A Dog Named Courage, by Kyran Corcoran

Courage is an incredible dog. We found each other when I was going through a rough time in my life, and since I’d wanted a dog for such a long time, I decided to look at the Pets in Need website to see who was available. Courage immediately caught my eye ─ such interesting features, such a sweet face, little pink freckled nose and coffee brown along his sides. He had these silly goofy pictures, and I was immediately drawn to him.

Courage’s bio said that he had been transferred to PIN from the SPCA. When they got him, he was extremely anxious ─ everything scared him and he was diagnosed with clinical levels of stress. He was afraid of people and dogs and just about everything happening around him. But PIN put him on medication to calm him down and then started to help him come out of his shell. They decided to give him the name Courage as they watched him get braver every day.

My New Best Friend

Courage has only been with me for a few weeks and already he’s a completely different dog. You would never know about his past, and he has transformed my life as well. He’s smart, affectionate, and incredibly friendly ─ every human and every dog he meets is his new best friend.

Before adopting him, I worked from home and didn’t really socialize much. Now we go to the dog park every day, we meet up with friends, and it’s one of our favorite places to be. He’s constantly poking me with his nose, “Are we going to the dog park?” “Are we going to the dog park?” I’ve met a ton of people there, we all love our dogs, and we have such nice conversations when we’re there. It’s become the high point of our day.

Courage’s Personality Comes Out

Courage can be a pretty goofy dog. He likes to throw toys for himself but a lot of time they just fall on his head and when they do, he runs around doing zoomies until they fall off. Then he just starts doing it again.

He sleeps in the bed with me and in the morning, he doesn’t try to wake me up, he just sits and stares at me until I start to stir and then he jumps on and off the bed repeatedly until we get up together. He does these comical, joyful little pirouettes, jumping up and turning around in the air before he lands. And at the dog park, there is this small water fountain on the ground that he tries to “go swimming” in, which makes us laugh every time.

There is one thing he hates, though, and that’s when I have to leave him. It makes him really sad, and he doesn’t move from behind the door until I come back. When I do, I am showered with kisses, and he follows me everywhere, not wanting to let me out of his sight. When I’m on the couch relaxing, he pushes his body up against me, or lies on my lap, or just rests his head on my shoulder. He’ll often put his face up and ask for pets, and he loves to give kisses as well.

My Experience with Pets In Need

Pets in Need is an amazing organization, full of caring people dedicated to giving animals a second chance. Courage was a long-stay dog who was surrendered when his family could no longer care for him, and PIN helped him trust again. The power of love across species can be truly transformative, and we’re certainly a great example of that. Thanks to PIN, we found each other and have had a wonderful transition into each other’s lives.

I am also very impressed with the way PIN manages the adoption process. They were not only incredibly knowledgeable about Courage, helping us both find each other, but I walked away with 3 bags of toys, a blanket, a full bag of dry food, and several cans of wet food because they wanted to make sure I was completely ready to go with everything I would need as I took him home. They offered training sessions, they covered the cost of his final vaccination, and they did such great work turning a dog that was afraid of everybody and everything into a dog that is so comfortable with everybody, so relaxed and happy, so loving and so sweet, with none of the anxiety he came to them with.  

When I was considering adopting him, I told a close friend, “I think I need a little extra courage in my life.” I had even written a journal entry asking the universe for courage. Now that I have this amazing dog, it feels like it was meant to be for both of us. He’s my best friend. We go everywhere together. We clicked the minute we met and we’ve been inseparable ever since. The dog I always wanted as a kid somehow found me. He’s just the best boy. I couldn’t have asked for a better process and a better dog.

Pets in Need

To learn more about Pets In Need and see their mission in action, visit PetsInNeed.org or follow them on social media: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/petsinneed1965/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petsinneed1965/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/petsinneed1965/

Visit any time and you might just find an animal that will steal your heart.