Author: Rachell Freed

“How do I make my Rachell happy” Chester wonders as he wakes up?

“This extreme tiredness troubles me. I just want to laze around all day. I need to build my energy level. I’ll eat as much as Rachell feeds me and put on some weight. That should help. I’ll feel better and be able to move around more. That’s what I’ll do,” he decides.

“I wonder if I can tell Rachell to feed me more. I know what I can do. I’ll paw my food dish to let her know I want more.” This thought is revolutionary for Chester.

So that morning, Chester scooches his food bowl across the carpet after he finishes what Rachell put out for his breakfast. She is astonished to see him asking for more food.

“Do you want more food today?” Rachell asks.

“That’s a good boy, Chester. You’re a smart boy for letting me know what you want,” Rachell continues.

At this point Chester figures out there are actions he can take to indicate to Rachell what he wants or needs. He can show Rachell he wants to do more and be more for her.

“I’ll be an inspiration for Rachell to understand that I want to be more dog for a better life ahead for Rachell and me,” he finishes.

Chester realizes excitedly “My take charge attitude is key to my success. What an AWESOME BREAKTHROUGH!”

Chester catches Rachell putting on her tennis shoes one day as the sun approaches noon. Rachell picks him up, heads down the stairs and out the garage door. She sets Chester in his car seat and off they go. Chester is excited as they travel down the road with his new best friend. He wonders what she has planned for today.

Chester perches on his pet car seat to look out the passenger window to see if he can figure out their destination. After a short ride, Rachell pulls up in a parking lane right beside a children’s playground with a short walking loop. “I wonder what this is. I have never been to a place like this before,” Chester notes.

Rachell puts Chester’s harness on and attaches his leash.

“Oh boy, we are going for a walk,’ Chester exclaims as he wiggles his tail back and forth to show her how excited he is. They begin a stroll around the park. Chester sniffs and smells every spot in the grass he can reach.

“What a fabulous time to explore as lead of this adventure. I think I might like this all the time,” Chester decides. “It’s a BRAVE NEW WORLD!”

“Rachell is trusting me more and more to wander the top floor of the house,” Chester recognizes when he realizes she is letting him sniff and smell around in her home office.

“She did not let me roam this room until I got better with my potty schedule,” he speculates as he crawls into a bed just for him to lay sleeping under her desk as she works.

“Well, this change lets me know I’m doing better,” an excited Chester concludes.

“I wonder what else Rachell will allow the better my routine becomes?” he asks himself.

“I’ll just improve every day and Rachell will open my life to many new places and things. What a wonderful opportunity to spread my wings and see more of this world,” Chester orates.

“I am making my mind up right now I will not make a mess in the house. I must figure out how to tell Rachell I need to go out. Let me think for a minute. Ok, let me see if hopping on her lap and staring into her eyes signals my desire to go out. I am not able to bark like other dogs, but I will someday,” Chester imagines.

Chester beams at his decision, “alright, the goal is set. I’m determined to BE ALL I CAN BE!”

Chester recalls his skin condition when he arrived at Rachell’s place. His two front legs were bare where he licked his fur so much to relieve the itching, he no longer had hair there. His back legs showed signs of malnutrition at the knees and all along his back and sides. Chester remembers how miserable and weak he felt the first couple of weeks in his new home. But he knew his life was on the right track, now at 8 years old. He carried hope that this love and care from his new companion would bring him back to health.

And he was right to begin to dream of a better life the first few days he stayed with Rachell.

“I am stronger after a week getting food twice a day to pack on some weight,” Chester thinks.

“And my skin itching is lessening with the medicinal lotion Rachell is rubbing all over my body. My skin is still irritated, but I’m not licking my paws and back as much as I did two weeks ago.,” Chester reviews.

“The healing was slower there. Rachell goes to great lengths (not just the lotion) to keep me from aggravating the progress, but that is a post for another day,” he giggles.

“Look how far I have come in six weeks. I have new hair growing on my back and sides even though the incoming hair is shallow. The hair on my legs is long and thick now except for the left front leg. And I can see thin, frail wisps of hair on that leg,” he finishes.

Chester exclaims with excitement, “My RAGGED TO HEALTHY story is going to blow your mind!”

Chester bounds up his pet steps at the end of Rachell’s bed and stops briefly to check out the terrain. He walks cautiously toward a sleeping Rachell. He spies her arm extended out perpendicular to her body and sees where he wants to go. Quietly he tiptoes to the crook in her forearm. Chester gets as close to her as possible and then lies down snuggling between her arm and chest. Rachell stirs briefly realizing Chester is cradled in her armpit. She is certainly surprised to feel her best buddy so tight in a risky position.

Rachell opens her eyes to check out Chester’s move to be so close. She weighs the scenarios and outcomes of this situation she is presented with.

“If I am careful not to wiggle my arm while he sleeps here, this is a wonderful feeling. Having him right next to me soothes him or he wouldn’t be here. And he calms me too. This makes me feel so loved and happy,” Rachell notices.

Chester feels Rachell adjusting ever so gently to be comfortable thinking “She’s good with me being here right next to her while we sleep together. I’m thrilled I took the chance FINDING MY SPOT!”

“Yellow dust on my nose, yellow dust in my eyes and yellow dust in between my toes,” Chester notices in early spring.

“What is this stuff?” Chester wonders since this the first spring he has been outside more than any time in his life.

“Let me wipe the pollen from the daffodils and narcissus from your little eyes,” Rachell shares out loud as she moves to wipe Chester’s eyes with a Kleenex.

“Oh, so this is pollen,” he declares. Rachell removes the yellow dust accumulated on his nose and the tops of his paws too.

“There are so many things I’m learning about with all the new things I am experiencing,” Chester declares.

“I look forward to finding out what is in store for me as the seasons change, even though some may take a little more maintenance to keep me clean and healthy,” he notes.

In that moment, a tiny, winged creature stops for an instant in front of his nose before quickly flying off on the wind.

“What is that?” Chester questions as he uncrosses his eyes as the buzzing winged bird moves on.  

Rachell exclaims, “to see a hummingbird up close and personal is the chance of lifetime, Chester. What a blessing. SPRING IS HERE!”

Chester reflects on the fact, “Rachell carries me everywhere she goes since I came to live with her. I don’t remember when I’ve had this kind of treatment!”

“There are many steps in the house, and I don’t have full strength in my muscles yet, but I’m going to keep moving and get stronger and stronger. I know this is how I can help Rachell,” he peruses.

“Every attention, whether I’m feeding on generous food portions or she’s taking me outside to do my business, she carries me to my destination.

“There is a pretty big threshold drop out that way to my little play area,” he peruses. “And I see Rachell has added a little concrete tile that is normally a stepping stone for a garden. I bet that is for when I get to go out on my own. How thoughtful she is when it comes to me,” Chester delights as he looks forward to his future here.

“Maybe Rachell wants to make sure I don’t slip down the stairs or trip jumping out the back door?” Chester questions.

While Chester ponders these thoughts, Rachell speaks to him on one of his short trips, “I’ll let you take these paths once you are stronger, Chester. I just want you to be strong enough to take the whole flight of steps and not hurt yourself.”

“It’s amazing how Rachell knows what I’ve got on my mind,” Chester thinks. ‘I’ll trust and enjoy the handling as she continues to pick me up and carry me where she goes. She’s the BEST,” he rejoices.  

 Chester exclaims, “I certainly love the care she gives me. I’m her CARE PACKAGE!”