please reach out to one of your local rescue organizations. You may end up with a forever friend.
