Georgia Dog Was Discarded On The Streets Until Someone Far Away Saw Something She Couldn’t Explain
When a gray and white dog was discarded by her family and ended up in a Georgia shelter, her time was running out. But a woman hundreds of miles away had a dream that would change both of their lives forever.
A Heartbreaking Start
Stella’s story began with heartbreak.
Her family was putting her out into the street. A neighbor saw the dog running free and decided to call Animal Control.
She was picked up on the streets of Atlanta, Georgia, and brought to a shelter called Lifeline Project. Sadly, her time was running out, and she was set to be euthanized.
A Fateful Dream
Hundreds of miles away, Krista Keough had a dream.
In her dream, she was running on the beach with her sister and her dog. When she looked down, she saw a gray and white dog running with them.
The very next day, Krista went to the Instagram page of her local rescue, Fly With Me Animal Rescue. The organization works with Lifeline Project to bring dogs up to Canada to find their forever homes.
The Dog From The Dream
As Krista scrolled through the rescue’s page, she couldn’t believe her eyes.
There was a photo of a dog who looked exactly like the gray and white dog from her dream. It was Stella.
When Krista first met Stella, she knelt down in front of her. The sweet dog immediately put her head into Krista’s arms.
A New Beginning In Canada
Krista asked the volunteer if it was okay to hold her like that. The volunteer simply replied, “Yes, she’s yours.”
Stella traveled all the way to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to be with Krista. When she finally arrived home, she was relieved but very tired.
She was underweight and had clearly been used for breeding. Krista suspected that Stella was simply discarded after she was no longer useful for breeding.
Learning To Feel Safe
Krista knew she needed to set up some structure for Stella so she would feel safe in her new environment.
She kept Stella separated from her other dog, Apollo, for a few weeks to give her time to decompress.
When they finally came together, the two dogs quickly became friends. They loved to play and sit together, and Apollo really doted on her, kissing her all the time.
Overcoming Challenges
Stella was a very reactive dog, and it took a lot of training and courses to learn how to manage her reactivity.
But the hard work paid off, and it really helped Krista and Stella bond.
Stella was incredibly inquisitive, always watching Krista and wanting to be by her side. It seemed as though she was experiencing many things for the very first time.
A Moment Of Doubt
Despite their progress, there were still challenges. When Stella was outside in a fenced-in area, she would pace in circles, acting almost like a guard dog on high alert.
One evening, Krista looked at Stella and wondered what she was going to do. She honestly felt like maybe she had taken on too much.
But then she thought about Stella’s backstory—from her former home to the streets, to the shelter, on a bus, and all the way to Canada.
A Commitment To Love
Krista realized that if Stella could overcome all of that, she could certainly make some changes in her own life to accommodate her and give her what she needed.
She tried to be as involved and engaging as possible. Sometimes Stella would get overwhelmed with activity, but she was slowly learning.
This past Christmas was a turning point, as Stella played a lot with her toys. She also continued to learn from Apollo about what to do in situations where she felt unsure.
Inspiring A Book
Today, Stella is perfect in Krista’s eyes. She loves to cuddle, curling up into a soft ball.
Krista is so proud of her for making it through such a difficult life and still having so much spirit.
Stella’s journey even inspired a book, which Krista hopes will help people learn to have more compassion, understanding, and love for rescue dogs. Now, Stella wakes up early every morning, ready to explore the world and excited for life each day.
