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A Tale of Triumph and Perseverance

Marija M's Story

October Winner

A Tale of Triumph and Perseverance

Bailey is my hero. She is always showing me new ways to overcome hurdles in life. Our journey together began seven years ago in, Germany. For our first adventure we flew back to Denmark on two airplanes. Bailey is my zen girl who with her calm and wise personality has managed to keep me on track through the seven years, she has blessed my life with being by my side. Back then, I told Bailey's breeder I would pursue blood tracking with her if she liked it. Bailey loved it. We trained consistently, and in 2021, our dreams came true as Team Bailey entered the Danish Bloodtracking Championships for dachshunds. I will never forget the pride I felt that day looking at my girl. Our hard work paid off as we ended up winning the title. We were the winners that day, but in my world Bailey is a winner every day. Bailey has undergone IVDD surgery just two months ago and is doing well. Baby steps every day is the way. We dream of entering the Championships again in 2024. I've got Bailey's back, and she's got mine. I love her to bits and can't imagine my life without her by my side. She's my soul dog, my little big sidekick, and for that, I'm forever grateful.

Marija M.

September Winner

Lynn L's Story

From Kibble Mistakes to Raw Feeding Wins

About 16 years ago, I fed kibble, got vaccinations, and did everything my vet told me to do. Both dogs died too young from hemangioma. I knew I was doing something wrong. 14 years ago, I found raw feeding and titers. My rescue golden lived to be 15 and 2 months old! I've used Dr. Dobias' products for all my dogs. Became a Certified Raw Feeding Specialist and help others, always recommending Dr. Dobias' supplements. Now, my papillons, Jazz and Pixie, have benefited and are my agility partners! I get to help others on their journey, which makes me very happy! My dogs are my world!

August Winner

Kenzie M's Story

Everything for a best friend

In December 2021, my dog, Chelsea Ireland, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Since then, I've worked tirelessly to ensure she receives the best care which includes her raw food, a combination of beneficial herbs, and acupuncture treatments. I continue to do whatever I can to give her everything and have the best life. She is the sweetest and best dog ever - without question, Chelsea Ireland is my heart dog. Receiving this would be meaningful to me as being in college I do not have much but want to have my best friend with me for as long as possible.

July Winner

J and Iris Faith's Story

Iris Faith finds a way

I want to share my remarkable 14-year-old Border Terrier's story with you. Iris Faith became my service dog at 14 months of age, then earned her certification as a Search & Recovery K-9. She led a life of service before she became ill at Thanksgiving. She was admitted to Summit Hospital in Tacoma, Washington, in critical condition due to a gallbladder mucocele that went from immature to life-threatening in a month. Her liver was damaged, she suffered from pancreatitis, and her kidneys were a little unhappy. Due to her age (13.5), the critical care team was reluctant to operate. Iris fought hard to change hearts and minds. The next night a surgeon removed the gallbladder, but sepsis led to kidney failure. Iris kept fighting. A critical care specialist sent records and photos of a strong little dog to the BluePearl Renton, only vet hospital that performs dialysis in Washington. Iris was moved there shortly after. I continued to sleep in the hospital to stay close. The odds of survival were low, and several times her dialysis specialist had the hard talk with me about helping Iris cross the rainbow bridge if she didn't show improvement before the next dialysis. Each time Iris rallied to let us know she was not ready to leave the life she loves. Iris was released to a nearby hotel in critical but stable condition. We spent the holidays at the Hilton Inn, just a few minutes from the vet hospital. Iris still required 24-hour care. My sister in Illinois ensured I was awake for tube feedings, fluids, and medications needed every 1-2 hours. Iris had a new Facebook page, and my sister read me the kind words of strangers worldwide who cheered for Iris. Her story also began to save the lives of other dogs suffering from vomiting and elevated liver labs. It made us realize her story could make a real difference. On Christmas Day, we had a visit from one of my medical volunteers. In the course of a one-hour visit, everything changed. The next day it was evident to Iris's kidney specialist that we had a Christmas miracle. The team removed the dialysis catheter and then released Iris on January 2nd. She was too weak to walk into the house, and her neck muscles were not strong enough to hold her head over a bowl. The feeding tube was soon replaced with hand feeding, and several weeks later, Iris's photo was added to the wall of about a dozen dialysis survivors in Washington. We had moved from the survival stage to the recovery stage. I continued to add updates to her Facebook page. In addition to helping families save other cherished dogs, Iris's story inspired children and adults from every corner of the world to fight to survive and recover. We often hear, "If that little dog could do it, so can I." It was hard to believe a dog who took me on a 20-mile hike in the mountains shortly before she fell ill now struggled to get up and walk. Iris's physical therapist is a big Dr. Dobias fan, and she suggested I purchase FeelGood Omega to reduce inflammation and support kidney recovery. Iris has not needed pain medication since she started FeelGood Omega, so I am now a fan. This May we celebrated Iris's 14th birthday. We walked to the Dungeness Lighthouse on a sand spit reaching 5 miles into the Straits of Juan de Fuca. I could not believe she walked most of the way back on our 12-mile journey. Thank you, Dr. Dobias, for the gift of healing. Iris is now in low-stage two chronic kidney disease. The prognosis is for a good to excellent life with regular labs and careful monitoring. I recently started on FeelGood Omega H+. My 94-year-old dad, my sister, and Facebook friends following along on our Iris Faith Butler Facebook page, are also exploring the benefits of your calamari oil. If it helped Iris, it could help us.

March Winner

Amanda D.'s Story

Jem The Diva

Jem is my purebred Maltese. She's the oldest of a litter of five. On Jem's adoption day, my son, mother, and I got lost on our way to the appointment, so we were late. By the time we arrived, another couple had already chosen Jem's sister, leaving Jem alone. I knew she was meant to be mine, and I fell in love with her on the spot. We named her Jem & the Holograms after an '80s cartoon that I used to love. The comic was about a rock band of girls who were colorful and full of glitter, just like Jem. Jem has the personality of a diva goddess and is the most precious and amazing being in my household. I chose a female dog because I never had a daughter, and I needed more female energy around me. Jem has undoubtedly saved my life. Five years ago, my younger brother passed away, and then we experienced a pandemic. As a result, my mental health was declining. But when we got Jem, she restored in me how beautiful unconditional love is. She gave me hope and taught me patience and love. She will be two years old next month, and I'm so blessed every day I get to be with her, wake up with her and take care of her. She is the light within my darkness and has helped me pull myself out of grief like nothing else. I'm very overprotective of her and her health, and that's why I put her on a raw diet and Fab4 since I got her. I've decided to keep her as natural as possible for as long as possible, and she's thriving! Jem loves to collect all her toys, slippers, and socks in the home and hoard them at our back door. She loves the outdoors and going for walks – she's extremely curious and protective. I feel incredibly blessed to have her beautiful soul gracing me daily with her presence. I love her so much and can't imagine my life without her

January Winner

Victoria B.'s Story

Inspired By Selah

Selah, my 10-year-old Cream Standard Poodle, is a dream come true for this mobile groomer.! I wanted a Standard Poodle when I started cleaning cages at the local veterinary clinic in 1984. She inspired the name of my business (Inspiring Selah Mobile Spa), which has kept me busy since 2007. I have learned so much from this beautiful soul! How to be a more compassionate dog handler and all the poodle patterns. She has inspired a desire to find the best natural health solutions, from raw feeding to completing my first year of college in a three-year program to become a homeopath. Selah turns heads everywhere we go. She is outgoing and friendly and patiently poses with new friends when they ask if they can have a picture with her. She has opened the door to meeting so many new people and opportunities for me. Our favourite place to play is the beach on the California Central coast. I get to share a little knowledge about natural dog health when people see her vitality for life.I look forward to many more years with my beautiful girl living a healthy, natural life!

January Winner

Rebecca H.'s Story

Our 'Nash'ional Treasure

We adopted Nash, our first Great Pyrenees, in September of 2018. He was a matted, skinny and skittish stray that was found scrounging around for food behind a grocery store. When I first saw him, he had been cleaned up and was in foster care where he was doing better, but still so skinny. It wouldn't have mattered what shape he was in though, it was love at first sight. We brought Nash home and he struggled a bit to fit in with our other dog. He also had trouble getting used to being in a house and being fenced in. He had aggression issues with other dogs on leash and for a while I had to walk both of our dogs separately. Eventually he put on weight and even learned how to live in a house with a family and a baby. Nash never slept on the bed with us, but rather by the door, very aloof and measured. In April 2019, my husband suddenly passed away. When I hung up the phone after receiving the devastating news, Nash jumped up on the bed and curled up next to me. During that whole night, he laid beside me absorbing all the tears my eyes could cry. Since that night, he's slept on the bed every night, right next to me, offering his back to wipe my tears. He also became a guardian to my toddler, always only a few feet away, tolerating the awkward hugs from a little one. His sensitive side blossomed too, always with an understanding look for me in his big brown eyes, or a paw of reassurance, even springing into full action when I was hurt on our little farm. It's so amazing how much he can sense every emotion and responds without a word. Nash is a treasure and has truly become a best friend through my grief. My son is now three and a half, and we have grown our pack to four big dogs and a fun, furry family of livestock. Nash is still the most wonderful, sensitive guardian and loved deeply by us all.

February Winner

Grace L.'s Story

A New Beginning For Huck

Huckleberry, a Dachshund-mix, joined our family in 2019 at the age of 12 years old. He was an owner-surrender. In addition to being so chubby that he looked like a little football, he came with a host of health issues; kidney disease, hypothyroidism and elevated liver values to name a few. We consulted with our local holistic veterinarian, a TCVM specialist, and started him on a few herbal medicines. All of our dogs are raw fed, so we also switched Huck to raw and started exercising him regularly. I also added GreenMin, SoulFood, FeelGood Omega, and LiverTune to his meals twice daily, just as I do with my other four Dachshunds. Huck was in such poor health that we weren’t sure how long we’d have with him. After 3 months, we repeated his blood work and I was so surprised to see that his liver values were completely normal! I am confident that LiverTune is responsible for this healing. Huck has been with us for 3 years now. We didn’t expect him to be here today judging from his poor health upon joining our family. He lives an active, healthy lifestyle, and loves camping and travels the country with the rest of our pack. Thank you, Dr. Dobias for the gift of extra time with our sweet Huckleberry boy!

March Winner

Katia C.'s Story

Peppa's Plight

One evening, friends of ours returned from dinner to their home in remote Haiku, a village in Maui. As they drove up to the gate of their property, two severely malnourished dogs appeared from the bushes. One of them looked to be near the point of death from starvation and noticeably injured. They guessed that the dogs had strayed in the fields of Haiku, traveled for many miles and spent at least two months scavenging for food, and generally trying to survive. Our friends immediately put the dogs in the truck, took them back to their home and gave them food and water. The next morning, both dogs were taken to the Maui Humane Society. They were treated for dehydration, and emergency care was provided for Peppa, the dog with serious injuries. Peppa had a broken hip, which according to the Humane Society had happened weeks before and was already beginning to heal.Two weeks after arriving at the Humane Society, we received a phone call asking if we could foster Peppa, who needed a quiet place to rest, recover and help her regain weight. All her ribs were exposed under her skin, she had open sores, and she had very limited use of her hind legs. It's been over a month since we brought Peppa into our home, and her recovery has been remarkable. We’ve given her lots of support, proper nutrition and as much love and attention as we can possible provide. Peppa is one of the sweetest, most loving dogs either of us has ever met. In fact, she radiates love and affection to every person and other animal she meets. She is such a joy to be around and so well behaved it’s incredible. Peppa has now regained about 30% of the weight she had lost. She still struggles with her hind legs but she is noticeably stronger. She goes on walks, and can support her own weight slowly climbing up the stairs. Peppa is a fighter, what she must have gone through to survive, to make it to our friends house is nothing less than super “dog” human. She has a long road ahead of her but she gets better and better every day and is truly an inspiration to us. We are so blessed to have her in our lives!

June Winner

Natasha B.'s Story

Schultz's Greater Purpose

Just after Schultz, our 5-year-old German Shepherd joined our family as a small puppy, we found out that Kaiserin, our other Shepherd, had cancer and needed her leg amputated. Kaiserin had surgery and radiation, and even though Schultz was just a little puppy, he would lie calmly next to her after treatments comforting her and keeping her company.Kaiserin lived two wonderful years on three legs and after she passed, Schultz was heartbroken and lost. Kaiserin was a trick dog champion and had learned to paint holding a brush in her mouth. Instead of focusing on grief and loss, we taught Schultz to paint as well! He now sells his artwork on Etsy to raise money for the Tripawds Foundation, an organization that helps amputee pets all over the world. He raised $2,200 last year and is still raising money today. Schultz is a big loveable goofball who always makes us laugh and he has helped our family through a very difficult time. He is always smiling, loves to cuddle and you can see he puts his whole heart and soul into his artwork, like he knows he is doing it for a greater purpose.

November Winner

Laurel R.'s Story

Who's The Best Boss?

Two years ago, just after Thanksgiving, a motorist found Boss collapsed at the side of the road and stopped to pick him up. It was easier then, as he weighed only 40 pounds. Now at his ideal weight, he's 63 pounds. He had a tow chain wrapped around his neck, and his canine teeth had been filed to nubs. But he still wagged his tail and was grateful for the ride - 90 miles through the desert to the closest shelter. That shelter often sent reservation dogs who need special care to our local shelter, where I went to see him. I took Boss to foster because I've had experience feeding starvation cases and he immediately began to thrive, loving my other dog, a long-haired Dachshund mix named Skipper. He even overcame his fear of slick floors to enjoy going places with us. Boss' vision wasn't great. He was estimated to be 9 years old and had incipient senior cataracts, but there was something else. Eventually we got him to an ophthalmologist who diagnosed him with Onchocerca lupi (eye worms) endemic to only a few places in the country, including where he was found. The treatment was fortunately a success and last July his eye exam showed improvement. His fly-bitten ears are also now soft and healthy, and although his eyesight and hearing are not his best senses, he has learned to love nose games. Boss loves being big brother to Skipper and my other little Alzheimer's orphan, Lily. As you can tell, he's a "foster failure" and now an integral member of our family. I feed all my dogs whole, fresh foods and they get SoulFood, GreenMin and FeelGood Omega. He's 11 now, and the two littles are 13, but they are beautiful, healthy and happy dogs. We're all contemporaries, as I am 76! Thank you for making such wonderful products!

December Winner

Stefanie L.'s Story

Bailey The Miracle Dog

Bailey is my beautiful, 15 1/2-year-old Maltipoo and the love of my life. Found abused and malnourished, I was told I could name him whatever I wanted because he didn't know his name. I adopted him on his exact one-year birthday. I know this because he was already microchipped. The shelter had exhausted all avenues. His previous parents did not want him back. He had been dumped like yesterday's trash becoming my greatest gift, pride, and joy. I prayed that Bailey would never see anything bad ever again, but, unfortunately, this was not the case. In 2010, Bay was brutally attacked by a big dog and he needed to have emergency surgery, resulting in 12 staples and hundreds of stitches. On our way to the ER, I was hysterical. Bay was dying and his first instinct was to lick my hand, to let me know he'd be okay. I was told that he had a 5% chance of making it. And he did! This little soul has by far been my greatest teacher. He has struggled his entire life because of the attack. He developed a torn salivary gland when he was five. By age six, he started limping, having neck spasms developed a lipoma on his neck and pelvic bone because they were misaligned during the attack. He was also diagnosed with PTSD related to large dogs. Despite my best efforts, Bay had to have the lipoma in his groin area removed because it had grown to the size of a tangerine and it was obstructing his walking. The surgery was a success and with proper nutrition, supplementation and unconditional love, Bay's salivary gland stopped growing and then began to retract such that surgery was canceled. He also stopped limping because of his supplements. I can't remember the last time he had a neck spasm. Bailey is not just my miracle baby but also my 'soul dog' and emotional support animal. He never left my side when I had cancer and mourned when the light of my life (his great-grandma) passed. There are no accidents in life. Bailey was born for me. He has taught me unconditional love, undying loyalty and true patience. I'm the luckiest girl on the planet

January Winner

Karen C.'s Story

Home For Christmas

Just over a year ago my husband and I adopted our two rescue dogs, Hank and Caddy. They were a bonded pair of two-year-olds that had been in a shelter together for almost a year, and were both close to being euthanized. Hank had just been in the shelter too long, and Caddy had been shot in the side and no one was willing to help save her life. The pair was transferred from Florida to Ontario, Canada to save their lives and hopefully get them adopted. Their stories broke my heart, and the rescue was desperately trying to find them a home together by Christmas. Hank and Caddy have changed my life. They are the most loving, cuddly and funny dogs that have given me more than I could ever give them. Due to my own health issues I have chosen not to have children, so these two are my fur babies and I love them more than anything. They now know they are in their forever home with their forever humans, and I think in the end we rescued each other.

February Winner

Vicky M.'s Story

An Inspiring Lesson About Resiliency

Nakita is a twelve year old brindle boxer that became part of our family three years ago. A colleague contacted me in desperation when her neighbours were moving without their animals… She knew that seniors wait a long time in shelters to get adopted and she couldn't imagine this fate for Nakita whom she had become attached to. When she reached out to us for help we gladly welcomed Nakita into our home. There was no vet history to speak of and Nakita arrived with an open cyst on her back. We were told it had been checked by a vet and that it was ‘nothing to worry about and would eventually heal’. That was untrue unfortunately. Her previous owners were treating this open and oozing cyst with hand sanitizer. Can you imagine? It turned out to be a cancerous tumour which we had removed. Nakita currently uses a wheelchair for her walks. She suffers from neurological issues in her hind end which I believe are partly due to scar tissue from her big operation that pinch the nerves in her back. I suffer with similar pain from a back surgery I had thirty years ago, so the two of us understand each other quite well. We discovered that we are Nakita’s fourth family, so I can only assume that her care in the past or lack thereof, has contributed to her current health condition. Nakita integrated easily into our home and even accepted our cats Rooke and Mickey with all their antics. She has shown us nothing but loyalty, companionship, love, resiliency, happiness, and a desire to power through 2021 regardless of any challenges that may come her way. She is a true inspiration to all of us.

March Winner

Kristel S.'s Story

Little Things Can Make A Big Difference

My life pretty much stopped two years ago after I lost my Doberman to DM (Degenerative Myelopathy.) I was devastated and the grief evolved into a serious depression. I didn’t leave my home for almost a year. It was the first time in my life that I didn’t have a dog, and it was tough. My daughter encouraged me to get another dog, and that’s when Quincy came into my world. He was adorable; ten pounds of naughty in a four pound body! I looked at this cheeky little animal with big brown eyes, and my heart was healed. I started living again. Quincy is a little Boston with a very big life, and my first small dog. I had a lot of preconceived ideas about small dogs, and all of them were wrong. He’s grown up to be a really cool, fun little buddy and we do EVERYTHING together. Losing a dog to DM was horrible, and watching him struggle was worse. Quincy means the world to me, and I want to do everything I can to keep him healthy and sound. He’s little, but he’s my world.

April Winner

Susie Y.'s Story

From Devil To Angel

Our pup Akela comes from a long line of therapy dogs, cancer-detection dogs, show dogs, and service dogs. We didn't know what that meant until we got him - boy did he need a job!! Akela, as it turns out, was a little red-eyed devil who just couldn't settle down unless we were training! He was focused, driven, confident, and a huge handful. Now, three and a half years later, with the help of a wonderful trainer, Akela is super calm, athletic, spirited, happy and he absolutely ADORES every person he sees. He's not only a "leaner" but a serious "in-betweener" lol. He loves to stick his head between people's legs and stays there, even if it's a perfect stranger. People thank us all the time for his affections. He makes people's day. Without formal training, Akela has become my therapy dog. Whenever I get upset, or he thinks I'm upset, he sits in front of me with his big sparkly eyes and insists that I give him 100% of my attention and pet him until I calm down. When Akela was young, our trainer told us that he was a very difficult puppy to raise, but with time our bond would be amazing. She was right. Our life with Akela hasn't been easy, but what incredible journey isn't without its obstacles? I remember Dr. Dobias once asked a question: What would you want for your dog the most? For us, it's happiness over longevity. We will always try our best to give Akela the happiest years he can have, for however long that may be. When his time comes, there will be no regret, only love and an incredible amount of gratitude

May Winner

Lynda H.'s Story

Joy That Money Can't Buy!

How can I explain the comfort of my dog snuggling close to me on a dark night in the middle of a blizzard, or describe my laughter as he runs with his pals in an open field. He takes me into all the stores in town where he is known by name. He gets me out of bed for that early morning hike, and even though I am older, I am always happy to do it! Last winter we snowshoed each afternoon. I'm sure that without Arthur I would never go out as often as we do, rain or shine. He is athletic on hikes, very mellow in the house and really funny. He adores all dogs he meets and loves children. Before Arthur joined me I lost two senior rescue pups who were almost 15 years old within 3 months of each other. I have never experienced grief as I did that winter. Arthur arrived at the right time.. I don’t even want to imagine being without him. I am so thankful to have Arthur, he brings a quality of life and joy to me that money can't buy.

June Winner

Alana G.'s Story

Life Is Better With Kip

Every part of Kip is a nurturer and protector. She was one of those puppies that picked me, and despite being the smallest and seeming to blend in with her all black litter-mates, she stood out amongst them all. Her deep brown eyes were soulful from the start, and everyone who meets her comments on how soft and kind her eyes are. Kip is a 3 year old Labrador Retriever cross Rottweiler, and while she mostly is my adventure buddy for back packing and camping trips, her trainability and sensitivity have led her to become so much more. Living alone up in the mountains with just her and my cat, Milly, I always feel safe and secure. But it isn't just Kip's size and ominous alert bark that help me feel safe living as a single woman. I have epilepsy, and while I don't qualify for or need a service dog because my seizures are technically well controlled with medication, there is the worry that I could still have one and suffer a fall or injury living alone. So I taught Kip to stay with me and actually protect my head should I have a seizure. She is a natural at responding to the event and will crawl underneath my head and stay there. She also turns my lights off for me when I suffer from severe migraines and am unable to do so myself. Kip is such a gentle soul, and I am truly grateful to have her in my life. Even the cat enjoys having Kip around, and they play and cuddle together as if they are the same species. Every adventure is better with Kip in it.

December Winner

Anette T.'s Story

Layaly "Dog Of The Night"

An unusual looking dog was noticed on the streets of Egypt; her head and neck were triple the normal size, to the point that it was hanging low close to the ground as she slowly walked the streets. A rescue was notified, who searched high and low in desperate attempts to find her, capture her and give her much needed attention. She was easy to describe to the people living in her neighbourhood, but finding her was difficult as she seemed to wander the streets at night and hide during the day. The rescuers started searching at night and on the 10th night she was captured and taken to the vet. To commemorate this, they called her Layaly, which in Arabic means 'nights'. At the vet, it was discovered that someone had tied a plastic string around her neck, most likely when she was young, which got tighter and tighter and as she grew, it was cutting off circulation and causing a lot of damage. I like to think that a child who really loved her did it in an attempt to keep her. It brings me comfort thinking it was done out of love and not harm. Unfortunately, the Egyptian doctors were unable to repair the damage to her neck, thus they started searching for a rescue abroad in Canada or Europe that would take her on. After watching her short documentary over and over again, wondering how much the treatment might cost and if I could gather up enough support from the loyal followers of my small rescue, I decided that this dog would get the best of the best in my care, so I volunteered, and Layaly flew to Canada in July of 2019.She was accompanied by a filmmaker who had been documenting the Egyptian rescue’s work, including Layaly’s ‘happy ending’ in Canada. They hoped to create a full-length documentary that would bring awareness to the lives of millions of Baladi Street Dogs in Egypt. But Layaly’s ’happy ending' was not quite ready to happen. I found a caring and capable foster home close to where I lived, so I could visit Layaly daily and help with vet visits and anything she might need. Tragically, Layaly escaped from the foster home 3 days after she arrived in Canada. I can not even begin to describe the range of emotions I felt when Layaly went missing. I managed to put my big girl pants on and left no stone unturned in my attempts to find her. I was a guest on many local radio shows pleading for locals' support in finding Layaly. I was in newspapers, on social media and even the 6 o'clock news on TV. I cried, sobbed and screamed. Together with my husband and Soly (the documentary producer), we drove many long days and nights looking for her. Soon after my appearances, people started reporting sightings. Layaly was mostly seen walking on a shoulder of a busy highway, with cars zooming right by her at over 100 kms per hour. And again, she was mostly seen at night. So, together with a large number of complete strangers that have since become good friends, we started driving around at night. And there she was, right on the highway; walking, stopping, looking around, as if she wanted to find her way back to the shelter she came from. Not ideal, but the safest and kindest place in her life thus far. Seeing her like that just broke me in half and shattered my heart into a million pieces. They all watched tensely, many surely dreading the worst call of all: Layaly was hit by a car. We drove around for 10 nights, starting around 9 pm, going home between 3, 4 or 5 am, only to be awoken by people calling with sightings of my Layaly walking the highway again. So we would get up, I would post an update on social media, and off we went again to drive around. We saw her most days and nights, but Layaly was so scared, she didn't want to come near anyone as she didn't really know any of us. Her Egyptian rescue mom even offered to fly to Canada as she was the only human Layaly knew and trusted. Seeing Layaly, we could all see how much more infected her neck was getting and how much weight she was losing. The live trappers had finally set up a very large kennel-like trap operated by cameras and laser beams and on the tenth night, we drove up to change the 'bait' in the kennel and there she was: in the kennel, sitting and looking at us. The emotions we all felt were beyond description, and Layaly seemed to be happy and relieved as well. It took 4 surgeries to repair her damaged neck. The veterinarian later told me that there was a time he wasn't sure if she was going to make it, that's how infected it was.But she did make it. She took it all like the trooper that she is. In the midst of all the prodding and poking, all the surgeries, my Layaly didn't growl, show teeth or exhibit any signs of aggression. She took it all like the Champ. I love her so much. We never intended to adopt Layaly. The intention was that my rescue would bring her here, give her medical attention and find her a loving, forever home. Again, make plans and God laughs, right? After Layaly was captured needless to say she stayed in our home with my husband and I and our five other rescue dogs. Here, she met another Egyptian Baladi named Peaches, whom we brought from Egypt a few months earlier and decided to keep. The girls fell absolutely head over heels in love with one another as if they knew they both came from the same place. That bonded them more than any other two dogs I have ever seen. They became like two peas in a pod: playing and sleeping together. When you call one, they both come. How could we ever separate them and deny them the deep love that they felt for one another? So here we are, over 2 years later. We are all insanely in love with our Layaly. When she looks at me her entire face softens, her ears go back, she gets this sparkle in her eye and runs up to me, plops over and asks for belly rubs. My Layaly is my rock, and my inspiration. If someone, with a past such as hers, filled with so much struggle, pain, loneliness and uncertainty can still land on her four paws and be healthy, happy and completely content with life, there is hope for all of us no matter the circumstances or struggles we face presently. My Layaly reminds me that all things come to an end; the hardships, pain, suffering, and that the sun is always shining. She is loyal, protective and fierce, but also friendly. She is an amazing listener, the best play partner for Peachie and the sweetest Egyptian Girl for her momma. My Layaly - we all are head over heels in love with her. Is she a special dog? You bet!

January Winner

Jill C.'s Story

Cookie Therapy

My dog Cookie came into my life when I was just about ready to give up. I was an avid cyclist and hiker, but Lyme disease, arthritis and stress took a toll on my mind and body to a point that I didn't want to get out of bed. Then I found and rescued Cookie, and she changed my life. I started cooking for her using only organic veggies and free-range grass-fed meats and it made me eat healthy too! I started to exercise every day because Cookie needs her walks and I have learned to cope better because I know that stress and anxiety affect her adversely. Cookie is now a certified therapy dog and we pay regular visits to two senior centres and a medical assisted living facility. We also visit the men and women who help to keep us safe at local police stations to help them de-stress. I am so blessed to have such an incredible dog, who helps me spread the love and makes me feel so much better, both mentally and physically.

February Winner

Rhonda & Stan T.'s Story

Love at First Sight

My husband and I received a call from our local veterinary office about Iris, a special needs dog with epilepsy. She needed a home because her elderly owner had passed away. We were still grieving the recent loss of our dog Snoopy and we thought we needed more time. But during a meet and greet with Iris, I saw something in those dark brown Dalmatian eyes - I knew she needed me and I her. The vet team told us that she had many health issues and a lot of time and money would need to be invested. But we knew we were up for the challenge and were excited to try holistic care to help her. Well, they were right! At the beginning, we were at the vet a few times a month, seizures, allergies, plugged anal glands, ear infections, you name it. We were exhausted. We cleaned up her diet by switching to raw and found a holistic vet to help us. Iris has now been part of our family for a year and a half and has been seizure free for 7 months! So incredible! Iris has been through so much. I’m sure she thinks that we saved her, but I know she saved us.

December Winner

Irene. B's Story

A 'Desi Dog's' Second Chance

Chilgoza (Chilli) first found us on PetFinder. His beautiful foxy face and piercing eyes stared right into ours and let us know that he was meant to be part of our family. He came to us from India, a street 'Desi dog' with a horrible life experience that we will never fully understand. What we do know is that he survived distemper as a pup (and still has the muscle ticks to prove it), lived on the streets, was attacked at about two-years-of-age by other dogs and was left wandering with his back legs dragging and his tail broken and hanging by a thread. He survived on the streets injured like this for a week, cowering in an alley and unable to walk, until he was found by his wonderful rescuers. They amputated his tail, cleaned up the maggots that infested the massive wound, and rehabilitated him over the next year to teach him to walk again. As a more mature dog (almost three by the time he arrived here) and with back leg issues related to his injury, Chilli was not as adoptable as younger healthier dogs. But when we saw him we knew he was meant to be part of our family. Chilli travelled from Delhi to Amsterdam, and then on to Los Angeles where he stayed overnight. He then continued his journey the next day to Seattle, and finally to Vancouver. After a long wait in cargo at the airport as the paperwork was settled, he was finally home! Over the past year that we have welcomed Chilli into our home, he converted (immediately and very happily) from being vegetarian to a raw-fed dog, and he received the Fab4 Essentials from Dr. Dobias. With good food, the Essential supplements and a lot of exercise, he now walks, jumps, runs, and plays like the happiest dog he always wanted to be. This past year, he has made so much progress, both physically and emotionally, and he continues to improve every week. Chilli loves fetch in the yard, long walks with great sniffing time, running and chasing, couch cuddles, balls (of any kind), stuffy toys, full body hugs, and great food. When Chilli first landed here, we lived in a hectic, touristy part of town and it was too much for him. To help him, we uprooted our lives and moved to a duplex in Richmond with a yard, and there he has blossomed. Our need to help him also helped us, as we love living in a quieter neighbourhood away from the hustle and bustle of inner city life. Chilli has changed us for the better and we are grateful to him every day. He has been the best COVID partner to me, as I work from home, and there is nothing more beautiful than to see him so happy and living his best life - ever. Grateful for this little Desi dog who never had a chance.

Traci S.'s Story

Love Undisputed

‘Share with us how much your dog means to you’. As I sit here and ponder this question, my 15 year-old lab-mix Reagan (my Skai) is curled up beside me. I shed a tear as I reflect on our journey and time together, knowing that sometime soon, a piece of my soul will cross the rainbow bridge with him. My vet commented last week that he has rarely seen a dog so "in love" with his human. The feeling is mutual! Reagan has always looked directly into my eyes (soul) and tried to communicate with me. ‘What do you need from me’? ‘What do you want from me’? I try to do the same for him. He has really taught me that human and animal relationships are unique. My dad always said that animals don't have souls...it crushed me as a child and I told him that he was wrong. I reflect on all the hikes, walks, swims, camping trips, cuddles, talks, and even the mishaps that led to the vet. Reagan has always trusted me to care for him. His complete faith to walk beside me all the way through his life has taught me so much; love exists everywhere, each day is a new day, take nothing for granted, see and smell everything, trust your instincts, always eat the good stuff first, find your real friend and hold them close, no matter what is going on around you, find your ground and focus on that. Reagan is that ground for me and I for him. It is love, undisputed.