The reason I started volunteering: Champ

I’ll never forget the first time I saw his story. Tri-County Animal Rescue had posted about a dog that had been launched—yes, literally launched—over their 8-foot fence in the middle of the night. No note. Just a bag of food tossed beside him and a hurt paw.

Like… what?!

This dog had two different colored eyes, a soft face, and a soul that just radiated. He was beautiful. And yet someone couldn’t even be bothered to walk through the front door and surrender him properly. They treated him like trash—thrown out like he didn’t matter.

That post triggered something deep inside me. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. This is some dog’s reality? They were someone’s family dog… until they weren’t? The thought just gutted me.

They started calling him Champ. Why? Because he was one. He handled it all like an absolute champ. That wasn’t even his real name—which also broke me. Imagine already being traumatized and now everyone’s calling you something totally different? Confusing AF.

I couldn’t shake it. For weeks, he stayed on my mind. Every time I looked at Enzo living his best life, I thought about Champ, alone in a shelter, not knowing what the hell was going on.

So I signed up to volunteer.

The moment I met Champ, it was game over. I was in love. Like, heart-eyed emoji-level obsessed. Sure, I loved all the dogs there—but Champ? He was my guy. My priority.

And let me tell you… I got written up on my third day of volunteering. (Did you even know you could get written up for something you don’t get paid to do?! Because I didn’t.) Apparently, I wasn’t approved to walk Champ yet. But it was 1 PM. He hadn’t been walked all day. So I said screw it and took him out because his well-being is literally why I was there.

That’s when the curtain got pulled back. I saw what it was really like inside a rescue. The staff doing the best they can with limited resources. Dogs barely getting walked. So little love. So much waiting.

I cried almost every time I left.

But here’s the happy ending. I went home to visit family for a month, heartbroken to leave Champ. While I was gone, I got the best message—Champ had been adopted! A beautiful mom brought her son into the shelter and let him pick out his new best friend.

He picked Champ.

I cried tears of joy. I mean full on sobbed. My guy was OUT!

And then, the universe said: Wait, I’m not done yet.

I got back to Florida, took Enzo to the dog park… and guess who walked in?

CHAMP. With his new family. I about passed out. Enzo and Champ became besties, and I became great friends with Champ’s mom. I still get updates. I still get photos. And I still smile every single time.

It was in that moment I realized… I want this for every shelter dog. That kind of love. That kind of home. That kind of second chance.

So yeah. Champ was the first. But he won’t be the last. Because this is what One Dog at a Time is all about.

Want to donate a toy? Send a bag of treats? Learn how to foster or adopt?

Every week, I’ll be sharing a dog who needs love. Maybe they’ve been in a shelter too long. Maybe their story hasn’t been heard yet. But trust me, they all deserve their Champ moment.

Stay tuned 🐾