34.One Girl. One Journey – Step 1 of Plan A

So the next day, my daughter brought Tito over for a visit. Wow, what a powerful looking dog! He looked completely different. And you could tell that he felt different just by the way he walked. He had his collar on and she had him on a leash. My best friend, Bear (my cat) had to be put in my bedroom. This was my biggest concern. How was I going to have a dog of that size live with me when I had a cat?

We stood in the kitchen, I felt scared – was he unpredictable? I was really uncomfortable. But my daughter told me he was trained and as long as I made it very clear I was boss, there wouldn´t be any problems. ? Make it clear I´m the boss?? I couldn´t even make that clear to my SELF, let alone a massive dog that I was boss! I told her I probably couldn´t do it. She said I could. To just believe in myself – and him. She brought a piece of meat and told him to sit. He did. She put the meat on his nose and he balanced it there. She turned and talked to me and he continued to sit there with the piece of meat balanced on his nose and saliva laying in a puddle on my floor. After a couple minutes she turned and motioned to him and he gently dropped his head a bit and popped the meat into his mouth. I was stunned. We took him for a walk and she showed my how to walk him. He was never to lead. I was to always lead. When we got back to my place, we stayed out on the driveway and she showed my the training he needed everyday. She said she could tell he felt comfortable around me. I told her that it was too much responsibility for me at that time in my life. And I didn´t want to lock my cat in my bedroom for two weeks straight. That wasn´t fair. She told me that she really needed me to do this. If I didn´t, she´d have to surrender him to the SPCA and then who knows what would happen to him.

Good one. She knew how to work me. I guess Bear would have to hang out in the bedroom for a couple of weeks. Actually, I could switch it up and they could take turns.

What happened during those two weeks were nothing short of a miracle. He stuck by my side like glue. I trained him everyday and we went for walks in the early evening after work. I loved it! I had never had a dog like that before, and it was like having a buddy. I had had my cat for about 6 years and she was great company, but I couldn´t take her for walks or anything so this was a big change for me. All of a sudden I didn´t feel as lonely anymore. It was different with a dog. When I worked at my desk, he laid at my feet. I felt so – I don´t know – protected.

The apartment I was in was in the lower part of my friends house. She was actually initially my neighbour when I lived at the condo. We became friends, and through conversation she had told me she bought a house and was renovating the lower level into an apartment. She said it would be perfect for me. I was wanting to downsize so it seemed the perfect answer. I think the first warning sign was the rent. When I paid her first and last based on our conversations, she advised me she changed her mind. It was $250.00 more a month. Anyways, she started seeing a guy and he had a daughter with a child. They were really noisy. I called her a couple of times to ask if they could try to be quieter, but I think it must have offended her because it got worse. Then there were issues with doing laundry… it became one thing after another. Her boyfriend actually became aggressive towards me and I felt uncomfortable. They had a key to my apartment. I didn´t like that either. I had to move out. I didn´t want to be there anymore. Then into Tito´s second week at my place, she told me that her boyfriends daughter broke up with her boyfriend and needed a place to stay. Guess where? My place. I was given notice. Not that I cared because I was planning on moving anyways… but now there was pressure. I honestly don´t know how I would have gotten through that without Tito. He gave me such strength! I felt strong and powerful with him by my side. I knew if anyone came near me he would protect me. I knew that anyone just looking at him wouldn´t come near me.

One day, as I was training him, I saw her look out the window. We lived in a cul de sac so there was a round about as well as a driveway. No one ever went there, so it was perfect for training him. Later that day she messaged me to tell me no pets were allowed, and to get rid of the dog. I messaged he back saying that we never discussed any pet rules, she knew I had a cat, and the dog wasn´t a permanent pet, and he wasn´t going anywhere. This made things even more stressed. But I stood my ground.

Not only did Tito make me feel protected, he gave the courage and the confidence to stand up for myself. And to make decisions. I decided, somehow, I was getting out of there as soon as possible. It wouldn´t take much since I had very little furniture.

The two weeks came to an end, and Tito went back to my daughters. I hated to see him go. If I didn´t have Bear and I was more stable, I would have kept him. I really felt a great connection between us. I missed him very much, and I will never ever forget my time with him, our connection, and how much he helped me through a very difficult time… everything happens for a reason <3 (He passed away in August of 2021. God Speed Tito… my hero. You will be so missed..)

Bear and I got back into our regular routine, and I prayed all day and night for God to help us get out of that place.

A couple days later, I got a call from one of my clients who was selling their house with me.