" I did n’t realize what I ’d been miss . "
For Whitney Johnson , 2020 should have been a sentence of promise . The then-37 - yr - old had move from Texas to Tennessee and was look forward to beginning an exciting new chapter of her life . All of that came to a thunderous halt , however , with the introduction of one tidings : malignant neoplastic disease .
Johnson was diagnosed with breast Crab in February 2020 and was facing the prospects of a double mastectomy and months of chemotherapy treatments . Then , just a month later on , theCOVID-19 pandemicbegan to rig in across the land and Johnson establish herself isolated .
Photo: Courtesy of Petco Love
She was 1,000 miles away from her family , ineffectual to move around , and was arrive to grip with a devastating diagnosis , but she know exactly what she needed to do for herself .
" I just knew it was time to get a furry admirer , " Johnson tells Daily Paws . " My whole family are huge bounder lovers . All my siblings have pets , I ’ve always owned dogs . I knew I was going to be home for a year and not get the visitors that I intend I would , so it seemed like the logical time . "
And so , in the days correctly before Nashville begin its first COVID lockdown , Johnson run to an acceptance event hosted by Petco andProverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue . That ’s when she first met Dash .
Johnson , who says she had always own larger dog , was consciously looking for a smaller pupper to that would be easy to handle and care for with the lessened strength and energy level she knew would be a part of her life as she recuperate from her operating theater and dealt with the result of her treatment . Dash — a full - full-grown 2 - year - honest-to-god commixture who ’s about the same sizing and ramp up as aRussell terrier — fit the bill attractively . Johnson put in her adoption paperwork that day and before the calendar week was out , Dash was hers .
" It was one of those things that I did n’t realize I ’d been miss , " Johnson admits . " make an animal there that ’s just so emotional to see you when you come home , it made the ponderousness vanish for a minute . "
During those physically and emotionally demanding month satiate with stress , Dash provided Johnson with the honey and interaction that she could n’t get from her friends and family line in individual because of the pandemic . The piffling dog boosted her spirits whenever they sank , and she says that sometimes he gave her the motive she necessitate to get up and present the new day .
" During chemo , I experience that I had to get out and exercise as part of the recovery unconscious process , whether I wanted to or not , " she says . " I do n’t think I would have been committed to that exercise on my own . "
Once her surgery were completed and she feel stronger , Johnson contacted the Proverbs 12:10 organisation again and said she was concerned infostering additional animals . That lead to what Johnson call in a " revolving door " of detent , with new fosters sometimes coming in the day after the premature foster leave . That ’s how Johnson and Dash met Duncan .
When Duncan and his four siblings total into Johnson ’s humankind as month - old foster pups , she was immediately taken by the fighting , bull terriermix . And , as she was start to transition back to working outdoors of her home , she get laid having a even companion for Dash would be a huge benefit in help curtailseparation anxietyand boredom .
" So I call in Proverbs and say , ' I consider I have my first surrogate failure . ' "
That so - called failure is in part thanks the hard work of Proverbs 12:10 and its stave and volunteers who ’ve help find numerous forever home for their pets . Johnson ’s story of put on persuasiveness and love from her pup recently helped the tax shelter secure a $ 25,000 subsidization , after the submission was selected by Petco Love and BOBS from Skechers through thePetco Love Storiescampaign .
Johnson , meanwhile , is cancer free and has wind up her surgeries and handling . She ’s feeling strong and finds herself invigorated by the ordeal of 2020 and the dogs who helped her through .
" I have a whole unexampled rental on life and I ’m more focused on living lifetime the way I desire , " she says . " I ’m find oneself joy every day . "
