Resilience From My Rescue Dog

Season three of The Baroo is finally here after a longer than expected hiatus! I'm dedicating this season to the human-dog bond — in honor of Chance, my scruffy almost-18-year-old rescue who changed my life.

This is our story. And looking back, what stands out to me isn't just the love or the loyalty — though, obviously, those too. It's resilience. Just showing up, day after day, for his 17.5 years full of presence and joy regardless of what was ailing him.

Before Chance

When Chance came into my life I was 33, waiting tables, running on fumes. Panic attacks, chronic pain, exhaustion — the aftermath of some bad decisions and a super toxic situationship. My body was basically screaming I needed change and I didn't know what that change was. My friend suggested I get a dog. I had always loved dogs, and my mother always said I had a special bond with our tiny poodle growing up.

A few weeks later I wandered into an outdoor adoption event in Santa Monica and there he is: Chance (then Waldo, as the rescue had named him). Nine months old, 42 pounds, scruffy white fur, pink around his eyes and nose, still tripping over his own paws. He was a unique goofball. When I took him for a walk around the block that day, he looked up at me with trust like he already knew I was his person and he was my pup.

As luck would have it, I only had $50 to my name at the time and the adoption fee was $200, but the woman running the rescue said just "pay me the rest when you can." That one moment of trust is what made it all possible.

Not long after, I lost my restaurant job — and oddly, I was relieved. The next day my dog care business was born, a business that ended up running for the next 16 plus years, with Chance leading the way.

What Chance Taught Me

Chance wasn't just a career pivot, he was my soul guide. He refused to be rushed, even when I was stressed or overwhelmed — which kept bringing me back to the present moment. He loved relaxing at Palisades Park, just watching the world go by, totally content. Just being.

He had his share of anxiety and stranger danger. So we spent years working through it together with patient training, positive reinforcement, slowly building his confidence. And as his confidence grew? So did mine.

He taught too much to list fully, but the most enduring thing he taught me is that resilience isn't about gritting your teeth and powering through. It's staying soft while you keep moving forward.

You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you listen to podcasts: