This article is the first part of a Tooth & Honey Original Perspective Series. Part 2 will be released next week.
I got married when I was 18, when my boyfriend was home on Christmas leave from military training, and we decided our future together was going to be all or nothing. We had a small wedding, and I was eager to leave home and start our life together, but I was more excited to finally do something we had always talked about: rescue a dog to give it the perfect life.
Our first duty station was Fort Bliss, Texas, where we found an off-post apartment that would allow dogs. Not wasting any time, we promptly visited one of the animal shelters in the dry heat of El Paso, just “to look.” The shelter was packed and chaotic, but through all the barking, dust, and glaring sun, there was one frumpy-looking brown pit bull that connected with me the moment I saw her.
Meeting Bela—or…Zandra
Instead of barking and jumping, she silently stood in her pen, as if knowing the destiny that would unfold; just waiting for what is already determined to happen. I felt mesmerized by her honey-colored eyes that captivated me as I gravitated toward her. In a haze of highly energetic dogs swirling around her, she remained composed despite the new humans approaching her. It was like she had a ticket, and she was patiently aware that her number was about to be called, thinking, “it’s my turn now…my person is here. No need to get all excited.”
The tops of her paws were bloody, which the volunteers said was from trying to dig under the fence, a stigmatic indicator that she was active at least sometimes. I remember calling her “Honey,” a lot, as she sweetly allowed me to place the rope leash around her neck. Suddenly, it became evident that she had never been on a leash before, as she body slammed the ground and flailed around like a fish out of water, not negotiating the sensation of this thing around her neck. Although concerned, I knew that she would trust me and calm down per the unspoken agreement we had to be patient. She quickly re-gained her composure and walked gingerly on a leash like the episode never occurred.
Bela’s Unknown History
Her given name was Zandra. The volunteers told us that someone left her behind when they moved away and didn’t want to take her with them. They said she must have been teased with food because she barks at her bowl when she eats and that turns a lot of people off from adopting her. They said she doesn’t engage with potential adopters when they come to the shelter because she doesn’t get wound up with excitement. No one is sure how old she was either. Well, although we only went to the shelter to look, I knew this dog was ours, even if my husband didn’t know it yet. She was cut from a different cloth and marginalized for not fitting into people’s ideas of what normal is. She was everything that I suspected when I saw her, and we needed each other.
Bringing Bela Home
Because my husband insisted that we were only looking, we didn’t take her home that day. I couldn’t sleep that night because I stayed up crying, thinking about this sweet girl on a concrete slab with no escape from the heat and noise. I thought about her instead cuddling with me in my bed, exerting her therapeutic serenity. I thought about how I would give her a life that she would never need to worry about being left behind, and never need to be convinced that she’s worth a home. She would never be able to forget that she is loved and needed. I knew I had to adopt her and give her everything she deserved, and my heart would feel empty until it happened.
The next day, I heard the door open to our apartment with this panting, heaving, excited sausage roll of energy. My husband—saying he got called into work— actually went to the shelter and adopted our girl, and brought her home to our first place together (the first of six so far). We named her Bela, because she has a widow’s peak marking that looks like Count Dracula played by Bela Lugosi. Bela has taught me what it means to accept yourself, and to be patient with those who don’t understand you. She taught me that you don’t always need to justify other people’s judgment with a reply, and that our perceptions of ourselves are more important than anyone else.
This is the first part of a multi-part series. Click Here for Part 2
39 Comments. Leave new
Beautiful. I cannot wait to read more.
Thank you so much for reading!!
I love this so much! I chose Curly because he was the only dog at the rescue who wasn’t barking with excitement. I knew he needed a home ASAP. Cheers to the ones everyone else failed to see the magic in!
SO MUCH MAGIC!!! <3
I love happy endings all of these babies deserve happy and loving homes I adopted my little girl from my local shelter it was love of first sight
Thank you!! So happy you adopted your little girl!!
Such a sweet story. I cant wait to hear more!
Thank you Tanya!
I cried all all the way through your beautiful story. We rescued our pit mix 5 years ago. He was diagnosed with Addison’s disease 3 years ago and undergoes an injection every 25 days. No matter what needle or pill he is made to endure, our rescue wakes every day happy and smiling. I can describe him in one word, GRATEFUL. He thanks me every day. Truth is, he rescued us. Thanks for making me smile today!!!
Thank you for reading! What a lucky guy to live the good life with you! Enjoy your baby!! <3
Sitting on the edge of my seat to hear the rest of Bela’s story while my rescue Hospice “pibble” is curled up next to me.
So sweet! Thank you for reading!!!
Love these type of stories. We have 3 of our very own stories with our pack. Can’t wait to hear more.
Thank you!! Rescue stories are the best!
Thank you for sharing this story. I’ve often wondered what was behind your shop.
You are so welcome! Thank you for reading!
❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for sharing stories like this. Hopefully it will impact others to do the same or better yet, keep a dog forever.
Thank you for reading!! I agree, keep a dog FOREVER!!!
What a sweet story. I LOVE reading doggie rescue stories, my heart just melts. We have our own rescue pittie who is the love of our lives. Can’t wait for part 2!
P.S. Bela is a beauty…. love the sweater?
Heart-touching story, and that name suits her so perfectly.
Thank you for rescuing.
Awww; thank you for sharing your story! Perfect day for a good story when so many are suffering losses!
Such a beautiful story and so well told. We adopted our “Spencer” because he was the calm dog in the sea of pound barkers and he was my best bud for 13 years. I love following Bela’s life and look forward to reading more.
I’m so warmed and fuzzy on the inside and can’t wait to read the rest of this amazing rescue story.
Wow I’m reading this cuddled up with my girl who was also the quiet one sitting amongst the chaos in the shelter. We are awaiting our next dog who is in South Carolina. Thinking of him on the shelter too. I love your story and great job with your blog and business!
Bella is Beautiful as her name says. I’m so happy that you decided to adopt, I did too. My fur baby’s name is Petey and he’s a Dogo/ Pitty mix. He had been found wandering the streets in Manhattan. I’m looking forward to Part 2 ❤️
LOVE this! It’s amazing how they pick us and you just know when you meet. They come into our lives and teach us so much and how to be better people. Can’t wait to read more! Our pit mix came to us during a time that my world was collapsing around me. My husband was coming towards the end of his battle with cancer. Charlie Brown only had his dad for 10 months but you would have thought we had had him forever, the bond between him and my husband was amazing. He was always snuggled up in his lap giving him kisses. It definitely made things better for both of us and now he is taking care of me. I don’t think I would have made it through this past year without him!
Can’t wait to read the rest, loving this story already you sound so much like our beginnings too!
Reminds me of how I rescued my Bruno! Thank you for sharing! My Bully loves his tooth and honey wardrobe
Awww, I love this so much. Brb, crying <3
Such a fricken sweet story!!
Our rescue story was very similar. She was the only one sitting patiently in her cage. She is a wonderful dog and we love her very much. She has two of your Tooth & Honey t-shirts!! @madelinethe rescue
Sooooooooo sweet, brought me to tears with your husband going to get her and bringing her home without telling you. Our girl was reserved at the shelter as well and her honey-colored eyes drew us in!
In October of 2018 my boyfriend and I had to put our pit bull down due to him getting sick. He got sick back in July of 2018 and we got him on meds then he got better but after a few months he got worse. He went downhill real quick so we decided to do the right thing and put him to sleep. We do have his ashes so he is still with us. About a month later my boyfriend and I started talking about rescuing another dog and in December 2018 we went to the humane society just to look at dogs and we saw this dog who has scars on her legs and she seemed real shy and scared with one of the volunteers that was in her kennel with her. I remember it was December 1st of 2018 when we brought her home. The shelter was having something called Empty the shelter. We rescued her on my birthday and that was a good birthday present. She has been my girl since.
Love the story so far. ?
This warmed my heart and was much needed as we will be putting down my son/ daughter in law’s pit mix this afternoon. We are ripped by sadness and grief.
However in my heart I know there is another sweet soul waiting to be rescued when the time is right.
Btw, she will be wearing her pink Princess Hippo collar that she got before the end stage kidney diagnosis.
This is a beautiful story. She’s beautiful and please continue to do what you’re doing. I have 4 potties and it drives me crazy when people walk to the other side of an aisle or street and you can see that they can’t get away from them quick enough. So I can understand how you felt when they wouldn’t let you bring her in the hospital. I have my youngest gage that just turned 2 yesterday in training to be a therapy dog. Just really want to say thank you for all that you are doing ❤
This is a great story! I started a project called Shine a Light ATL (www.shineliteatl.com) to do the exact same thing. Maybe our paths will cross (post covid) and Bela can be featured!
I love rescue stories. I found my Biggie, listed for free as a boxer on a local pets page. I knew he wasn’t a boxer, and knew what free could mean for him. I will never forget first meeting him, how he looked, behaved, and pancakes from his owner. Once he was loaded up on my car the tiny kisses on my cheek began, then my hand, and he curled up in a ball and went to sleep. He was emaciated. I gave him a shower, he was terrified to be in water, and he sat in my lap while i turned a brown dog into a white dog. He’s been the absolute BEST dog ever. He knows when my son is fighting infections before I do, he been my surgery buddy, licking tears from pain, calming my anxiety, and just being there when I felt alone. We were hit with some hard news earlier this year, Biggie was diagnosed with non visceral hemangiosarcoma…but we are working with his vet and treating with herbs, tumor removal, turkey tail….. But we’ve had this best buddy for 5 years. Just wanted to share his rescue story with you. He has some Pajamas coming(ordered today) so Once those get in I will share on Insta! But THANK YOU for creating clothes for our babies