Chloe Marie

In August of 2009 I told my husband I was just going to go “look” at the puppies up for adoption at Petsmart. I had spotted the cutest lil German shepherd on their website that same week and couldn’t wait to go check him out. Again I told my husband on the phone, “I’m just going to look and see him in person.” I remember it being so hot that day and my autoimmune disease was kicking my butt and I almost canceled even going but my heart forced me to. I couldn’t even get inside Petsmart before having the sweetest most gorgeous looking puppy catch my eye. Gorgeous white long fur. Looked so sweet yet sad. I walked over and sat on the ground and put my hand thru the cage. I noticed the name tag said Fluffy. And boy was she. She gave my hand a lick and literally I couldn’t handle how cute she was. One of the shelter assistants came over and said wow she never comes up to people or lets them touch her, let alone she licked you. My heart smiled but also wasn’t sure if this was their tactic at getting you hooked on a dog. I told Miss Fluffy that I’d see her in a bit. I walked inside to the table set up for the adoptions and there was one person ahead of me. Guess who they were adopting? Yep that sweet lil German shepherd puppy. That’s the type my husband wanted. I loved them too so I was fine with that. But when it was my turn to talk with the lady I asked her if there were anymore German shepherds and she said no. I almost just said thank you and walked away but instead I asked, well what about Fluffy, the one out front. If she’s available, can you tell me about her. She let me know she was abused and her and her two brothers were rescued and she definitely got the worst of it. She was about 9 months old had a broken rib and was very skiddish but so sweet. To make this part of the story go faster, I’ll just share that before I knew it I was back outside on the ground loving her as they let me open her cage and in that quick amount of time, I declared her mine. If you know me well you know I ask before doing things, I didn’t this time. No call was placed to my husband until I had her in my shopping cart and I was going around Petsmart looking for items with her adoptions papers in my hand. I got him on the phone and simply said, “I’m so sorry, can you please come help me, I bought a dog…no not that German shepherd, another one. I couldn’t leave without her. Her name is fluffy but that’s not staying her name, I want to name her Chloe Marie, but we can talk about that part later except that that really will be her name because I can’t imagine anything else. Okay but really get here fast I’m overwhelmed but so excited. Oh gosh she just peed all over the shopping cart and is trying to get out. I gotta go. See you soon.”

The first two weeks I was so in love with her but it was hard. She was so skiddish and so scared but dang was she cuddly. She ended up escaping out the front door and ran away weeks after getting her. We couldnt chase her fast enough. To say I freaked out and lost it, is an understatement: you can ask my best friend or my husband who witnessed it. I was a mess. I made flyers immediately and put them all over town. She ended up being found 3 days later, I was at work when someone called me that they had her. I couldn’t even believe it. By the grace of God she had spent 2 nights and 3 days away from me trapped in a fencing area right next to the freeway. Her paws were so bloodied and broken she could barely walk. Anytime I wasn’t working, she was in my lap getting so much love from me. She whined if I left. It took her over 6 months to warm up to my husband. We noticed he couldn’t wear a hoody, a hat, or vacuum or sweep around her or she’d pee and freak out. We worked tirelessly and nonstop to work with her and heal best we could, what had happened to her. She was worth it. I called her my shadow. If I was having an anxiety attack she’d know it and come and lay like on me. Whenever she heard me singing she’d come running and whine at me and flop down next to me. When I was going thru ivf and had to be home alone a lot during the day, she was my comfort. When I was so scared after my miscarriage that I would lose my other baby too, she was constantly by my side. She would let me hug her nonstop. Jackson’s birth was horrific and scary and caused so much PTSD but she followed me around with the baby and let me know that she was there to love him too. For 13 wonderful years I had the honor of loving the most amazing dog I’ve ever had and I’ve had a lot. But she was my Angel, my cuddle bug, my first baby. My world doesn’t seem the same without her. Walking into the house to not see her laying by the gate broke my heart. Monday we said goodbye. My eyes are so tired from all the crying, my head aches, my heart feels broken. I was so blessed that I chose her all those years ago, but even more so I was so blessed because obviously she chose me. Chloe Marie you were everything to me and we will miss you all the time. I hope you found Grandpa (my Dad) right away when you got to Heaven. I bet he loved seeing you there. Thank you for being the most special dog a girl could have ever asked for and boy was our selfie game strong