“He was at the shelter for almost six months, and hardly anyone looked at him because he was kind of mopey and sad, no one really wanted to give him a chance.”
This was the sad truth of a rescue dog named Brickle that had a very difficult life.
Brickle was a rescue at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, Florida, where he spent all his days in a kennel feeling sad and depressed.
This poor boy was overlooked by everyone because he just wasn’t overly excited like other dogs. No one wanted to give him a chance, but then one family walked in and changed his life forever.
Peanut Butter Brickle
Peanut Butter Brickle came to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay from a shelter in Alabama that ran out of room.
“He wasn’t a dog that a lot of people would’ve been drawn to just because he wasn’t overly happy or excited,” said Brickle’s new mom, Rachel Johnson.
As soon as Rachel and her husband, Nathan, saw how sad Brickle looked, they decided to take him home.
At the time, they already had one other rescue dog named Digby Pancake. Since 2011, they have been writing a daily dog blog through the eyes of their dogs.
They wanted to show the world that one rescue dog can indeed change your life.
Years before adopting Brickle, Rachel and her husband decided to make a major lifestyle change. In 2015, they sold their house, bought an RV, and decided to travel the USA and visit animal shelters.
“Our original goal was just to do it a year, and to visit the animal shelters to show what the people across the country are doing for animals and how other people could get involved. But, our dogs love to travel so much that we just kept going and we’re still going,” Rachel said.
So, the family has been traveling for almost seven years now, and Brickle is happy to do so.
They saved Brickle’s life, but he also saved theirs.
“He is unlike any other person, dog, individual that I have ever met,” Rachel explained. “He can know my moods instantly. I suffer a lot from depression, and he has saved my life many times because he keeps me going.”
Although you’ll rarely see Brickle show his emotions, when he does, it truly feels like a gift.
“Your Heart Beats For Your Dog”
Brickle is a truly unique dog that is so grateful for his new chance in life and opportunity to travel and explore.
“He will sit by an ocean, on the shore, and he will stare at the waves for hours, and I wonder, what is he thinking about?,” Brickle’s mom said.
Sadly, last year, the family lost their beloved Digby. He was not only Brickle’s brother, but also his best friend and companion, so losing him was very difficult for Brickle.
He was very consumed by his grief and didn’t have the energy to do anything.
So, both Rachel and Nathan decided to adopt a new rescue dog, Fruitycake, to give Brickle back his purpose and happiness that was missing in his life.
Fruitycake was in the shelter for a couple of months, just like Brickle, and the two quickly formed a strong bond.
“Brickle does not like anyone really touching him, cuddling him, but he lets Fruitycake sleep with him. He lets Fruitycake put his arms around him. Their friendship is just beautiful.”
Brickle is now almost 13 years old, and he can’t go on longer hikes that he used to do when he was younger, but he doesn’t give up.
He still wants to do everything, just needs a little bit of help. Fruitycake is a huge source of motivation for Brickle.
“I wouldn’t change a thing for travel, even for a senior dog. I feel like it has kept him young, and it keeps him mentally engaged and physically active,” Rachel said. “There is no way that he would be happy without seeing new sites and smells every week.”
Brickle has always been an old soul, so intuitive, wise, and more like a person than just a dog.
“I love him. It’s like your heart beats for your dog. There is no one like Brickle and there never will be anyone like Brickle.”
That says it all. There are no better words that could describe both Brickle and this amazing family that has given him a new life filled with love and affection.
Learning about this stunning dog was simply the highlight of my day, and I hope it was for you, too.
Certain dogs may not be ideal and the most appealing, but what matters most is and will always be what is in the heart.
If you want to keep up with Brickle and his beautiful family, check out their blog, YouTube channel, or their Facebook profile.