“A shelter is not a place for dogs,” Shira Scott Astrof of The Dodo stated after successfully adopting another puppy.Despite the fact that this experienced CEO of A.R.M. (Animal Rescue Mission) has dozens of comparable completed assignments on her resume, she stated that this one was particularly exceptional and emotional.
Her narrative begins in one of Los Angeles’ many animal shelters. In her usual corner, a fearful rescue dog named Chole awaits her rescuer.But the dog with the mournful expression refuses to look her in the eyes. Shira recognized she was in for a difficult challenge.
“She would have completely shut down if she had stayed any longer in that dark corner of the shelter,” Shira finished tragically.
She could see it in her eyes and realized she had to act soon if she wanted to save this unfortunate creature. Darvish was a cheerful and bright young man, and Shira knew he was the proper person to restore the sunlight over Chole.
So the next day, she and Darvish, along with her A.R.M. teammates, arrived to rescue Chole from her lonely corner.
Shira says, “Darvish and I walked her out, and she didn’t want to walk because she was so scared.” She also stated that Chole was ready to return to the shelter since she didn’t realize there was a full world outside of that one place.Fortunately, with the assistance of her teammates and Darvish, she was able to get her into the car and drive her to her new home.
Even though it only lasted about an hour, the ride through the streets of Los Angeles was an emotional roller coaster for Chole and Shira.After a long period in that horrible dark nook, she looked to have had enough. Chole was so agitated in the back seat of the car, according to Darvish, that Shira needed to sit next to her to soothe her down.And it seems that actual magic occurred then, as Chole finally began to express her true love to her hooman companion. Although I was still a little shy, it was a terrific first time.
“She had those moments where you could tell they know they are safe, but they just need to fully get there,” Shira said, implying that dogs like her take a little longer to restore their confidence, but it is always worth it in the end.Chole was scared to get out of the car when they arrived at their destination. It was simply too many changes and emotions for her in such a short amount of time. Apart from that, she was in her element with her rescuer.
It wasn’t easy, but getting out of your comfort zone is always necessary to move on to the next chapter of life.And, just like she knew it, Chole bravely took her first step, got out of the car, and stepped into the house where her new life would soon begin.
Chole had clearly not yet broken through all of the trauma she had endured in the shelter’s corners.As a result, she chose a corner once more to prepare for her next existence, but this time in her new house.
And, as Shira had indicated, she knew Darvish was the one for Chole. He was just full of compassion, and he realized that the journey would be slow, but they would get there together. So he simply allowed her to remain in her corner for the first day.
“On the third day or so, I just started sitting down next to her, and she slowly started eating from my hand meaning that she is slowly getting closer to me,” Darvish added.
And, exactly as he said, the actual transformation occurred on the fifth day, after which Chole no longer desired to be separated from her new best friend.She followed him everywhere, knew when he was coming home, and gazed at him with the kind of love and admiration that only a man’s best friend can.
“They are definitely soulmates and they cannot live without each other,” Shira said, a tear in her eye but a happy and proud one since she had succeeded to create something unique.