Happy Endings: Rescue Dogs Who Changed Lives

Ahsoka exploring the snow under the watchful eyes of her adopter, Ben, and her big sister and mentor, Kaya. Photo courtesy of Squaw Alpine.

In these times of chaos and confusion, we all need stories of hope and opportunity. Here are two tales of rescue dogs who changed lives for the better. 

Delilah was a six-year-old Belgian Malinois found abandoned in a horse pasture, clearly still nursing her pups. She was filthy and her hind leg had an open compound fracture. Because her pups were not with her, it appeared she had been dumped there.  She was underweight, overbred, and cast off. But even in that pitiful condition, gentle Delilah allowed herself to be lifted, transported, and splinted.  

Delilah spent 20 days in a shelter with her displaced, exposed fracture before she was rescued and a surgeon saved her leg. People of passion donated to help defray her medical costs, and three separate agencies partnered to provide a safety net for this one very special dog. As her foster family let their kids, dogs, and cats love her toward wholeness, Delilah began to understand the good in people. Despite her hard life, she still had faith in humans.

When Delilah was finally ready for a forever home, her picture was posted and the woman who would love her reached out to say, "That's my  girl - I just know it."   Their first meeting confirmed that: our rescue team watched as Delilah chose the woman, whose name was Aljean. Delilah’s foster family shed happy tears as they gave her up, knowing it was a special match. After all, how many people would choose a middle-aged dog who might never have the use of her back leg?  But all that Aljean saw was the beauty in Delilah’s eyes. Her heart heard the call. 

Delilah and her person, photo courtesy of BAGSR

What no one knew at that time was that Aljean would soon undergo a year of grueling chemotherapy. Her beautiful sweet dog would not leave her side and the two grew strong together.  Aljean will tell you that  Delilah saved her life.

The dog who might have died in that pasture now runs in the meadows and mountains at Lake Tahoe with her people. In fact, the girl who was left to die is now a service dog who shares her life with an exuberant high-drive rescued Malinois named Oden, another story for a different time. Delilah and Aljean have a special bond. The two saved each other and gave us hope in the process.

Now meet Ahsoka, a stunning little package of Belgian Malinois puppy who came into our program when her adopters realized she was way more puppy than they were prepared for (those of you who have spent time with working line dogs will laugh in empathy).  

Purchased during the lockdown to be a family dog, this high energy bundle seemed more flying squirrel than puppy. Wisely, her family reached out to our rescue group, saying they wanted to be sure she’d go to exactly the right place.    We hope they will always know what a powerful choice that was.  

Our dog team saw the potential in this pup. When she was posted for adoption,  we were contacted by a couple who already had a certified search-and-rescue Malinois. They were looking for a very particular temperament in a puppy and said they never expected to find one through rescue. Thank goodness they took the chance.   

Ahsoka playing in the snow, photo courtesy of Squaw Alpine

Ahsoka has now been accepted as the newest member of the Squaw Dogs team. This elite team of humans and the dogs are an essential part of mountain life.  The two-legged team members work and train hard to be prepared for rescue work. The four-legged members train equally hard, with the difference that they see their work as play. 

It's a very good life for a working line dog. Ahsoka has just begun her avalanche cave training and that little squirrel is rockin’ it! Now the puppy who passed through rescue may one day be a rescuer herself.  

J. R. R. Tolkien wrote “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Rescue work is life in the messy middle. It's hard and dirty and sometimes we all cry together. But for these dogs and their extraordinary families, it is life changing.  

The paths that draw dogs and people to each other are a wonderful mystery.  Somehow dogs have the ability to reach all the broken places in us and bring us healing. They don't care about surface things. They know how to love fully and to trust at a level many of us never achieve.

If you are able to share your home with a dog in need, please consider fostering. If you have time, rescue groups also need help with marketing, connecting dogs with people, or walking dogs. 

We hope these stories about Delilah and Ahsoka will inspire more people to use their gifts to help dogs in need. Become part of a rescue group and share the wild adventure of life in the messy middle.