If My Friends Could See Me Now.

     Sometimes, when you least expect it, something comes along and changes everything.
     When we left our house that morning to take our reluctant teen clothes shopping, how could I have known that our lives would be forever changed?
    Pulling into the parking space at Tilly's, we saw a pet adoption event next door at Petco.
The agency Dog Rescue Without Borders was there with a baby corral full of adoptable dogs.
Knowing better, we stopped to look. 
      Our family was waiting for just the right time to adopt our next rescue dog. We felt Cody, almost 6, was secure and mature enough to raise a younger sibling properly. We knew exactly what we wanted (thank you Pinterest), a yellow lab puppy. We had been poking around, researching other adoption agencies in the months prior.
     As luck would have it, there he was; a gorgeous male yellow lab puppy. I picked him up and held him as my husband, son and I discussed the possibility of bringing this handsome young fellow home. Thankfully, we all agreed it was time.
Excitedly I told the lady "we'll take him!"
     Sadly, it was not to be -- another family had just finalized his adoption process-- game over.
Drama ensued and tears fell as my husband pulled us away and into the store. I felt I had bonded, which he felt was ridiculous, but in a way I had -- just not with the male puppy.
     When we finished shopping, I stopped to talk to the Dog Rescue Without Borders ladies and asked if there were others? We felt their yellow lab puppy was exactly what we were looking for. She thought about it and said, "if you are serious, there is a sister, but she is set to transfer to another agency tomorrow."
     My husband and son both rolled their eyes at the mention of a GIRL dog. Not me -- quite the opposite, I am surrounded by boys in our family. Even our bearded dragon Cupcake turned out to be a boy!
    She said she would talk to her partner and do some checking -- but no promises. We asked her to text  a picture of the little girl. Then we waited. And waited. And waited. Time was standing still --  I swear it! Finally it came, the picture of the male lab puppy's sister.


Foster home picture

     There she was -- kind of pitiful really, with her scared little apple-shaped, stress face. We filled out an application for adoption and several phone calls took place discussing the girl dog's future. She wasn't ready to adopt, and hadn't been spayed, but in the end they allowed us to adopt her with the promise we would take her to be fixed when she was of age. She said we could pick up the little girl puppy the next day! Countdown to crazy.
     We had only hours to prepare for the new baby Sissy. We rushed around buying toys, a bed and puppy food. We did our best to prepare our other dog for a new baby sister.

     Arriving early, I was a hot mess; tears streaming down my face clutching her brand new empty collar and leash, stressed out and excited all at the same time, to meet our new addition. We placed her new dog bed and a stuffed purple Cleo doll on the back seat to comfort her for the journey to her new home.


First time we met

     At first glimpse she looked so timid and tiny; her tail tucked all the way between her legs and she shook like a freezing cold Chihuahua. She was a lot smaller than the brother and I immediately worried  our Cody might crush her. Before I veered off with fear, I picked her up and was met with an extremely sloppy first kiss.
     She came with paperwork, medical records (all in Spanish) and a no questions asked return policy. (As if!) Elsa was available every step of the way and very thorough with her instructions. DRWB spays and neuters all of their dogs prior to adoption and in our rare circumstance with Shelby, we signed a contract agreeing to take that important step in responsible adoption.

 I named her Shelby "Sissy" Rudge and she was decidedly all mine. (just ask me).

I fell head-over-heels in love with her despite her pooping on my brand new apple green rug within minutes of entering the house. I carried her around like an infant, shielding her 14 pound frame from imminent smooshing from her beloved 110 pound lab brother.

Cody & Shelby

Sassy Shelby

Her first days were filled with an initial vet visit and trip to A Country Clip, our local dog groomer / spa for a much-needed mani-pedi.
     Shelby was the runt of the litter, (not that there is anything wrong with that) and was late growing in her teeth. Once she settled in and realized she was safe and had plenty to eat, she began to relax and grew bigger each day. She potty-trained quickly, can sit, lay down, jump, retrieve a ball or Frisbee, catch treats in mid-air, manipulate and prance on command. She now has a full set of pearly whites and seems to enjoy having her teeth brushed with her Hello Kitty toothbrush.
Shelby's a girly-girl and is often seen sporting a rainbow of pastel t-shirts and bandanas.


     I am still in the romantic phase of puppy parenting where I find myself using "my puppy" in every other sentence and can plausibly cut social events short because of "the puppy".
My affection for Shelby frightens me at times, and I wonder how I ever existed without loving her.




     Shelby and Cody have become fast friends and he does his best to supervise her crazy antics.

Saloon Girl Shelby-Halloween

Shelby's hobbies include landscape architecture (she is currently removing the underground sprinkler system) horticulture (she has dug up every single house plant that displeases her) and she loves cheering for the Denver Broncos. She is recovering from a notable shoe fetish that promptly stopped when we were forced to install locks on the bedroom doors. Shelby can reach up to unlatch and open every door in our home, at will. Beautiful and smart!

     I have learned so much about puppies with my Shelby girl and have discovered that protecting them from potential trouble or hazards is my responsibility as a pet owner. Shelby isn't a BAD DOG when she gets into mischief, she is a puppy, and puppies, like babies need shielding from potential disasters.

Shelby 7 months

     We give Princessa Shelby a LOT of grace and remember her background before responding to her behavior. Shelby's mother was discovered by Dog Rescue Without Borders, pregnant and homeless on the unforgiving streets of Tijuana, Mexico. She was picked up and brought to the United States for medical care and gave birth to 4 puppies in a safe and loving foster home.
     Our now 7 month old yellow lab Shelby has grown to an impressive 40 pounds in 4 short months. What a difference an abundance of love can make. She recently had her lady-parts surgery and has recovered like a champ. Shelby has the most beautiful, enviable caramel-colored eyelashes and a soft pink nose. She's always loyal, protective, pushy and obnoxiously adorable. The stress face she used to perpetually wear has faded and she's so incredibly happy now that when she thumps her tail it can be heard throughout the house. She's extremely curious and has earned the nickname "Nosey Rosey".
     Her appreciation, love and adoration overshadow her flaws and she's quick to give a flurry of kisses for no apparent reason.

Broncos cheerleader

     We've continued to stay in contact with Dog Rescue Without Borders and are extremely impressed with their agency. They are definitely not doing this to get rich! Each rescued dog is fostered until a viable home can be found. Many of their rescues come from Mexico and medical care for them can be expensive. Some have been hit by cars, abused, lost and all seem to be hungry for food, love, affection and most of all a safe, soft place to lay their precious heads at night. I love to share the stories of their rescues in hopes other families will choose rescue adoption through DRWB before purchasing a dog.

She's safe now

TECO The Costco Christmas Miracle

     If you believe in miracles, Teco's story will come as no surprise to you. If you have ever doubted that God is watching over us, including all the loveable, four-legged, furry children, then here's the confirmation you need to push past that doubt.
     With the adoption of my last rescue dog, I came across an extraordinary group of women at Dog Rescue Without Borders who have devoted their lives to locating dogs in crisis in Tijuana, Mexico then  providing foster care and eventual homes for these loveable, grateful souls.
     Part of the process includes dog transport to another area, or even another country. Most of the Dog Rescue Without Borders discovery dogs are transported to the United States for medical care and foster placement until forever families can be found. Other times, dogs will be transferred to other counties for placement at sister agencies.
The heart it requires to care for, provide love, shelter, food and security by fostering these animals, is a concept I cannot begin to wrap my head around. Imagine the responsibility it requires to ensure your charge is safe during this stressful process. Further still, imagine the bond formed between the rescuer, foster mom and the animal.
Once bonded, the dogs move on to other families, and you open your home again and again and repeat the process, one after the other, never running out of love, patience and loyalty. I envision a gaping hole in the heart of these Saints who tirelessly repeat this process on a consistent basis.
Can you imagine???
     Cynthia Espana Palacio is one such hero. Teco, one of Cynthia's beloved rescue &  foster dogs, was part of a transfer with 6 other dogs from Tijuana, Mexico to Riverside, California on December 4th 2014, when 3-year old Teco wiggled out of his collar. The paid transporter, Mario, didn't notify Cynthia of Teco's disappearance until the next day and told her that Teco ran off on Beyer Boulevard in San Ysidro - one of the busiest streets in the enormous port-of-entry city!
     The entire dog rescue community went a-buzz with action. Flyers were posted all over the area, and social media lit up with concern for poor, lost Teco. Volunteers lined the streets looking for Teco.
 Donde Esta Teco???
 To make matters worse, it was winter and bad weather had set in. Temperatures were freezing, and rain poured, hampering rescue efforts.
     Everyone feared the worst for Teco. His survival, lost and alone in a strange country in foul weather didn't bode well for him. Cynthia, who had formed a very strong attachment to Teco, was so distraught over his disappearance she was taken to the emergency room showing signs of a nervous breakdown. How could this happen???
     Days pass, and there was no sign of Teco anywhere! The transporter Mario, was peppered with questions and inconsistencies began to arise in his story. Cynthia and others in the rescue community concluded after several days, that Teco did not go missing in San Ysidro, the United States, but in Tijuana, Mexico. This detail was of great importance because valuable time and energy had been lost looking for Teco in the wrong country!
The search shifted to Tijuana and posters in Spanish went up everywhere. Shelters were searched, streets scoured, but no sign of Teco.
     Christmas loomed just around the corner and it seemed the Holiday must go on despite Teco's disappearance. Cynthia couldn't shake the thought of her poor lost baby, and never gave up hope. Although the Christmas spirit was far from her mind, she robotically went through the motions of  Holiday preparation.
     Cynthia drove to Costco in Tijuana to purchase her Christmas tree and asked a Costco employee to put the decorative white snow on it. The employee agreed to do it, but explained it would take some time. Instead of waiting around, allowing the visions of a Teco-less Christmas to invade her thoughts, she, being a woman of great faith, went instead to a local church. While there, she lit a candle for Teco and cried out to God, praying to the Virgin of Guadalupe for mercy and protection over Teco, begging in earnest to please bring her sweet Teco home.
     Now here's where the story takes a suspicious turn, where many readers might stop reading and say to themselves "no way did this happen'', but it's true, I tell you with tears streaming down my face, it really is true!
     Cynthia returned to Costco to pick up her Christmas tree and sitting beside the very tree she had bought, paid for and had decorated with snow, was TECO! It's as if he was placed directly beneath that exact tree at the precise time she would return as if to say " I'm home, Mama, I am home."

Teco Before 

She proceeded to scream and shout "Gloria a Dios" and didn't care about the glances the other shoppers were giving her, she was just happy her Teco was found. Teco was a lot skinnier, hungry, dehydrated and full of cuts, most likely a result of a dog-fight. She took him home to bathe him, dress his wounds and make him a very special dinner.
Teco's been recuperating at Cynthia's ever since, and has been patiently awaiting a forever family to adopt him.
 Of course Cynthia would love nothing more than to keep him, but part of being a phenomenal rescuer and foster mom is the ability to release the dogs to awaiting families, so more lives can be saved.

Teco Now

Teco is such a great dog, if I didn't have a full house myself, I would adopt him in a minute and name him Costco.
He's 3 years old, weighs about 62 pounds, has medium energy level and is great with other dogs and cats. He's loyal, social and would be so incredibly grateful if you could take him home with you.
If you are interested in completing Teco's story, please contact Dog Rescue Without Borders at info@drwb.org

Take Me Home

Cynthia & Teco