Chato’s Journey: A Foster Dog’s Story of Overcoming the Odds
Hi Everyone!
Today is a very special day—March 8th marks my two-year anniversary since being surrendered to Bulldog Haven NW (BHNW). It’s been an incredible journey, and I want to share my success story with you. This is a foster dog’s story of overcoming the odds and a glimpse into a foster dog’s journey.
A Rough Start in my Foster Dog Journey
When I arrived in foster care, I was a very sick puppy with an uncertain future. My first family loved me deeply, but due to poor breeding, I had severe medical issues they couldn’t manage. They made the heartbreaking decision to surrender me so I could have the best chance of overcoming the odds and surviving. I’m forever grateful for their love and for making that difficult choice.
That day, I met the lady and Mr. Dave—my future pawrents! They had another bulldog, Barkley, but he wasn’t a fan of other dogs, so I only saw him from afar. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly a few months later, leaving big paw prints for me to fill.
My Health Battles as a Foster Dog
When I first arrived, I was in rough shape—lesions covered my body, my paws were a mess, I had little appetite, and no energy. My new dogter, a dermatologist, suspected an autoimmune disease, allergies, or a severe reaction to demodex mites, but it was hard to pinpoint.
On top of that, I had double cherry eyes and chronic UTIs. My surrender family thought I wasn’t house-trained, but the lady quickly realized I had an undiagnosed UTI. I was put on a long list of medications, including steroids, immune suppressants, and antibiotics.
I was so sick that I couldn’t get neutered, have eye surgery, or even receive vaccinations! MY UTIs wouldn’t go away, so we met with an internal medicine dogter and they planned to do further testing, but my health had to improve first. Then one morning, the lady found me in a strange sleeping position—chin on the ground, butt in the air. That’s when she saw it… my scrotum had swollen to the size of an apple! I was so uncomfortable I couldn’t even lie down.
Off to the ER we went! I had emergency surgery that day—my neuter happened sooner than expected, along with a scrotal ablation. Turns out, my prostate had been harboring bacteria, which was causing my recurring infections. It was a tough chapter in my rescue journey, but things started improving after this.
A New Beginning – Overcoming the Odds and Thriving in Foster Care
After that surgery, everything changed! I finally started feeling good and discovered what it meant to be a dog. At just over a year old, I was a pure puppy at heart—everything was new to me! My foster pawrents introduced me to toys, leash walking, and playtime. They also recognized my need for structure, so I started obedience training.
I graduated from Obedience 1 in July 2023, and my trainer suggested I try agility class. I LOVED it! By September, I had earned my AKC Agility 1 and AKC Novice Trick Dog titles. I continued training until a canine respiratory outbreak (and later pneumonia) forced me to take a long break. But Mr. Dave built me my very own agility equipment so I could keep training at home—he’s the bestest dad ever!
Making It Official! – Journey from Foster Dog to Adoption
In May 2024, I returned to classes, completing Loose Leash Walking and Recall workshops to prepare for our upcoming travel adventures. Then, in June, I made a life-changing decision… I officially adopted my foster pawrents! They’re stuck with me forever, and I couldn’t be happier! Being adopted was the crowning moment of my bulldog rescue success!
Giving Back: Helping Other Foster Bulldogs
Once I started feeling better, I knew it was time to give back and help other foster dogs with their journey to a forever family. My first best friend was Clay—he taught me how to play with other doggies, and we became the best tug-of-war buddies! Although I was sad to see him go, we knew that making room for more dogs in need was the right thing to do.
Then came Mikey, a 10-month-old puppy with boundless energy. It was my chance to pay it forward and teach a puppy how to enjoy life. I showed Mikey how to play, walk on a leash, and embrace the joys of being a bulldog.
After Mikey, we had the honor of helping Trillion, a dog who had endured an awful life before rescue. Trillion was found dumped, sick, and suffering from a severe skin infection that left her with no fur, a horrible respiratory infection, and her eyes were infected. It was heartbreaking to see her in such bad shape, but I was determined to show her what it means to live the best life. We helped her heal, and she found an amazing forever family who truly understands her worth.
Being a foster brother has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I love helping my fellow foster doggies on their journey to get healthy and find their forever homes!
Living My Best Life
Today, I’m healthy, strong, and thriving. I still see my dermatologist and take lifelong medications, but I’m doing fantastic!
This year, I’ll celebrate my third birthday, and I couldn’t be more grateful for BHNW, my amazing vet team, and my forever family. I truly am the luckiest boy!
Thank you all for following my adventures and supporting foster dogs like me!
Here’s to many more years of love and adventures!
If you’d like to continue following my journey, follow us on social media:
📘 Facebook: It’s Me Barkley
📸 Instagram: @itsmebarkley2023
If you’d like to support foster dogs in the care of Bulldog Haven NW visit: https://bulldoghavennw.org/
Read more articles on our website at www.itsme-barkley.com.
🔎 Want to learn more about cherry eye? Read this article: Bulldogs and Cherry Eye
🔎 Want to learn more about the journey of fostering? Read this article: Heartfelt Journey of Bulldog Fostering: Balancing Challenges & Rewards
written by: Lori Hamilton March 8, 2025
