Tag: rescue

Up the Down Staircase

“Stairs are everywhere in these new quarters of mine. From the moment I entered all I can see are steps in front of me and steps behind me as Rachell carries me to the top floor,” Chester observes.

“I wonder how I will manage to maneuver these stair flights when each step is as tall as me?” he ponders.

Chester decides quickly not to stress about the difficulties he will encounter. He thinks, “I’ll take each obstacle as it is presented no matter what I am faced with.” 

“No need to sweat the small stuff when this huge lifestyle change to a new dwelling ranks higher than where I lived before,” he determines.

“I will approach each new dawn with excitement every single day ahead. I plan to count my blessings going forward into the next weeks, months and years,” he concludes.

Happily, Chester exclaims, “LIVE A BIG LIFE!”

Squirrel High

Chester strains and stretches but he is too short to see what Gibson is chasing up the big hill in their backyard.

“Oh, it’s a squirrel,” Chester realizes when he spots the critter running for life about six feet ahead of Gibson. Uncertain whether Gibson will reach his prey, Chester sits and watches quietly. The race is on. Gibson flies after the squirrel closing the distance with each leap.

“Goodness gracious, he is one fast cat,” Chester perceives. Then he sees the rodent dart up a tall pine tree as fast as his little legs will carry him. Much to Chester’s surprise Gibson follows right behind without observing where he is going. Gibson finally reaches about 25 yards up the tree and stops on a limb looking down at Chester with a what do I do now look.

“What he will do next?” Chester wonders. He waits since there is nothing to do to help. Gibson finally starts an arduous trek down the tree until he reaches ground level. Gibson saunters slowly back down the hill toward Chester. He touches Chester’s nose gently as he passes by to the back porch stoop to rest.

Chester is exhilarated and decides “I sure am glad we are on the SAME TEAM!”



Room To Move

“Who knew my lifestyle would take a 180 degree turn around at this stage,” Chester thinks as he envisions changes in his new surroundings.

“I never imagined my life would be this plentiful after the hell I faced before. Over eight years,” he recalls.

Chester’s determination to take each day that presented hardship for him did not keep him from striving to survive. He had to fight for food to stay nourished and alive every day. In the last days of his first eight and a half, he hoped beyond all imagination for a change. When that day finally arrives, Chester dreams of what lay ahead, but he convinces himself, “anything is going to be better than this.”

The transformation in his circumstances amazed even him. He was hugely surprised by the difference between where he had been raised and the newfound environment where he landed.

“There is a pet bed for me in all three rooms. Wait, there is a fourth bed under Rachell’s desk. What luxury! So, there are two in one room for me,” Chester reels with exhilaration.

“Two of the rooms that I roam in have water bowls for my convenience. I never had such lavish comforts of home,” Chester realizes.

“Rachell dotes on me every moment. She provides these amenities for me well beyond my expectations. I am so blessed and am very thankful!” Chester relishes as he snuggles into one of his beds and rests peacefully knowing he is in the right spot now.

Give Yourself a Break

“Seems like all I do is sleep,” is the thought that comes to Chester’s mind as he wakes up this morning after a long restless night. “Maybe today will be different and I’ll have energy to go all day long without a nap. I’m in a wonderful new place physically. This is excitement enough to try to change my daily routine. Let’s see how this goes,” he professes enthusiastically determined to go without a siesta today.

“I want to show Rachell how thrilled I am to be here by bouncing around and playing like other dogs, but some days I ache and feel so tired,” he frets. “I know my squiggling shows her how much I love her and want to please her because of the smile she gives me when I do it. That’s a trick I’ve learned I can do anytime I want to watch Rachell beam with great joy. I certainly can do that until I get up to speed.”

“Approach this goal one day at a time. And don’t worry if I miss the mark either,” Chester intends. “I understand quiet time and rest is necessary to heal from the hard times I’ve been through,” Chester reminds himself. “I’ll take a break when I need one. I can start fresh tomorrow and try again,” he decides.

“If you feel like taking a nap, take a nap. Downtime is quite okay to promote healing from years of difficult days, my sweet one,” Rachell says to me.

“I need to hear that. I’m going to be all right.” Chester relaxes with relief, “Don’t be so hard on myself!”

Look Up

“I keep my eyes peeled constantly in my surroundings to stay safe and out of the way of whatever is in my space,” Chester recalls.

Chester’s weight of 5.5 pounds puts him at tremendous disadvantage around most every living thing. “I could get stepped on or kicked,” he reflects. “Staying alert and attentive to protect myself was key.”

Chester’s tiny size places him in danger most days which is why he learned early on to scurry like lightning when shadows come close.

“Things are very different here,” Chester confirms. “Anytime I glance at my Rachell, I see her peeking at me to see where I am and if I am okay. I know she watches out for me and I’m very grateful. I no longer need to worry about her accidentally harming me.”

“I can gaze skyward going forward for grand things to happen from now on,” he concludes.

Chester beams as he reminds himself positively, “LOOK UP!”



#different #therapy #rescue #emotionalsupport

Dogs and Cats


Chester’s new best friend is three times his size, but that does not frighten him at all. Their nose-to-nose meeting was comforting. Chester understood Gibson would not hurt him. Gibson walks around him to inspect him from the top of his head to the tip of his tail. Chester stood still and as tall as possible while Gibson circles thinking “I’ll get my turn after he makes his first inspection.” 

Sure enough, Gibson stops and lays down right in front of Chester when he finishes to let Chester check him out the same way. Chester walks around him as he sniffs with each step.

“This isn’t a dog. He’s a cat,” Chester learns as he gets wind of Gibson’s smell. “Well, I have a new buddy and that’s all that matters at this point. I don’t mind he is a cat,” Chester notes.  

“Looks like I’m the only dog here. This setup is going to be fantastic.” As he lies down right next to Gibson where they begin to nap, Chester celebrates “I do believe I am going to love living here!”

#different #rescue #therapy #emotionalsupport

Sun Discovery

“Sometimes I just sit in the sun and soak the rays in. The fresh air and warm rays feel so good on my face and body! I’m finding so many new and fun things at my new home with Rachell,” muses Chester. “She waits patiently for me while I lift my nose up to the sky and sniff the fresh smells coming on the breeze.”

“I poke some leaves and sticks strewn along the asphalt driveway for a minute or two and then sit again in partial shade with the sun shining on my back to get more of the feel good stuff. This seems to raise  my energy level so I’m going to do this as often as I can” pledges Chester!

Chester dedicates himself thinking “kick back and relax in the sun is now part of my daily regime.”  

“And ENJOY IMMENSLY!”

Steppin’ Up to Rachell’s Bed

I am rested and ready to explore after a peaceful night in my new home. I get up out of my bed onto the soft, carpeted floor in Rachell’s bedroom and ask myself.

“Which way first?”


I see a set of pet steps at the end of Rachell’s big bed right in front of me. I have not seen anything like this before. I figure I need to learn to climb them to get to her sleeping space.


I move right in front of the lowest step and get my two front paws on the first rung.

“I may have to do the splits like a gymnast,” I imagine. I get my right back leg up reaching as far as I can with my other leg steady on the ground. I begin to hoist myself forward. I look over and see Rachell sitting on the bed watching my movements.


She cheers me on as I challenge myself, “I see you. You can do it. Come on Bun!“


Her excitement is contagious and motivates me to push as hard as my tiny legs will lift me. “Bun is one of the cutest nicknames I’ve ever heard, and I love it.”

I conquer the first landing and then look to the top of the bed. “Boy, that last step is a doozy, but if I get my momentum going, I will make it,” I convince myself.


“I’ve got this,“ booms my thought. My adrenaline is so high the second step and the leap on to her bed is easy going. I surprise myself as I land. Rachell keeps rooting me on as I strive to my goal.


“Good job, Dude. Good boy, Chessie! All righttttt!” is what she exclaims as I reach the top.


Success. What a view from up here. I made it. “TA DA!”

Paws in the Grass  

“What are we going to do today?” is my question of the morning.

Rachell surprises me. She picks me up and away we go. She heads to the back door and out onto a small porch. The storm door shuts behind us as we head toward the stepping stones that line a pathway surrounding the house. She stops at the stone’s edge and gently places me into some grass.

I relish the touch of grass beneath my paws wondering, “Wow. What are these soft bristles that tickle my feet?”

“Go ahead, Chester. Use the potty out here in the grass sweetie,” Rachell instructs.

Gaining my courage to move, I lift each foot to step farther into the yard.

“This is nice to walk about and look for a spot to go to the bathroom outside. This sure beat having a mess in my crate. That was my routine before coming to live with Rachell.“

“Is this what life is going to be for me?” I am excited at the thought of discovering new things. 

“Today, I dominate grass,“ I beam. “Tomorrow the world!”

Chester Meets His New Buddy

Rachell carries me into her room and places me gently in my familiar place. She covers me in a pink and white towel after laying me on my little brown bed that is the only luggage I brought with me when I moved in today.

“Who is this critter silently stepping my way? He’s crouching as he inches closer to my bed with each step.” I watch cautiously as the gap closes between us.

“Don’t be afraid,” Rachell says. 

I stay still without trembling. The whiskered nose of this stranger nudges gently toward me. I am too tired to resist the advance, so I raise my nose to match. As our noses touch and Gibson breathes in my smell I understand, “I am safe.”

“I’m exhausted from my trip and all I want to do is lie down and rest,” is my thought. “This blanket- towel is keeping me, oh, so warm.”

I drift off to sleep knowing “I am HOME!”