Snoop: The Dog That Started It All

8.11.26

I went to the shelter thinking I was going to rescue a dog. Maybe Snoop was the one who rescued me. This is a love story about a rescue dog who quietly changed the direction of my life.

Sometimes, the animals who come into our lives aren't there by accident. They arrive carrying their own wounds, their own stories, and their own lessons. And sometimes, without us even realizing it, they change the shape of our hearts too.

For me, that dog was Snoop (D Oh Double G!)

I had been going to the local SPCA at least once a week, looking for a dog. One summer day, I went in and did my regular walk-through. I wasn't connecting with any of the dogs and was getting ready to leave when something told me to go down a row of kennels one more time.

And that's when I saw him. There he was, just staring at me like I was his person. As soon as I laid eyes on him, I knew. You know that happy look on a dog's face and the wagging tail? He had that look and he was telling me he wanted to come home with me.

He needed to be my dog. I knew. He knew. And so it was!

Snoop was a Pitbull mix, and like many rescue and shelter dogs, he came with a history I knew nothing about—and some behaviors I had to learn to understand. As time went on and we got to know each other, I quickly learned he didn't like most men. He didn't like bicycles or skateboards either. There were things in his world that seemed to trigger a reaction in him. But I also discovered the things he loved. He loved riding in the back of the truck as long as there wasn't anything else back there. He loved going to the beach. And he loved fiercely. He was a loyal dog and such a good boy!

I didn't know his before-me story. He didn't know mine. We just knew he had a past.

Living with Snoop meant learning to understand him. I needed to help him and advocate for him. It meant being aware of his surroundings, learning what made him uncomfortable and understanding where his edge was. I had to make sure he didn't cross that edge and get triggered.

Snoop was my bestie and my protector. He was the first dog I had as an adult. I had him for 10 years, and we lived life to the fullest together, always having fun. I took him everywhere with me.

One day, all of that changed. He was limping. He didn't want to go for car rides anymore. He wasn't himself. I couldn't think of anything that could have caused it, so I made him a vet appointment. That day, our world changed. I learned Snoop had bone cancer. I made the decision to amputate one of his front legs to help extend his quality of life.

Snoop wasn't able to do all the things he was used to, and there was a learning curve on how to navigate the world with only three legs. There were some emotionally hard days, for both of us, like watching him faceplant as he learned to walk again. There were also really good days when it didn't make a difference that he was a tripod. I always had the knowing that I made the right decision. At least I had that.

As time progressed, Snoop started to seem sad and depressed. I tried everything to cheer him up but I could tell he was getting sick again. My heart was breaking into a million little pieces knowing I couldn't help him feel better.

And then, one day, a little Chihuahua entered his life who would change everything for Snoop.

Pedro!

I brought Pedro home when he was just four months old. Pedro was tiny and very timid at first. His given name was actually Timmy because he was the most timid puppy in his litter. He was so, so scared of Snoop in the beginning.

They eventually turned into best friends. Inseparable, actually. Snoop helped Pedro come out of his shell. Pedro became a curious, energetic pup who loved to play. He was also completely unaware that he was about to have one of the best teachers a little dog could ever ask for!

Pedro came with a job too! He gave Snoop a new outlook on life. He helped him feel like a young dog again. And in return, Snoop became Pedro's Maestro, his teacher.

Snoop took Pedro under his wing and showed him the doggy ropes! He felt it was his responsibility to show him how things were done and what the routine was! It melted my heart to watch things naturally unfold between a senior dog and a puppy.

One of my favorite memories was turning around to see Snoop grab a big mouthful of kibble and share it with Pedro. Snoop dropped a few kibbles on the floor right in front of Pedro, as if to say, "Here little guy. Let me show you how this works."

Snoop taught Pedro everything. So much so that Pedro never acted like a normal Chihuahua. Snoop did such a good job helping me raise the little guy! Watching them together was something truly special.

Snoop, this strong, complicated dog who had clearly been through a lot of things before I knew him, had found a purpose. He had a little puppy to teach. Someone to protect (other than me). Someone who needed him.

What I didn't realize at the time was that I had found a mentor too. Snoop taught me that behavior is communication. He taught me that animals carry histories we may never fully know. He taught me about patience, observation, boundaries, trust, and the importance of looking beyond the behavior to the being underneath it all.

And through Snoop and Pedro, something began to awaken in me. My relationship with animals became something much bigger than simply having animals. It was my calling.

Looking back now, I can see the path more clearly. Snoop was the beginning. Pedro was the next chapter. And the lessons they taught me eventually led me into a life of working with animals in ways I never could have imagined.

I went to the shelter thinking I was going to rescue a dog. Maybe Snoop was the one who rescued me. And that's the thing about animals. We think we're the ones saving them. But I think they quietly save us right back.

It always comes back to the animals. Peace. Love. Connection.

One Love,

Tara