You: A Rehoming Story. Toledo Pet Photography. Sylvania Photo Studio.

Written by Jessica Henton.

You.

It wasn’t long from the first day that I opened my doe-like eyes and stretched my newfound legs that I learned what the word love felt like.

Love, came in the form of my birth mother licking me clean each day while she fed my brothers and sisters. When she’d let us romp around, tripping and falling over her or chasing her in the yard. From Her Caretaker each time she’d pat her gently and tell her two simple words the made her docked ‘nubbin’ of a tail wag with pure joy.

Then there was the day that You came for me. You plucked me from the ground and I licked your nose making you smile from ear to ear. It was puppy love at first sight and we set out on a brand new adventure together. Over the next five years, our pack grew but so did underlying issues.

I watched from the sidelines as the two humans I loved struggled in things I didn’t understand. Eventually, it led to us moving, but at least I still had you and my pack-mates. No Longer having your mate around saddened you, but I was ok with filling the role of The Alpha Male of the house and I took pride in my role as I lorded over the smaller dogs.

You began to leave more often and came home stressed but I awaited with the medicine of kisses and snuggles. When you’d cried I licked your tears and poked you with my nose until you chuckled and pet me till you would fell asleep.

Time moved on, and we fell into a new routine.

Then one day the sadness was gone from your eyes. You were happier. Now you were working more or staying out longer. I wasn’t sure.

Someone new was coming around. I enjoyed his company. Until I didn’t. He became a permanence in our life and The Alpha Male role was handed to him. He’d taken my spot.

I started to rebel. Act out on my training, especially around him. I marked my scent on his things to re-establish the pack hierarchy. But it didn’t work. Only got me in trouble. The longer you were gone the more I acted out and tension and discord grew.

So, I was excited the day visitors came just to see me, ‘a Little Girl’, her ‘Father’ and her ‘Mother’. I bounced and jumped and showed off. I’m sure they liked it because they were all smiles. We visited them a few days later but I wasn’t sure why you had packed my things. You escorted me from the car and took me inside where the family and their two dogs welcomed me in. I played for a bit with the little girl while you conversed with the familiar family, then watched confused as you kissed me, stopped at the door, and smiled. But it felt a little sad, not like all the other smiles that you had given me before.

I ran to watch you leave, but The Mother only let me for a few seconds before she closed the door and sat before me on her shins. She reached out and softly pet my cheek and somehow, I knew everything was going to be alright. I lay down before her and placed my head in her lap then gazed up at her as she smiled down at me. Words that I didn’t understand came from her lips but the tone was comforting.

I always knew what love felt like. But I know what love means now.

Love is snuggling between my Little Girl and a giant stuffed big red dog in her bedroom to keep away the monsters at night.

It’s accepting free grooms from a senior house cat named Monster and challenging my two packmates two wind sprint races in the yard.

Love is warming the heart of The Father who wanted to take a break from animals enough to be caught napping and cuddling with me regularly.

And her, The Mother who took me in and kept me from a shelter, the new You. She is my world. Now, she holds me up when I’m down. Kisses to me when I’m sad. Nurtures me to feel like I belong. In return, I’m her protector. Her best friend. I’m right where I belong. I’m home, and it’s all because of You.

Dogs are a huge responsibility, and each breed comes with its own sets of breed positive and negative traits. While proper research can keep you knowledgeable, unforeseen life changes can leave you in a bad way. Rehoming a dog is never something any owner plans for their furbaby, but it, unfortunately, happens all too often. Taking the proper steps to find a suitable rehome or a shelter that can foster and care for your companion takes a lot of courage, but it may be what’s best for your pet. If you feel like your home is no longer the best environment for your companion to thrive, finding them a happy place should always be at the top of your list.

doberman photography-21.jpg — Jessica & Khaine

When I’m not home spending time with my family and my dog pack binge-watching TV in bed, you can generally find me hiding behind words in my novice writings or in the fantasy worlds of the video games I play. But mostly my time is spent at work as a dog groomer at Pampered Paws. There I get to pamper the pooches that spend their days loving on their owners, as well as advancing my craft and knowledge in dog behavior.

REBECCA TRUMBULL IS A FAMILY AND PET PHOTOGRAPHER LOCATED IN TOLEDO, OHIO. SHE HAPPILY SERVES TOLEDO, OHIO AND ALL OF NORTHWEST OHIO WITH HER PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY AND COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORK.

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