Story #3 of 60: Finding Frida
As told by Tara Basar, Adopter & Doggie Day Out Volunteer
I had been a lifelong pet owner until 2014, when I lost four pets in the span of three years, two dogs and two cats. It was devastating and traumatic to experience so much loss in such a short period, and I needed a break.
Fast forward to 2025. I had been yearning for a dog for about three years, but my husband and I kept making excuses for why it was not the right time. This past summer, I reached my limit and decided to get my “fix” by volunteering for the doggie day out program at Anderson Humane. I knew my husband would not agree to adopt or foster, so I thought this was the next best thing.
When I went to the shelter to inquire about the program, I took a peek at the dogs in the back. There was a Rottweiler mix named Gabby sleeping quietly. I did not want to disturb her, but she stayed on my mind because we had always talked about adopting a Rottweiler.
I signed up for the program and went back a few days later to interact with Gabby and see if we connected. I was disappointed to learn she had been moved to the Bloomingdale shelter. I drove there immediately, and the moment I met her, I fell in love.
Unfortunately, the doggie day out program would not fit my schedule. I thought maybe my husband would agree to foster, but he said adoption was only available at that location. I decided to spring the news on him anyway, rehearsing my speech in my head. He was angry at first, feeling blindsided. I begged him to just come see her, promising that if she was not “the one,” I would respect his decision and not pursue it further.
He told me later that the minute he got in the car, he knew we would be coming home with a dog. After meeting Gabby, he agreed to adopt. I was thrilled.
Gabby’s story, like so many, was tragic, and we felt even more compelled to give her the life she deserved. A few weeks later, a DNA test revealed she was not a Rottweiler at all, but in the long run, that did not matter. She was the sweetest, most perfect dog for us. She loves our lifestyle, camping, hiking, and all the adventures we share.
We renamed her Frida, after Frida Kahlo, because of her eyebrows, and we often talk about how we cannot imagine life without her. She has brought so much joy and has filled a hole in my heart I did not realize was there. Before Frida, I felt incomplete. Now I feel whole again with a dog to love, cherish, and give the best life possible.
Her story is a reminder that even if the timing is not perfect, opening your heart can change both your life and an animal’s life forever.
Ready to start your own rescue story?
Meet adoptable animals at Anderson Humane by visiting ahconnects.org/adopt, or help make the next 60 stories possible by donating in honor of our 60th Anniversary.
