This is Cali’s personal adoption story. It was transformative in a way that we never saw coming, for her and I, and I am so grateful for it.
The Backstory that led me to Cali
It was 2021, the year I needed to travel across the country for a specialized health treatment. We planned to take our dogs with us, but a week before leaving, we lost our very special boy, Wojo. At 12 years old, he became completely paralyzed when he sneezed aggressively, impacting his spine, which was, unknowingly, vulnerable. He was too old for the surgery and too big for a successful recovery, so there was no clear way to save him. My heart broke into a million pieces, as mine was tied to his heart. This loss was hugely traumatizing for us.
Wojo was aggressive towards dogs, so I was his person, his fierce advocate and protector. He was my solace and much of my joy. I’m pretty sure he was half human, based on how he’d sit on the sofa a certain way and his dramatic facial expressions…so readable. We took care of each other, always. He made sure I got to bed on time, and greeted me every day with slobbery love and an exposed belly.
We’ve loved and lost many dogs in the past. I’m devastated every time we lose one, and have always felt the need to fill the hole in my heart with another dog, but this time, I couldn’t to do it. I mourned hard for a little over two years.
Is there ever a right time to move on?
I don’t know the answer, but you’ll know when you’re ready. Slowly, I started to feel the void get bigger, and I knew my heart was, at least, partially healed. I still cried, thinking about my cherished boy, but I was ready.
We decided to adopt, but didn’t have a specific breed in mind. We were just looking for a dog we could love, and who would love us back. Cali’s face showed up online, from a local foster system. She was a 6-month old female Cattle dog and Bully mix (although we didn’t know that at the time). We set up a meet and greet.
She was small, nervous, and definitely wildly out of control! Cali had no idea how to walk on a leash, ride in a car, or approach people, but she stole our hearts in an instant. She was all over us in the grass, licking our faces, jumping on us. That was it. She was ours.
This shy girl huddled at my feet, on the floor of the car, on our way to her new home, trembling, while I tried, desperately, to console her. After we got home, I carried her inside and she curled up on the couch, looking around, unsure of her new surroundings.
Her adjustment took days, rather than weeks or months, which was surprising, considering the massive change we saw within a few days.
Cali Finally Finds Her Voice
We knew little of her background. Only that she was in the shelter at 2 months old, then foster care a few months later. In foster care, she was crated during the day and night. The foster told us she never barked, and rarely interacted or snuggled. She liked to sit in a chair by herself.
This was not our experience with her.
Day 1-3, on her first walk, she growled at almost everything and everyone. Cali growled at the fire hydrant, even though it was a block away. She also growled as we passed a flag fluttering around. She growled at the woman, crouched down, gardening in her front yard. Every time there was a new thing or person, she was growling at them…backpacks, cameras, sunglasses, even her leash!
Initially, we thought she might have some aggression, but after growling at SO MANY things and people, we realized she’d had almost no exposure to outside world.
On Day 4, something changed. She howled at 10pm, like she was a hound dog. We had a hard time understanding how this was possible, because she, most definitely, was NOT a Hound Dog! We just laughed….it was soooo loud! At first, we thought it was neighbor dog. I remember asking my husband, “Is that OUR dog?!”. Sure enough, it was.
The True Cali Shows Up
From that moment on, she continued to blossom. She felt safe enough to allow herself to become who she is, with no reservations. It was wonderful.
This girl finally started to play, and she cuddled and licked us. Cali started barking at the delivery people, with a level of protection I had not seen in her before. She required TONS of exposure to the world, so we took her everywhere with us, walking her on different paths, and taking her downtown, which we had to start very slowly. It took quite awhile to finally get her into a coffee shop and on some of the patios of our favorite restaurants, but today, she’s a full blown confident (even bossy), loud, obnoxious, grappling, curious, fun-loving girl!
