My name is Federica, Mom of Sedano and Carota – two small size mixed breed dogs. Carota was born in 2017, she was ill treated for a few months and later abandoned. Sedano was born in 2019 and was raised in a camp kennel (which is now luckily managed by amazing volunteers). He has two heart malformations which we monitor annually in a specialised clinic in Milan. I can’t deny that initially it was very difficult to conquer their trust and to live with Sedano’s health issues. But day after day, we learnt to know each other and we are overcoming everything together.
Our days start with two paws on our chest and a lick on our faces to say “good morning”. We get ready and we go out for a lovely walk in the countryside, scrutinising nature and its changes. Thanks to Sedano and Carota I learned to observe the silence of nature across the seasons… We are just so distracted and we live in such a frenetic way that we don’t notice anything, even beautiful things.
After having smelt some flowers and followed some tracks, we occasionally allow ourselves breakfast in a café where I have a coffee and a biscuit each for Sedano and Carota and then straight home to each breakfast.
On rainy days, on the other hand, we really like lighting the fire, pull up a blanket on the floor and play some games with the clicker. They have become really good and have learnt to sit, ground, paw, bear, roll over and fill their basket with their toys. These exercises are very useful to increase their self-esteem and, at the same time, they’re perfect for brain development.
My favourite time of the year is when we all go on holiday together. My husband and I generally choose Spring to avoid confusion and high temperatures. We only go to places where dogs are allowed and we travel by car so as to stop along the way. To avoid causing too much instability with Sedano and Carota, we choose homes with a garden o places that are not crowded, and we bring their favourite blank and some toys along. And then off we go to discover small villages and art cities.
Adopting a dog means having to be ready for anything: know and understand his history, begin a learning journey together, become accomplices and be comprehensive at the same time.
Going to an animal shulter does not mean “taking a dog for free”, but being aware of choosing to adopt a life. One isn’t always lucky to find a dog that is well-balanced. The dog may have been ill-treated, abandoned in the middle of the street or forced to reproduce to sell puppies, even by letting them produce a litter twice a year right from the first heat. They might have been kept tied up with a chain for years, ill-fed and without water. They could have health problems or difficulty with socialising. If you choose to adopt, you must bear in mind that there is a path to be faced together, possibly with the help of a good dog educator. But every small step will lead you closer to the finish line.
Many people have told me that I was good at adopting and saving them. But in reality I think it was them that saved me…
They are always present, they fill my days with those sweet eyes, with their wet noses that they rub against my hands to call me … when they bring me a toy to throw o simply when they cuddle next to me when I sleep.
Adopting changes your life: we all deserve a second chance.
A big thank you to @sedanoecarota ‘s Mommy for sharing this beautiful story with us!
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