Chewie is not this boys original name, he was a stray, before he was known as a number, before he was saved by the Right to Live rescue and was given a name: Chewie. The Right to Live rescued this boy cos they knew he deserved a second chance, a chance at a life he never knew, and I, Amanda, daughter of the founder wanted to adopt him. Chewie left the shelter and went to stay at a boarding facility, this was not just any boarding facility - this was a boarder who worked with the Right to Live Rescue and helped secure a safe haven for the previously unwanted dogs. Chewie stayed with her for approx. a month and a half, and during that time I was sent pictures and given regular updates, while Geraldine (my Mum) went to work finding a way to bring him to Canada. When she sets her mind on something she always makes it happen, and after a few hiccups the plan was set.
Chewie travelled from San Antonio, Texas to Washington State, from Washington State to Coquitlam, BC, Canada, from Coquitlam to Revelstoke, BC, Canada, from Revelstoke to Chestermere, AB, Canada. I drove 6 + hours to pick up my boy in Chestermere and I took Chewie into Calgary, AB, Canada and then to Moose Jaw, SK, Canada. For those that don't know, that is approx. a week of travelling for this boy. A 4000 mile/6500 km journey.
Chewie has now been with us for a week. He joined our family of 2 other dogs, 1 cat, my husband, 2 teenage daughters and myself. He arrived home at 5 pm and at 1.30 pm the next day I had him in a dog training class.
This beautiful boy is amazing. When he arrived you could just tell that though he is only about 11 months old, he has a calmness about him that you just cannot put into words. He is a wonderful, kind, calm, gentle and sweet boy. He immediately got along great with my 2 other dogs and though the cat was fearful of him initially, he was gentle and kind with her. My daughters loved him the moment they set eyes on him. My husband (who was dead against getting a third dog) has also become a huge Chewie fan. Me? I am literally besotted with him. Everyone who meets him cannot help but comment on his "calm demeanour" his "super calm" ways, his "gentleness"...
In that short week he has learnt to ring the bells on our back door to alert us that he needs to go out. I would love to say I taught him this but I didn't. One of our other dogs knows to do this and Chewie picked up on it. From knowing no commands and not even his name, he has mastered "sit, down, stay, heel, paw..." all with distractions of other dogs, and his "down" while I am also skipping around him and being excitable.
It appears he loves kids too, while on a visit to a local pet supply store he met a number of small kids and this boy just lit up with his tail wagging - is he actually perfect?? This morning, I was watching him in our yard and watched as he disappeared through our gate which was open. Panicked I went running outside (in my PJ's and slippers, with approx. a foot of snow on the ground) and called him and he came right back through all casual like it was no big deal (my heart certainly got a workout!). This dog, this amazing soul who has been with us for 1 week, listened when I called him and came back to me. This gentle giant, this loving and calm boy, this smart and kind sweet puppy (in a rather large body) behaved like a dog far beyond his age and his wisdom. He may just be perfect.
He cannot be the only one! Of course all of my boys (my dogs) are the most amazing of all dogs, and I know everyone feels the same about their dogs (and they are right) The thing is, this boy was a stray, he knew nothing of us humans, or how he could be loved and cared for (and lusted over - as my husband has accused me of). He came and he trusted me/us, he opened his heart up as did we and he let himself be vulnerable. He didn't know if we would love him and care for him but he wanted to love and care for us - and he is. Writing this I was worried I could not convey in words just how amazing this beautiful soul is and how absolutely loved he is, and I am still not sure I can or did do him justice. I guess you have to trust me that he is an amazing and wonderful and much loved boy.
But, what if all the dogs sat in shelters, awaiting their homes or awaiting their death are like him? What an abhorrent thing to imagine - or rather, know. That "mutt" that you don't take a chance on - he/she might just change your life. That "just another stray dog" might be just what you need to complete your life. That "dead dog walking" could be Chewie. He or she could be the most amazing and gentle soul you could ever meet, they could be the one that shows you just how big a dogs heart is, how much they want to make you happy, how much they deserve ANOTHER chance, at life, a new life, a future that you can mould for them. Don't think of a dog as "second hand, used up, broken, problematic, dangerous". Give them the chance to show you they are deserving of love and willing to give love, that they want to make you happy and they just want to love you and be loved.
Chewie is now an ambassador for The Right to Live rescue. He wants to help all the other "just a dog"s find their forever home.
"Rescue does not mean damaged - it means they have been let down by humans"
Chewie travelled from San Antonio, Texas to Washington State, from Washington State to Coquitlam, BC, Canada, from Coquitlam to Revelstoke, BC, Canada, from Revelstoke to Chestermere, AB, Canada. I drove 6 + hours to pick up my boy in Chestermere and I took Chewie into Calgary, AB, Canada and then to Moose Jaw, SK, Canada. For those that don't know, that is approx. a week of travelling for this boy. A 4000 mile/6500 km journey.
Chewie has now been with us for a week. He joined our family of 2 other dogs, 1 cat, my husband, 2 teenage daughters and myself. He arrived home at 5 pm and at 1.30 pm the next day I had him in a dog training class.
This beautiful boy is amazing. When he arrived you could just tell that though he is only about 11 months old, he has a calmness about him that you just cannot put into words. He is a wonderful, kind, calm, gentle and sweet boy. He immediately got along great with my 2 other dogs and though the cat was fearful of him initially, he was gentle and kind with her. My daughters loved him the moment they set eyes on him. My husband (who was dead against getting a third dog) has also become a huge Chewie fan. Me? I am literally besotted with him. Everyone who meets him cannot help but comment on his "calm demeanour" his "super calm" ways, his "gentleness"...
In that short week he has learnt to ring the bells on our back door to alert us that he needs to go out. I would love to say I taught him this but I didn't. One of our other dogs knows to do this and Chewie picked up on it. From knowing no commands and not even his name, he has mastered "sit, down, stay, heel, paw..." all with distractions of other dogs, and his "down" while I am also skipping around him and being excitable.
It appears he loves kids too, while on a visit to a local pet supply store he met a number of small kids and this boy just lit up with his tail wagging - is he actually perfect?? This morning, I was watching him in our yard and watched as he disappeared through our gate which was open. Panicked I went running outside (in my PJ's and slippers, with approx. a foot of snow on the ground) and called him and he came right back through all casual like it was no big deal (my heart certainly got a workout!). This dog, this amazing soul who has been with us for 1 week, listened when I called him and came back to me. This gentle giant, this loving and calm boy, this smart and kind sweet puppy (in a rather large body) behaved like a dog far beyond his age and his wisdom. He may just be perfect.
He cannot be the only one! Of course all of my boys (my dogs) are the most amazing of all dogs, and I know everyone feels the same about their dogs (and they are right) The thing is, this boy was a stray, he knew nothing of us humans, or how he could be loved and cared for (and lusted over - as my husband has accused me of). He came and he trusted me/us, he opened his heart up as did we and he let himself be vulnerable. He didn't know if we would love him and care for him but he wanted to love and care for us - and he is. Writing this I was worried I could not convey in words just how amazing this beautiful soul is and how absolutely loved he is, and I am still not sure I can or did do him justice. I guess you have to trust me that he is an amazing and wonderful and much loved boy.
But, what if all the dogs sat in shelters, awaiting their homes or awaiting their death are like him? What an abhorrent thing to imagine - or rather, know. That "mutt" that you don't take a chance on - he/she might just change your life. That "just another stray dog" might be just what you need to complete your life. That "dead dog walking" could be Chewie. He or she could be the most amazing and gentle soul you could ever meet, they could be the one that shows you just how big a dogs heart is, how much they want to make you happy, how much they deserve ANOTHER chance, at life, a new life, a future that you can mould for them. Don't think of a dog as "second hand, used up, broken, problematic, dangerous". Give them the chance to show you they are deserving of love and willing to give love, that they want to make you happy and they just want to love you and be loved.
Chewie is now an ambassador for The Right to Live rescue. He wants to help all the other "just a dog"s find their forever home.
"Rescue does not mean damaged - it means they have been let down by humans"
