Promise’s Transformation

Every morning, Promise and I have a discussion of whether we should have cheese or treats during the day.  Wouldn’t you know it, we always end up having both.

Promise became a member of our family on September 17, 2019.  Her foster family called her “Mama Promise,” because, on her own, she had a litter of eight puppies in Texas.  Promise and her new family were living under a shed when they were discovered by a caring human.  That was where the chain of rescue started.

Mama Promise and her pups were transported to Illinois.  All of her pups found new homes, and Promise remained available.  I saw Promise’s profile a few times on an adoption site.  I wasn’t sure if I was ready for a dog or not, but I decided to respond to the post.  Tanya reached out to me and put me in contact with Promise’s foster mom, Lisa. 

Lisa set up an in-home visit at our house.  As I watched through the window, I saw Promise jump out of Lisa’s car.  Even though she was thin and in need of grooming, the first thing I said was, “She is beautiful!”  It was a bit disheartening, though, when Promise walked through the door.  She was very scared of me.  It turned out that she feared most men.  We had a great visit, but she and I never really connected.  But something in me made me want to win over this dog.

The night I adopted Promise, I sat on Lisa’s couch to fill out the paperwork.  Promise walked up behind me and put her front paw on my back.  To me, it was her way of saying, “OK, we can be buds.” 

Promise and I are extremely tight.  I am extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work from home during the Covid 19 pandemic.  Promise is usually never more than two feet away from me before and after work.  She makes me laugh, because every time I take time to stretch at my computer, she sees it as an opportunity to sit in my lap and snuggle.  We walk about 3 to 4 miles a day, and she loves going to the off-leash dog parks. 

I very much appreciate the efforts all the Promise’s rescuers made to bring her from “Mama Promise” to where she is now.  She has gained a little weight and looks a lot healthier and she gets regular spa treatments with her favorite groomer.  Even though she is about five years old, people constantly ask if she is a puppy. 

We are happier together than we were apart, and cheese and treats have never tasted so good. 

~Mike