Sometimes, the most unexpected heroes walk into our lives on four paws. For Christie, those heroes are Ares and Jetta, two dogs once on the euthanasia list at Kern County Animal Services, who are now her constant companions and lifesavers.
After undergoing a lung transplant, Christie returned home after nearly a year in the hospital, only to face unimaginable heartbreak. Without her knowing, her beloved dogs Trip and Zoey had become gravely ill. Trip, her Boxer and soul dog, passed away just three days after her return. Zoey, his lifelong best friend, lost her spark after his death. Cancer took her too, just months later. The loss left a hole in Christie’s heart that she feared might never be filled.
Then came Ares.
Christie saw a post shared by a shelter volunteer and felt something stir. There was just something special about Ares, a German Shepherd Dog. She reached out to CAPS, and two days later, she was at the shelter taking Ares home.
Ares, with her calm and intuitive spirit, immediately brought light into the grieving household. Though she had never met Trip, Ares seemed to sense Zoey’s sadness. She gently tried to play, and when Zoey wasn’t up for it, Ares simply laid by her side, offering quiet comfort. When Zoey eventually passed, Ares remained a source of strength and healing for Christie.
Untrained but highly intuitive, Ares now acts like a natural service dog. She alerts Christie to changes in her oxygen levels and heart rate, sometimes even waking her with a well-placed paw when something’s wrong. Despite a few challenges with reactivity, Ares’s love, loyalty, and innate intelligence have been nothing short of life-changing.
Then came Jetta, another dog saved from the euthanasia list. Quirky, vocal, and full of personality, Jetta is more independent than Ares but just as devoted. With her Husky-like howls and expressive nature, Jetta brings joy and laughter to every corner of the house. She was a misunderstood dog who found her match in a misunderstood home.
Together, Ares and Jetta form a perfect pair: Ares is the calm and grounding rock, while Jetta is the singing conversationalist. No matter the hour—2 a.m. or midday—they never leave Christie’s side. In true German Shepherd fashion, they’ve claimed the bathroom as their favorite hangout, making sure she’s never alone (even if it means piling into the tub to be close).
Ares and Jetta aren’t just pets. They’re Christie’s lifeline. In the toughest moments—when she’s sick, scared, or overwhelmed—they are right there. Their presence gives her the strength to keep fighting.
Christie once feared adopting from a shelter. She believed shelter dogs were unpredictable and risky. But Ares and Jetta changed everything. Adoption didn’t just help her recover from loss; it transformed her perspective on dogs and gave her life new meaning. She now understands that behavior like Jetta’s isn’t instability; it’s fear, and it’s fixable with love and patience.
Christie never thought she’d bond with another dog the way she did with Trip and Zoey. But thanks to Ares and Jetta, she did. Adoption has been a beautiful, healing journey—one that quite literally saved her life when she thought she was saving theirs.
Christie is forever grateful to Kern County Animal Services, CAPS, and the local rescue community that gave Ares and Jetta a second chance because in doing so, they gave her one, too.
Ares and Jetta aren’t just survivors. They are Christie’s heart, hope, and healing.
