Resilience From My Rescue Dog

Season three of The Baroo is finally here, and this time I'm dedicating it to the human-dog bond — in honor of Chance, my scruffy almost-18-year-old rescue who basically ran my life (in the best way) for almost two decades. This is our story. And looking back, what stands out to me isn't the cuddles or the loyalty — though, obviously, those too. It's resilience. Just showing up, day after day, soft-hearted, even when everything hurts.

Before Chance

I'm 33, waiting tables, running on fumes. Panic attacks, chronic pain, exhaustion — the aftermath of some bad decisions and a super toxic situationship. My body's basically screaming "something has to change," and I have no idea what that something is. My friend suggested I should 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 wander 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. But on our first walk together, he's just... trusting. 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 and the adoption fee was $200, but the rescue leader says okay, pay the rest later. That one moment of trust is what makes the whole thing happen.

Not long after, I lose my restaurant job — and oddly? I'm relieved. That's the moment my dog walking business is born, a business that ends up running for the next 16 years, with Chance right there the whole time.

What Chance Taught Me

Chance wasn't just a career pivot, he was a 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 hanging out at Palisades Park, just watching the world go by, totally content doing nothing. No striving, no rushing. Just being.

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

Through health scares, cancer, mobility issues, all of it — Chance just kept going, with a wagging tail and love. And that's the most enduring thing he taught me: 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 or watch on you tube-