Kayla's Story

1.⁠ ⁠What made you choose to adopt not shop?

It was important to us to give a homeless dog a loving home. We had another rescue dog that we loved who passed away. After a few months of missing a dog in the house, we went to Animal Ark in Hastings, Minnesota to look at a specific rescue dog that we saw on their website. She was not at the facility when we arrived, but they suggested that we meet Kayla. She was very shy, but she seemed like she might fit in our lifestyle. We liked her amazing story as well. We arranged for her to visit us in our home, and she seemed to fit in - even with the cat.

2.⁠ ⁠⁠What is Kayla's backstory?

Kayla was one of the first two dogs to be sent abroad from Muscat Dog Adoption in hope of finding a forever home. She was rescued from the streets as a puppy, but had not found a home in over five years. I am not sure how she ended up in Hastings, Minnesota at Animal Ark. After we adopted her, we established a relationship with people at Muscat Dog Adoption, and have kept in touch through the Facebook group.

3.⁠ ⁠⁠What was the most surprising thing you found about adopting a street dog?

Kayla is a strange dog in many ways. She spent so much time in a shelter that she is not a typical dog. She does not know how to play. She will not chase a ball or a stick. She loves to run, though, and she can zoom like the wind. It's been fun to watch her adapt to our changing seasons here in Minnesota.

4.⁠ ⁠⁠What were some challenges, and how did you overcome them?

Kayla is deathly afraid of gunshots, fireworks, and loud thunder. We brought her home just after Thanksgiving (November 25 or so). She gradually became more comfortable with us as she faced the newness of living in the United States and in the different weather than she was used to. On New Year's Eve, we were ready for bed at midnight, and we put Kayla on her lead to go outside for her bedtime potty. It was below zero here that night (0 Fahrenheit is -17 C). A very loud aerial firework exploded right overhead, and Kayla bolted, straightening out the D-ring at the end of her lead, and headed down the street at full speed. We did not find her that night, and we were frantically searching. It took three days, but she finally found her way home (thanks to the daily walking route we had established since she came to live with us - she remembered!). Her feet were a little frostbit, and she was terrified, but she was happy to be home safe. We did buy a tracking collar for her after that scare, but she always finds her way back now if she decides to give us the slip from the yard.

We've come to expect her to head for the basement when loud noises happen. She feels safe there. Our July 4th is a challenge (especially when so many start shooting off fireworks in mid June). We're going to try some CBD oil this year to see if it helps with her anxiety.

5.⁠ ⁠⁠How did your wadi change your life?

Kayla gives us so much joy. She is goofy and neurotic. She is very set in her ways, and she expects things to happen at the right time. She makes us laugh every day! She is not a snuggle dog, and she is not a play dog, but she shows us all the time how much she loves us.

6.⁠ ⁠⁠What is your favourite thing about your wadi?

We love it when one or both of us come home from being away (even for less than an hour). Kayla stands at the top of the stairs from the garage and howls when we come through the door as if we had been gone for a month.

We love taking Kayla on our adventures camping and she even spent a few weeks of winter near the ocean with us this year. So happy to have her in our life!

To give a dog like Kayla a home, take a look at our dogs still waiting for their forever home!