To celebrate National Dog Day, let’s share our stories❣️
This is Dakota. Dakota’s story is one of resilience, love, and the profound impact a dog can have on a life.
It all began as a simple birthday gift for my best friend. We visited a breeder, where only two puppies remained. Dakota immediately stole my heart, not because of her perfection, but because of her imperfection—her ear was disfigured due to an accident when her mother was carrying her. The breeder bluntly told us that Dakota would be put down because no one would want an ugly dog with a crooked ear. My heart shattered at the thought, and I knew I couldn’t leave her behind. So, I adopted both puppies that day—one for my best friend and Dakota for me.
Dakota came home to join my 6-month-old lab, Butters, and they became instant soulmates, sharing an unbreakable bond. Dakota’s early life wasn’t easy; she began showing signs of hip dysplasia as a puppy. But that didn’t stop her from living her best life with me, even if it meant I had to pull her home in a baby wagon after our hikes.
Then, life took a drastic turn. A near-fatal car accident left me permanently disabled, and in those dark days, my dogs became more than just pets—they became my lifeline, my service animals. Dakota and Butters were there through it all as I lost my job, my income, my house, my future, and my will to live. I was bed ridden for life….well what was left of it anyways. The doctors had me on so much medication that they predicted I wouldn’t live past 40. My biggest fear was leaving my dogs behind….What’s going to happen to them when I die?
But I didn’t die. Instead, I found a natural way to live, free from pharmaceuticals. Dakota and Butters were with me every step of the way as we moved to the West Coast to legally treat my condition with medical marijuana. We traveled over 2,800 miles together- with them cuddling in the back of my 2 door Beemer. They helped us make a home wherever we landed, whether it was a gated community on the harbor in Southern California, a 3,800-acre retreat in Lake Shasta, the serene Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon, or the country club. They were always by my side, loyal and loving.
In 2013, I feared Dakota’s time was running out. Both she and Butters were lethargic, unable to keep food down, and their quality of life was fading fast. We tried everything—different doctors, medications, diets—nothing seemed to work. Then, on a whim, Scotty suggested giving them some of my CBD hearts. I did, and it was like a miracle. Dakota and Butters were rejuvenated, and they were still catching waves and loving life up until their final year. Which by the way, they lived happily for another 6 1/2 years, thanks to those CBD hearts❣️
When Dakota reached 17, we knew her time was near. We took her to the beach one last time, a place she loved so much. She passed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of love, resilience, and the power of unconditional love.
This is Dakota’s story—a story of a dog who was once deemed unworthy of life but went on to live a life full of love, adventure, and purpose. Her spirit lives on in my heart, and her ashes rest in a place of beauty, just as she deserved.
What’s your dogs story?
