As the iHeartDogs Editor, I come across a lot of stories that make me feel something inside. Sometimes they are sweet, sometimes tragic, but when you find a story with a beautiful and happy ending that makes you cry, it touches your soul.
The story of Penni the dog is one of those stories. Penni is one of those dogs that you see in pictures and know she is loved.
But it wasn’t always like that for her. She had a journey. A long one. One is filled with sadness and fear, but the true expression of a dog’s spirit can never be broken.
Through all she’s been through, Penni wants only one thing: love. And as you can see, she got what she wanted so far. This love will never go away, thanks to a man who shared their beautiful story with us.
I want to say a special thank you to my dog dad Penni for sharing this incredibly heartfelt story with us. This is exactly what the rescue is about.
It took me about eight months to look for a dog. I spoke to quite a few rescue groups, but unfortunately, I kept getting turned down because I was “not a good fit”. Fortunately, I was contacted Friends who are in need of fur and after giving them my biography and description of what I was looking for in a dog, they offered to let me see Penni. Before the meeting, however, the rescue team warned me that Penni had endured a particularly difficult life up until this point, and they wanted to make sure I was aware of the details.
They are not entirely sure of her age (about one to two years old), but they do know that she has spent her life locked up in the basement of a drug house, where she is confronted with endless physical and mental abuse. She was then thrown on the street. Not long after that, she was ousted by an officer (along with two other dogs) and had to be beaten and scratched. Upon admission, the pound assessed her, and I would say that is the saddest description of a dog I have ever read. With a combination of evaluation and overcrowding, the decision was made to equalize Penni. Fortunately, however, the rescue team arrived in time to save her life. Knowing all of that, I was more drawn to meet her.
I met the rescue team a few days later. When Penni jumped out of the car, they asked me to wait a moment before approaching me due to her extreme level of anxiety. I sat to one side, and without striding, she walked over and sat on my lap. At that moment, I knew that she was the dog for me!
When I brought her home, I realized how much work I had ahead of me. She was afraid of everything in sight. She didn’t trust every situation. She simply doesn’t want to be exposed to the world. In the beginning, every day is a challenge. However, with persistent focus, she gradually overcomes many of her fears. Daily visits to dog parks helped her realize how to play (and how to run – because up until this point, she had never had a chance to run). The daily walk helps her understand that she is no longer in an environment where everything is accompanied by risks and threats.
Fast forward two years later. That is now.
It’s like a completely different reality. The seemingly permanent cycle of fear has diminished markedly. While she absolutely still has her quirks, one thing is for sure this dog loves to be outside. I certainly had this inclination when we lived in New Jersey, but after moving to Las Vegas, no doubt. Since we got here, I’ve been interested in finding different destinations as often as possible. Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Lake Mead, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon, Mammoth, Death Valley, Lake Powell – I could go on. And everywhere we went, she seemed to surprise me with her antics. Whether it’s a goofy gallop while she’s wearing hiking boots or the surprise of plunging into a puddle a little deeper than anticipated, she always has me smiling. We share a unique bond as we also go through these events. I mean, not everyone can say they got into a fight with their dog!
And this brings me to the most important point. Penni changed my life. She has also changed the lives of others. Somehow, she possesses this innate ability to make you fall in love with her. She’s the kind of dog that turns a cat person into a dog person. Wherever we went, she seemed to steal the show, and I attribute all of this to one simple thing: she finally got to show love. Love is what triggers all of this.
If you want to follow their adventures – filled with amazing photos of their adventures together –Check them out on Instagram!
