I told her to keep her eyes on the road while she was driving, she didn’t care.

September 1^st, 2012. A day that would change my life forever.

I always wanted a dog. We had a black lab that was a “family dog” growing up, she was awesome, but that was really my parents dog. She passed while I was away in college. My parents bought my sister a dog as a high school graduation gift. It was hers. I was a bit jealous, I didnt get a dog when I graduated high school. But I was in college, what was I going to do with a dog.

Fast forward a few years to the end of 2011. I had been out on my own for a few years, almost got myself a dog a couple of times, but I was in an apartment. Breed restrictions, weight restrictions, and exorbitant fees made me think otherwise. I was 24, had saved up some money, and decided to buy my own house. April of 2012 that became a reality. Within a week I had a deposit on a pure bred Husky. 7 hours away, they had a waiting list, it was first come first serve. If they called you, you had to come get the dog within 72 hours or lose your place. If they called you, you got what you got, there was no choosing; you want a male? Too bad we got a female for you. You like the fur pattern on that one? Too bad this is the one you get. Either that or you go back to the bottom of the list.

My mother talked me off the ledge of that one. Along with my friend Kate, who did a lot of fostering. She nearly talked me into fostering. I was so close to finalizing the paperwork on becoming a foster. Then I realized that I would very likely fall in love with the first dog I foster, so why not just adopt.

I spent months on every shelter within a two hours drive looking for a Husky. But every time one popped up it was gone just a quickly. Frustrated, I waffled back and forth on fostering until I found a Husky to call my own. Having spent much time on shelters web sites I had also noticed a large number of older dogs who just dont get adopted. The night of August 31^st, 2012, I spent the night searching shelters once again for Huskys to no avail. I noticed a dog whos picture I had seen repeatedly for all those months I had been searching. Sadly, I dont recall his name. He was a Black Lab / ACD mix. I remember him because he had the saddest eyes. He was 9 when his family left him at a shelter because they couldn't take him with them. I decided I was going to give him a new lease on life.

The next morning I was up before the sun. I couldn't sleep, I was too excited. Today was the day. Finally. My own dog. I made coffee, ate breakfast, paced, and finally, at 7 am, I couldn't take it anymore, I left and drove to the shelter, not even thinking about the fact that they didn't open until 9am.

I pulled into the parking lot, vacant, except for the constant sound of barks and meows. Sat in my truck counting the seconds, waiting for someone to show up. Waiting to meet my new best friend.

Finally, the doors opened.

I told them who I was here to see. They told me they had a large play area, invited me to wait in the room while they brought him so that we could get acquainted. Impatiently, I sat on a picnic bench they had in the room. Finally, he showed up. They walked him in and let him off the leash, the shelter person stayed in the room, just in case. I sat there at first, tried calling him, he looked at me, kind of nervously wandered around the room, side eyeing me. Eventually I went to the middle of the room and just sat on the floor hoping he would be more comfortable, but any time I got close he would dart away as far as possible. The sadness evident on his face, and his actions told me that all he wanted was his family back.

I spent a good 15 minutes in that room, trying to do anything to even get within 5 ft of him. Squeaky toys, treats, everything. If I got too close he let me know with a grumble, not aggressively, just “Im not interested”. I let the attendant put him back in his crate.

Disappointment. Sorrow. Confusion.

I wanted to give him a better home so badly. But he seemed so disinterested. What to do? I had come prepared with backup plans (more so in case he had been adopted already. The thought had never occurred of 'what if we cant get along'). One of the backups, a 5 year old lab, had been adopted the day prior. The other backup, Shelby, was a 7 year old German Sheppard.

Back then the rescue allowed you to walk around the cages freely. I asked if they could point me in the direction of Shelby, they obliged. I walked to her cage, before I was within 2 ft she was aggressively barking and biting at the bars of the cage. All set there. But now what. That's a no go on my backups, and my primary, while not aggressive, but extremely distant. What if I take him home and he wants nothing to do with me? Ever. What if he becomes aggressive after making yet another living arrangement move? What if? What if? What if? I wondered the hallways while pondering. All while seeing if maybe I missed someone on the website.

I passed her cage 2 or 3 times before I noticed.

In a sea of barking, jumping dogs, every time I walked by, she got up, casually, walked to the front of her cage, waged her tail, and simply watched me. No barking, no running, no jumping. Just.... Hello.

Her name was Gladys. An 18 month old Australian Cattle Dog, whose mother was abandoned at a different shelter when she got pregnant. Her and her litter were born in that shelter. And her, and those of her litter who hadn't been adopted were slated to be put down. But the ASPCA stepped in and saved them, and brought them to the no-kill shelter I, and she, were at. She had been with them near 5 months. Never owned, no one ever tried adopting her. 18 months old and all she ever knew was a cage.

I asked one of the employees if I could see her out of the cage. They asked if I wanted to go back to the room again. I said “No, I just want to see how she reacts without the bars there. As they opened the cage and put her on a leach I put my back against a nearby wall and knelt down. Pulling on the leash as she made her way to me, she approached me from the left, used her head to push my elbow out of the way, crawled onto my left leg, and buried her head into my chest.

I, a grown ass man of 24, broke down in tears, as I barely muttered out “You're coming home with me”.

I filled out the paperwork, paid my dues, and anxiously waited for them to bring her to me. My dog.

I got her in the truck, and she rode the 30 minutes home sitting in the middle of the bench seat with her head on my lap. She knew she going to her forever home.

We pulled in the driveway, I opened my truck door, got out, turned around to get her out, and before I had even turned halfway around I felt her fur brush past me as she jumped out and took off sprinting like a greyhound after a rabbit. It was a warm, 97 degree day, I was wearing sandals. As I ran after her my fear was, of course, 'oh my god, I just rescued this poor sweet dog who knows nothing of the world and shes going to run through a street and get hit by a car and they're never going to let me get another dog again'. As the sandals broke free of my my feet a second thought occurred; 'oww, oww, oww'.

I chased her trough yards, up streets, down other streets, through other yards, constantly yelling “Gladys”, and finally, cornered her in a neighbors enclosed entryway. Picked her up, held her tight, and took her home where she could rest on the cool tile floor, air conditioner, drink the fresh water, and run free in my totally fully fenced in back yard. The blisters were so worth it.

It was about this point I realized I didnt like the name Gladys, and neither did she, as she just didnt respond to it at all. Once we got things settled, I sat on the floor, she was laying on the chaise lounge of my couch, head in between her paws, face to face and told her we needed to find a new name for her. We sat there and tried a few names out. I didnt like them much, and neither did she. Then it hit me. My favorite motorcycle, the Triumph Bonneville. Bonnie. As the sound left my lips her head perked up. I said it again. She tilted her head. Again, “Bonnie”. She jumped off the couch. “Is that you? Are you Bonnie?” She was.

Bonnie spent 13 years, 11 months, and 7 days by my side. Perpetually.

Together we lived in 5 different states, traveled through 34 different states, hiked 12,000 ft mountains, visited the lowest point in North America, saw the ocean (in sever different places), and several lakes, but never swam in them (because she didnt like the water, be it a bath, the pool, pond, lake, or ocean). We met lots and lots of people together (and I still have people who met her just once during our travels talking fondly of her), and all sorts of animals, from cows to goats, deer and ducks, and even a few Bison.

She loved to go for hikes, walks, or runs. She always enjoyed a nice yard to get the zoomies out, and tug of war was our favorite game to play, although I had the advantage, since everywhere we lived had hardwood or tile floors, and I weighed more... I would still let her win though, most of the time.

She equally loved quiet nights on the couch, and could regularly be found resting against one of my legs.

Bonnie left this rock on August 7^th 2026. She went peacefully and of her own accord after a lengthy battle with kidney disease. She was 15 years, 9 months old.

Never has anyone had such a profound impact on my life like she did. She taught me so much through the years. My best friend. I miss you so much BG.

If you made it this far, thank you for reading my Bonnie Girls story. Hug your dogs, enjoy every second you get with them, because no matter what, its never enough time. Happy 14th Gotchya day Bonnie.

I rescued the golden scruffy dog 4 months ago (found him as a stray) and I’m not gonna lie, first month was hell. He world bark and react at anything, and squabbled a lot with my senior dog (white one). He even showed some stalking tendencies towards him and growled at very random moments at him. It was just so stressful and I was so afraid for my dog and at a loss of what to do (there are no shelters in my city that could take him in). Fast forward a couple of months and these boys are buddies, sleep together, eat together, shadow each other while waking leash-free in the dog park and around the house, and generally keep tabs on each other at all times. He’s helped my older dog’s lifelong separation anxiety and does so well now on walks.

This is for anyone that is currently experiencing anxiety after getting a new dog: it can get so much better and probably will! I did put in a lot of work, but I’m just so happy at how much it’s paid off.

Hello!
This is Mr Pocket. He’s a crazy dog (GSD and husky) and loves to be outside whether it’s being chased or hiking or swimming! Just wanted to show him

Our puppy’s look has changed so much. He’s only 12 weeks, I wonder how much more he will change. Anyone else have this happen?

FYI- he is a husky mixed with a whole bunch of things. Husky/yorkie/ poodle/ chihuahua/ pug

We rescued her from a kill shelter. Shes a sweet heart!

So my boy always watches for when I put on a certain coat, the one with the poo bags and treats in. And he immediately knows what's going down before I even mention the word walkies, sometimes he even knows just because I've walked towards the cupboard it's in....... Curious on what signs your doggos look for before a walk ?? 🙂 🐕

She was perfect. She made it to 14. Someone begged me to take her as a 6 week old puppy because their mother was going to take all of the puppies in that litter to the pound. I didn't plan for her, but she ended up being one of the most important fixtures of my life during my 20s and early 30s. I miss her so much. Yesterday I didn't mourn her loss, I celebrated her life as she would have wanted by treating my current dogs to a great day at the park, and a yummy meal of chicken and rice.

My dog has not being doing well with certain foods and we can’t really figure out why. The Vet has cited allergies as a possibility. They have recommended Purina Pro and Hill’s many times and I recently saw Hill’s is selling a single protein elimination food that’s refrigerated. Has anyone used it?

Biggie, Lucy & Leo

They are good at being ridiculously cute though

long story short i was looking for an emotional support dog and ideally a much older dog. I adopted my boy about 2 weeks ago and shelter said he was 4 years old, but after seeing his behavior and the Vet confirming, he is indeed only 1 year old and a puppy still. I'm a depressed college student and honestly don't know if I have the time to train and get my very young dog to socialize and training classes. I feel like a complete ass and hypocrite to even think about returning him but my boy deserves a more attentive home. I don't know if he will get that from a lonely depressed college student? It’s also my first time owning a dog ever :(

Not my photos

This giant gentleman decided to enter our warehouse and just chill with us 😆

My sons don’t usually snug. But after a trip to the park they were pooped. Wilfred is on top, Danhausen is the sentient mop.