Soul Dog Journey Project: Week 1-At First Sight

Fellow pet photographer, Marika Moffitt, created a year long Soul Dog Journey Project for dog parents. This is a 52 week project created to tell your story with your own Soul Dog. Click on the link to find out how you can purchase the Soul Dog Journey Project for you and your dog.

Lance was and will always be my Soul Dog. I first learned about Lance from a local rescue group and when I saw his photo, I knew he was going to be my dog. He came from an abusive home and the great people at New River Humane Society gave my boy a second chance at life. His foster mother, Mary, nursed Lance back to life.

When I found out Lance was going to be available for adoption, I cut short a weekend away to see him. He was so scared at the rescue, he didn’t know what was going on. But I knew he was coming home with me. There was another family interested in him, but they had children, and looking back, it would not have been a good home for Lance. We told the rescue we wanted him, but wanted to see how he would interact with Lili. We picked up Lili and brought her back to meet Lance. They basically ignored one another, so we figured it would be ok. We made arrangements to bring Lance home with us a couple of days later.

It was an adventurous seven years with Lance. What the rescue failed to mention was Lance’s PTSD, resource guarding, and reactivity. Fortunately, we had some experience with reactivity because of Lili and we quickly got Lance into see a veterinary behaviorist who was a lifeline for us for seven years.

What about you? Who is your soul dog and what is their story? I’d love to know more about your dog’s story.

Our first selfie together! I took this on Lance’s adoption day.