Colorado Man Heads Into The Mountains To Clear His Mind, Never Expecting Who Will Follow Him Home
When a young Colorado student athlete drove to the mountains for some alone time, he never expected to encounter two tiny lives in desperate need of help.
A Quiet Escape Takes A Turn
Sometimes, the moments we seek for solitude end up bringing us the connections we didn’t know we needed.
A student-athlete decided to take a drive to the mountains, hoping to clear his mind and enjoy some peace and quiet.
He parked his car in a secluded spot, expecting nothing but nature. There were no other cars around, just him and the silence of the outdoors.
But his peaceful retreat was about to be interrupted by a heartbreaking discovery.
An Unexpected Sighting
While taking in the scenery, he noticed something moving in the distance.
To his surprise, a dog wandered out into the open. She looked rough, and it was clear she didn’t belong out there alone.
He looked around, but there was no owner in sight. It was just him, his car, and this stray dog.
Before he could even process what to do, the situation took another unexpected turn.
Two Seconds Later, Another Surprise
Just two seconds after spotting the dog, a tiny kitten walked out to join her.
The man was completely stunned. “I don’t know what to do with them,” he admitted.
He estimated the little kitten was only about two weeks old. The pair seemed to have been left out there together.
He had never really had animals like this before, and the shock of finding them both in the middle of nowhere was overwhelming.
Doing The Right Thing
Despite his lack of experience, he knew he couldn’t leave them behind.
He could see the dog was in bad condition. Her coat was a mess, and she clearly needed help.
“I have to do the right thing,” he told himself. He decided to take them both home.
His plan was to get them cleaned up and keep them safe until he could figure out the next steps.
A Safe Place To Rest
Once they arrived at his home, his first priority was giving them both a much-needed bath.
He wanted them to decompress and rest in a safe environment. They had likely been on edge for a long time.
The dog seemed incredibly happy just to be indoors, while the tiny kitten was completely exhausted.
He settled “the kids” into bed, letting them rest until the humane society opened the next day.
Seeking Professional Help
When the humane society opened, he took them in to get checked out.
The staff scanned the dog for a microchip and actually found one. They reached out to her registered owners.
However, no word was ever given back. It seemed the dog had been abandoned or lost for good.
The tiny kitten was placed into foster care to get the specialized attention she needed, but the man had other plans for the dog.
Stepping Up As A Dad
With the owners unresponsive, the man made a life-changing decision.
“I’m not tryin’ to be the stepfather, I’m tryin’ to be the father that stepped up,” he declared.
He officially adopted the sweet girl and decided to name her Angel.
He immediately went out to run errands, picking up all the supplies she would need for her new home.
Decompressing And Showing Her True Colors
Back at the house, Angel quickly claimed the couch as her favorite spot.
For the first week, she mostly just decompressed and slept. He believed she hadn’t gotten any real rest while she was out in the mountains.
But after that first week, her true personality finally began to shine through.
She transformed from a tired, scared stray into a happy, loving companion.
Balancing Life With A New Best Friend
As a student-athlete, his schedule was demanding, but he found it fairly easy to balance his responsibilities with his new “dog dad” life.
His mornings started early with football, waking up at 6:00 a.m. to take Angel out before a grueling schedule of meetings, weights, and practice.
As soon as he finished, he would rush home to spend time with her. She was always by his side.
“Some people might feel weird about that. I love my dog with me. That’s my daughter,” he shared.
A Bond That Changed Everything
Their favorite activity together quickly became dancing. She would bop along with him, her ears flopping as he shook his hair.
Sharing their journey online, the world fell in love with Angel, and they got to see a different side of the athlete.
She sparked a new joy in his life. “She makes my day better. She makes me feel a lot better not being just totally alone,” he said.
What started as a quiet trip to the mountains turned into the rescue of two lives, and gave one lucky dog the forever home she always deserved.
