Luna is a Rottweiler who I had been trusted to rehome for her guardian.
Here is her story:
In August of 2024, I received a message from a friend who I’d met through visiting the SPCA. Someone had contacted her about a neighbours dog who was left tied outside, on Surrette’s Island (Yarmouth County, NS) for three days. The entire community was worried about this dog.
My friend contacted me in hopes that I could help.
It was a whirlwind of a “rescue” operation and within a few hours, I went to Surrette’s Island to pick up a Rottweiler that I had little to no information about, with another friend who was (is still) active in animal rescue in the area. (Thank you, Kamarie!)
The dog was Luna.
Her human was in the hospital and they weren’t sure for how long. Her human’s adult son and ex-spouse asked me to take Luna and rehome her, signing a relinquishment form.
I took Luna home and got to know her.
Right away, she seemed super friendly and was not afraid of my children (aged 7, 9 and 12 back then) but also had no idea how big and strong she was (that hasn’t changed). She also wasn’t afraid to hop into the car with me, a total stranger, nor was she nervous around my giant 6’3″ army husband, even in his uniform.
She was, however, pretty darned hungry and had some digestion issues that were helped immensely by feeding her a “pumpkin puck” a few times a day (pureed real pumpkin, combined with cooked white rice and ground beef, frozen into little meal sized “pucks”).
It took her some time to get used to being crated, the first day was pretty tough, but by day three, she was happily walking in, turning around, and waiting for her treat.
I groomer I knew volunteered her time to tidy up Luna’s nails, and, thanks to some colleagues in the rescue world on the South Shore, we scheduled an appointment with a vet for a full exam. At this point, I still didn’t know if she was up to date on vaccines, if she was spayed yet, or anything, really, about her other than what I had witnessed. Oh, and that she had been feed a homemade diet of chicken and rice for her entire life.
She was wonderful and I was hopeful for her future…
but cautious as I knew that her guardian wasn’t the one who relinquished her to me, and that could become an issue.
… And then her human was released from the hospital,
and, as suspected, wanted her returned home.
Of course, I returned her the day I had been told he wanted her back. She belonged to him, and he had not consented to having her rehomed while he was in the hospital. (I certainly would have been upset had I been in his shoes.)
Giving her back to him, though, was the most difficult thing I have done as a dog professional thus far. It was extremely difficult to leave her behind with him knowing that he was not well and would have a hard time meeting her needs.
The day I took her home, we sat out on my front deck together and I promised her that if her human ever wanted to find her a home who could care for her better, I would find her the most perfect home.
I dropped her off and told her human the same thing.
And then I cried the entire drive home.
Almost exactly a year later, I got a call from the ex-spouse…
Luna’s human was ready to let her go.
I called her guardian the next day, on August 3rd, and collected information about her, and then, within two hours, she was relinquished to me as her new guardian.
He realized that he could not meet her needs and wanted her to go have a better life with a more active family.
When I tell you she walked into our home as though she had never left, I mean it! She walked into the mudroom and right into her crate, turning around and waiting for a treat.
I’ve never seen anything like it. I would never have expected her to remember so easily after a full year! But she did.
Our entire family was thrilled to have her back with us! We all love and adore her and wish her the world. We love her so much, we are willing to keep her with us for as long as it takes until someone applies for her that meets my (very high) expectations. Application form can be found HERE.
Just two days after sharing her Adoption Application on Facebook, I thought I had found exactly that.
Without going into detail (that would be unprofessional and, frankly, I was profoundly affected negatively by the experience), I will say that it didn’t work out.
After two weeks of preparing for the transition to the new home, and her being returned about 10 hours later, I was heartbroken for Luna, disappointed in my trust in others, discouraged and self doubting.
After two weeks of preparing for the transition to the new home, and her being returned about 10 hours later, I was heartbroken for Luna, disappointed in my trust in others, discouraged and self doubting.
But forward we move.
When Luna came home with me on August 3rd, I immediately noticed physical issues. The experience in getting her diagnosis and treatment for a severe UTI is a story in itself, which I also won’t give details about, however I will give a huge shout out to my personal vet, Sissiboo Veterinary Services, for squeezing us in and helping her quickly and efficiently.
During her visit with them, it was discovered that her infection was so severe, that she required three capsules of Amoxil in the morning, and three more in the evening, for a minimum of 30 days. (As of September 10, 2025 her UTI is all clear!)
We also had a full panel of bloodwork done to ensure health as much as possible, which was negative for heartworm, Lyme and Anaplasmosis. She was given a Bravecto tablet for flea and tick prevention, and Drontal Plus as a preventative as well. (And, of course, her Amoxil with 
Peanut Butter Bread in the Morning… and Peanut Butter Bread at Night)
Peanut Butter Bread in the Morning… and Peanut Butter Bread at Night)She does still require being spayed, we’re just letting her body relax a bit after the infection before we book it.
Her adoption fee was only ever going to be the cost of her veterinary care, with copies of all receipts provided to the adopter. However, because of her UTI, and additional medications, plus her spay, it was going to be an immense cost to the adopter of $1.584.50!
That was a lot, so I did some fundraising to try to lower that cost for the adopter by selling “Paw Prints” as well as hats with my logo on them. I raised a little more than $350 and then an incredible lady donated $575 to cover all of the first round of vet fees! Thank you so much Lena from Canopy Accounting and Tax Inc!
That was a lot, so I did some fundraising to try to lower that cost for the adopter by selling “Paw Prints” as well as hats with my logo on them. I raised a little more than $350 and then an incredible lady donated $575 to cover all of the first round of vet fees! Thank you so much Lena from Canopy Accounting and Tax Inc!
That meant that Luna’s adoption fee will only the cost of her spay: $712.50!
On October 7th, I received her third adoption application. (That’s right, she was with me more than two months and only had three applications!) The applicants had small children, so I was a bit apprehensive, but the adults came to meet Luna the following weekend. Then the next day, they brought their Great Dane to meet her! The day after that, we took Luna to their house to meet the kids and do a home check visit. Luna met her new donkey friend, chickens, guinea fowls, and her two new humans, one of which she loved to chase around the property on the four wheeler! It’s a rural, 100+ acre property, with very little traffic, lots of space to roam and protect, two adults who can be home with her all of the time, a BIG big brother dog, and all of the love she can get! I am cautious to say it’s the perfect fit because of our last attempted adopters experience, but it has been a few days now and I’m getting the best daily updates: it seems Luna loves to sleep in the bed with her human parents, and stay close to them as they work around their huge property.
Right now, they are “Foster-to-Adopt”, simply because her spay needs to be completed before the adoption can be finalized. But her new people are taking her to her spay themselves and will just pay the vet directly, which is even better!
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to her care.
I keep records of each one,
and every one is so appreciated.
This entire experience with Luna, both last year and this one, has helped me grow as a dog professional as well as just a human in general.
It is my priority and honor to ensure she’s going to have the most wonderful life for the rest of her years.
This text from her previous guardian the day I picked her up means the world to me:
“Thank you so much for coming today I know your a good soul Luna remembered and was happy to go that made much less painful!!! Thank for your help in this difficult decision for me!!! Luna having full and happy life is important to me thank for fast reply!!!! Thank you so much!!!She deserves a good home such a loving dog!!! Thank you for doing such a great job thank you !!”
I assure you, it has been my immense pleasure to be trusted with this sweetest soul in Rottweiler form.
I’ve been keeping him updated as well and he is THRILLED that she found a young, active, outdoorsy family for her to spend her days with. That’s what he was hoping for her when he made the difficult decision to let her go. I’m so relieved it worked out just the way he hoped and I was able to be a part of it.
It was definitely a roller coaster, and I do not want to work in rescue ever again (except as support by being a trainer)… but she was worth it.
It was definitely a roller coaster, and I do not want to work in rescue ever again (except as support by being a trainer)… but she was worth it.
