About 10 years ago, Cheyeanne Murphy’s dogs didn’t literally save her life, but she believes they’ve saved her from falling down a dark path and made her life much more worthwhile.

About a decade ago, Cheyeanne’s mother passed away. She was a young and seemingly healthy woman, but one day she discovered she had cancer and a few months later, she was gone.

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“When my mom was diagnosed, I was definitely on a different path in life,” Cheyeanne recalls. “I had a business where I was working way too many hours. I was living someone else’s dream, not my own, and I thought I should do it because that’s what I was taught to believe I should do with my life, make money. When my mom was diagnosed with cancer, I realized that life can change in a single day. You’re not guaranteed any time. You’re really not guaranteed anything.”

She continues: “It can sometimes seem scary to people, but I always say that my mom’s death was the best and worst thing that ever happened to me, because it forced a very young version of me to live in an extremely present way.”

And so, with the help of her beloved dogs: саѕһ (now deceased), and then Notorious and Shady, Cheyeanne finally found her way out of the dark place of grief she found herself in and began to learn how to truly live again.

“I changed careers. I moved. I ended a very long relationship. I spent a whole year ‘peeling the onion,’ figuring out who I was as a person and what I wanted out of life and where I wanted my life to go. I wanted to be happy and I wanted to make people happy. And honestly, with every bone in my body, I believe that is possible.”

Notorious was Cheyeanne’s first adopted pet after her mother passed away, and he was also her first pet with a disability. Her sister sent her a link on Facebook about the pup, and she instantly fell in love.

“There was this little dog who was no more than a year old running around in the snow without using his back legs, and he was just spinning around and around, and he made this high-pitched squeal, and I fell in love. I had never seen a dog with so much energy and vitality.”

At first, Cheyeanne was hesitant to adopt the dog because she had never dealt with special needs animals. She knew this pet had limited use of his back legs and lacked bladder control, but she couldn’t get the dog out of her head. So she applied for adoption, and a few months later, she had her new pet, now named Notorious, at home in Spokane, Washington. Eight years later, Notorious is still happy and energetic, and enjoys racing in his wheelchair in 5K races, despite being around nine or ten years old.

“As soon as I let her off the leash, she runs full speed down the hill and she’s not afraid of anything. So she leads and I follow. She doesn’t realize she’s disabled, and I don’t need to tell her,” Cheyeanne laughs.

Cheyeanne’s other dog, Shady, was also love at first sight, but in a different way. Most rescue pets need time to adjust to their new owners and lives, but Shady knew how to trust and love everyone from the start, and he immediately took to Cheyeanne. For her part, Cheyeanne had intended to adopt another rescue deemed “unadoptable,” so the lovely Shady didn’t seem like the right fit at first.

“When I first met Shady, he was just adorable. He was so huggable and so loving and he was wagging his little white tail, and I told the people at the shelter, ‘I don’t need to adopt this dog. This dog is going to find a home. He’s not a hard dog to place. ’ And they said, ‘But Cheyeanne, this dog has been here for almost a year. ’ And I said, ‘I’m sorry, but this dog isn’t going to be here any longer. ’”

Cheyeanne didn’t hesitate to take Shady home, and he has been a loving and loyal companion ever since. Shady has a blind eye and scars on his face due to an unknown past, but that hasn’t affected his loving and playful personality.

“Shady is just love. She’s my shadow. She’s by my side all the time,” Cheyeanne says with a smile.

These rescued dogs have had a profound impact on Cheyeanne’s life. Not only have they provided her with love and companionship, but they have also taught her important lessons about life and happiness.

“Both dogs have taught me to live in the present moment and appreciate the little things,” Cheyeanne shares. “They taught me to be brave and face challenges with determination. They have also taught me to love unconditionally and find beauty in differences and imperfections.”

In addition to being a dog lover, Cheyeanne is also a passionate advocate for animal adoption and providing opportunities for pets who are disabled or deemed “unadoptable.” Through her own experiences, she has learned that these animals can have wonderful, joy-filled lives, and she hopes to inspire others to consider pet adoption in similar situations.

“I believe that everyone deserves a chance at a happy life,” Cheyeanne says. “And these dogs have shown me that even when we face challenges or have limitations, we can still find happiness and make a difference in someone else’s life.”

The story of Cheyeanne and her dogs is a powerful reminder of the special connection we can have with animals and how they can help us overcome obstacles and find meaningful purpose in our lives. Through their unconditional love and resilient spirit, these dogs have illuminated Cheyeanne’s path and helped her discover what really matters in life: love, compassion, and true happiness.