Rock Bottom Wasn’t What I Expected—But My Dog Never Left My Side
People think rock bottom means losing your job, your house, or your family.
For me, it was quieter: realizing no one had said my name in two weeks—no one, except my dog, Bixby.
Not in words, of course. But in his eyes. In the way he looked at me, like I still mattered.
We’ve weathered evictions, been turned away from shelters, slept under tarps in the rain.
Once, after two full days without food, someone threw us a sausage biscuit.
I tore it in half.
Bixby pushed his piece back to me. That broke something inside me.
I made a sign—not to beg, but to explain.
Most people just saw the dirt. Not the dog who saved me.
Then one day, everything changed.
A woman stopped. She took a photo. She smiled.
Then she said five words I’ll never forget:
“We’ve been looking for you.”
There was a room. Dog-friendly. Safe.
For the first time in months, we slept on a real bed.
Bixby got a bath and a toy. I got clean clothes—and enough strength to call my sister after a year of silence.
Yesterday, I got a job offer. I said yes—for both of us.
Here’s what I know now:
It’s not the cold or the hunger that breaks you.
It’s being invisible. It’s the silence.
But love—especially the kind that sits beside you through everything—can cut through even that.
Sometimes, all it takes is one dog. One act of kindness.
And five simple words that remind you you’re still here:
“We’ve been looking for you.”
Kindness matters.
Dogs understand love.
And if someone stays with you through your worst—hold on tight. Never let go.
