Dori's Journey

Dori needs Help

The Pitbull Who Saved My Life

This is the picture of the day Dori came into my life. Dori is an American Pitbull Terrier. When I adopted her, she was 7 years old, and we both had just been rescued by God from the streets. Tim and I had gotten sober, started our lives over, and moved into a new apartment. It seemed like we had everything, but deep inside, I was struggling.

After everything I had been through—years of homelessness, losing everything, and fighting through severe depression—I began isolating myself. I didn't want to leave the house unless I absolutely had to. I resented Tim for working so much, and I felt like a wreck. We talked one night and decided it might be a good idea to get a pet, a "cat" to be exact.

When I went to the Dumb Friends League, I was a wreck myself. They were so patient with me. I told myself I was just going to "look" at the dogs. But when I saw her, I knew I had to take her home. I still needed to explain things to Tim, so he came from work to meet her. He was a little surprised when he saw her. "That’s the biggest cat I’ve ever seen!" he said, laughing.

That day changed my life. Dori was my rescue, and for the first time in a long time, I felt something other than despair. We struggled for a year to find food that she would eat—thankfully, we found the right one: Abound at King Soopers. Now, Dori’s facing serious health issues, including dental problems and a UTI.

I’m in the process of building my business with coloring books, but things aren’t easy. We’ve only just begun to rebuild after homelessness, and our credit isn’t where it needs to be yet. But none of that matters to me right now. Dori is so important to everything I’m doing. She was returned three times to the shelter before she found me. And now, I will not give up on her.

I found out that it’s cheaper for me to euthanize her than to treat her, and that breaks my heart. But I can’t give up. She rescued me when I wanted to hide, and I have to try to save her. To help cover her vet costs, I’ve started creating coloring pages. All the proceeds from these coloring pages will go directly to her care.

I will be posting regular updates on her condition. If you know of any veterinarians in or near Denver who may be able to help her, please let me know.

Thank you for being a part of Dori’s Journey, and for supporting me as I fight to save her life.

 

This picture was taken just today, 03/14/2025, showing Dori sick and laying on the couch. She’s not drinking water, not eating, and there’s a horrible odor coming from her mouth. I am deeply concerned for her health, and I can’t help but feel the weight of this situation. Dori has always been there for me, rescuing me when I was at my lowest, and now I need to be there for her.