The Long Journey to Hope: One Dog’s Tale

Realizing Journey would need some help to get around more easily, Barbra had him fitted for a doggie prosthesis and also got him indoor and outdoor wheelchairs. photo: CACC Rescue

This is the story of a little dog named Journey who overcame huge challenges to become a true inspiration because of his big heart and resilient spirit. His story is a testament to how life-changing fostering can be for an animal looking for a forever home and how compassionate humans can bring hope where there once was none.

It was a lucky day for Journey, a sweet little dog who had been living in a homeless encampment. He was no one’s dog, existing on scraps, and had somehow been gravely injured, leaving his hind legs useless.

On that day, an animal control officer came to the encampment on a different matter. In spite of his disabled legs, Journey managed to make his way to the officer to be petted. When she saw the sweet nature of this small injured dog, the officer was so touched that she decided to try to save him.

She took Journey to a shelter in San Jose for life-saving surgery, and it was there that the team from the Companion Animal Community Center (CACC) found him. They were so impressed with Journey’s happy spirit, despite now being a two-legged dog, that they could not leave him at the shelter. Like the officer who brought him in, they too were determined to save this sweet little dog.

The CACC is an organization founded by Rebecca Marsh, a lifelong animal advocate who has worked with animals in shelters for many years. Like many in the field, Rebecca had begun to realize that dogs and cats often do not do well in a shelter environment; it is only in a home environment that they can begin to thrive. She and other CACC members recognize the benefits of providing foster homes for pets waiting to be adopted permanently, allowing them to go “from loving home to loving home.”

Luckily for Journey, he was placed in a foster home with Barbra Ristow, a professional dog trainer and CACC member. Barbra immediately fell in love with Journey, noting his friendly and positive attitude. He was, in her words, “the kindest, sweetest, gentlest dog - a dog who loves everyone.”

Barbra watched how Journey happily played with her other dogs, seemingly without a care in the world despite his missing legs. Realizing he would need some help to get around more easily, she had him fitted for a doggie prosthesis and also got him indoor and outdoor wheelchairs. She worked with him every day to get him used to his new prosthesis and saw how resilient he was.

Even though it was sometimes difficult for him, Journey never gave up or stopped being the good-natured little guy he always was. His can-do attitude paid off and soon he was taking walks in the neighborhood on his new leg.

And then the most wonderful thing happened: Journey was adopted! He found his forever home with an amazing woman named Amruta Bhatt. Amruta wasn’t really looking for a dog, but when she saw Journey, all that changed. She knew right away he was the perfect dog for her. Now she spends time every day working with Journey to help him improve his mobility skills, and she is also helping him train to pass his Canine Good Citizen test. After all his tribulations, Journey finally has a home of his very own.

Now the goal for Journey is to become a therapy dog so that he can visit hospitals where children and adults, including veterans, are facing life using prosthetics and wheelchairs. He’s sure to make everyone smile when he walks in on his little doggie prosthesis, while his happy and loving spirit will give comfort and reassurance, showing it’s possible to overcome hardships and still come up wagging.

Journey has gone from being a hopeless little dog to one who gives back hope to others. His miraculous life is the result of the compassionate people he has met along his way. In return, he has taught us an important lesson about the power of love and kindness and about making the world a better place - both for the animals who need our help and for ourselves.