One thing we have learned since moving out to the country is animals seem to find their way to people.

Rhea was not planned. We were not looking for another dog, and we definitely were not sitting around thinking life wasn’t quite busy enough with chickens, pigs, chores, kids, and everything else going on around here.

But that’s usually how these things happen.

Our Amish neighbors found two dogs hiding underneath some of their farm equipment. The equipment was used for making hay bales, and these two had tucked themselves underneath it trying to stay safe. They were scared, hungry, and trying to survive.

The neighbors reached out and asked if we could call the dog warden to come pick them up. That was the original plan, and honestly probably the practical one. After all, we aren’t an animal sanctuary and we can’t just keep every animal that shows up at the end of the driveway.

Of course, plans change pretty quickly when those “two dogs” suddenly have faces and personalities.

We brought them over, got them some food and water, and started realizing how rough of a road they had been on. They weren’t just hungry. They were starving. Both of them were skin and bones, covered in ticks, and clearly had been through more than any dog should have to experience.

Over the next few days we removed more than 30 ticks from each of them. Not 30 ticks total. Over 30 ticks on each dog. After getting them checked out, we learned they both had Lyme disease and started the process of getting them treated.

That is one of the parts people don’t always see. Taking in an animal is not just a cute picture and a happy ending. Sometimes it is vet visits, medicine, patience, and slowly earning trust from an animal that doesn’t understand why life suddenly changed.

That is also one of the harder parts about having a little bit of land. People sometimes assume that because you have space, there is always room for another animal. Another dog, another cat, another mouth to feed. The truth is every animal deserves more than just a spot to exist. They deserve care, attention, food, shelter, and someone willing to put in the time.

When we have the ability to help, we try. It doesn’t always mean keeping them. We have had animals come through here that just needed a safe place until we could find them the right home. That’s part of the responsibility too. Knowing when you can help, and knowing when someone else might be the better fit.

Rhea apparently had other plans.

Somewhere between feeding her, watching her settle in, and seeing her become part of the everyday routine, the conversation slowly changed from “what are we going to do with this dog?” to realizing she was already part of the place.

Her sister got a pretty good ending too. Nicole’s dad ended up taking her in, so the two dogs that started out scared and hiding under hay equipment both found families. Not exactly the plan when the neighbor first asked us to call the dog warden, but that seems to be how a lot of things happen around here.

These days Rhea has fully settled into homestead life. She has even made a best friend, one of our cats named Nightmare. Watching a dog that was once scared and hiding now spend her days playing with a cat is one of those little things around here that makes you stop and smile.

She also decided somewhere along the way that I was her person. I don’t remember applying for the job, but apparently Rhea reviewed the candidates and made her decision. Whether I’m outside working, doing chores, or just walking around the property, she usually isn’t far behind.

We weren’t looking for another dog when Rhea showed up, but I guess sometimes the farm gets a vote too.

Six months later, it is hard to imagine this place without her running around. The scared, skinny dog hiding under hay equipment is now the dog chasing around with Nightmare, following me through chores, and acting like she has been here since the beginning.

Funny how the animals you weren’t looking for sometimes become the ones you can’t imagine being without.