Dora the Explorer

April 2011, my life changed forever. That was the year my mamma passed, and I was left in this world with what it seemed to be, nothing. My mamas favorite time of the year was Christmas and since the moment she left this world, I hated for Christmas to come. I had stopped celebrating and shut completely down around Christmas time.

Until November of 2017 I found out I was pregnant. What was once a lonely 26-year-old losing her mother, was now a 33-year-old becoming a mother to a daughter at that. O I was so frightened I cried so bad; I wanted my mamma. I couldn't grasp the concept of being pregnant, alone, without help, support and worse of all my mamma.

December of the same year had come, I was still alone, but a little more motivated about celebrating. I had gone out and bought a book of lottery tickets and Christmas cards along with edible goodies for the smaller children in my family.

Christmas Eve day came, and I opened my front door to see the view of the day. I noticed everyone was screaming and running hollering about a big dog. I looked down and there she was a giant intimidating Pitbull dog sitting on my porch. The Lord immediately spoke to me and told me to feed her. All I had was rice, so I cooked her a pot of it and opened my front door. She came right on in and ate. She was big but so loveable. I had taken pictures of her and made post to try to find her owner, but no one came forth. One person was very adamant about her being his dog, but he said he didn't want her. He called her Dora. I began to call her Dora to see if I would get a response from her, and I did.

Dora stayed inside my house all day long and had brought so much love to me a. I was happy having her there for that one day, she had a sense of calm and care about her. When I looked into her eyes, I saw my mamma. I begin to call her my angel.

Later, that Christmas Eve night, my cousin and I went to visit one of my friends that had come home for the holidays. We locked the dog inside of the house. After being gone for about 2 hours and arriving back at home. We realized that we do not know this dog, it's a big dog, and we don't know how this dog was trained to react to doors opening. We began to be afraid to open the door, but we came up with a plan. I had an old wine bottle in my car, I told her to hit the dog when I kicked the door in. So, we did as was planned. Only for Dora to unexpectedly Jump out the door to go take a tinkle. She never returned that day.

We walk into the house, Dora had knocked down the Christmas tree and ate all the boxes, goodies and gifts. I had no clue what to do with Christmas day being tomorrow. So, I explained myself as I handed out presents with dog bites in them.

January of 2018 came and there was no sign of Dora anywhere. I noticed some strange things going on around my house. I contemplated having two options. Get a dog or a gun. So, I got on the humane society website looking for a dog, and there she was. It was Dora. I couldn't believe it, to me it was fate.

I immediately called the shelter and told them that they had my dog. They said I needed proof. I had pictures of her from that Christmas Eve. The lady told me to bring all the proof I had, and I could get her back. She didn't mention the fees at the time. I went to the animal shelter and there she was. The lady told me to call her name, I did, and Dora ran straight to me near about knocking me to the ground. Then the lady broke the news to me that Dora had been given all her shots and there was a homing fee of $250. I told the lady that I was on a limited income and there was no way possible I could pay that now. The lady told me if I would write a promissory letter to pay $40 and to have her fixed when I get paid that I could walk away with her for free that day. And I did just that.

Dora has been by myside ever since. She was with me during my whole pregnancy and during my labor. She is a part of my family, she's not only a pet to me, but she’s also my best friend and my guardian angel. Today she is weighing in at about 80lbs, she is happy and healthy. She enjoys taking long walks and playing tug a war with my daughter and me. I love my dog beyond words, and I know God promised Dora to me and I know my mamma had a hand in sending her to me in my time of need.