Meet Rachel & Kash, from New York and Tennessee

Meet Rachel and Kash, from Rockland County, New York and Tennessee. Rachel is a recent graduate from University at Albany with a double major in English and History. She is a young woman from Rockland County, New York, whose life story is as full of heart as it is hope. At just 21 years old, she’s already learning what it means to truly love, grow, and care—for both herself and the lives she touches. She is an only child raised in a close knit family. She said, “Growing up, I used to tell my parents that there was a hole in my heart that only the love of a puppy could fill,” Her mom held onto those words for years, until one Saturday morning, she surprised Rachel with a road trip. The reason? A new car, or so Rachel thought. “We drove for hours,” she remembers. “I was so annoyed to be up early.” When they pulled into a backyard full of playing puppies in Pennsylvania’s Amish country, Rachel’s annoyance melted away. “Then I saw my uncle there, and I realized something was up. My parents told me to pick a puppy. Chase ran right up to me and then he came home with us.” Chase, an English golden retriever, quickly became Rachel’s best friend and more. “He’s like my little brother. He can’t talk, but I swear he understands everything I say. His love is so kind, and he is so pure.” Now eight years old, Chase still lives at home with Rachel’s parents but Rachel and her girlfriend recently opened their hearts to a new family member. Kash, an almost one-year-old rescue from Tennessee. They adopted Kash through Homeward Bound, an animal rescue organization. “We were on the fence about getting a dog, but then I saw Kash’s picture online and he looked exactly like my dad’s old dog, Sammy-the one that made me want a dog in the first place. I knew immediately. That’s the one. We had to get him.” When they met Kash, he was shy and withdrawn. “He wasn’t like most dogs, no excited greetings, no wagging tail. At first, we didn’t know what to make of it.” Adjusting wasn’t easy. Kash was nervous, especially around men, and his fear often got in the way of social gatherings. “At first we were frustrated. But then we realized—he’s not trying to ruin anything. He’s just scared.” That shift in perspective changed everything. “Over time, we’ve learned how to work with him, not against him. He’s taught me patience in a way nothing else has. He’s shown me how to be okay with things not being okay. I’m learning to meet him where he is.” Kash’s birthday is coming up on June 14, and though he’s still skittish, his playful personality is emerging. He loves to run, play fetch, and despite being afraid of his own shadow he’s finding his confidence, one small victory at a time. For Rachel, being a dog parent is nothing short of life-changing. “Having a dog is a full-time commitment. It’s like having a child. They can’t speak for themselves, so you have to learn to listen differently, to love more patiently. Kash is teaching me that. Every single day. Rachel and her girlfriend do everything they can to include Kash in their lives. “If we go somewhere, we try to take him. If we leave him home, that’s his whole day, he doesn’t get to do anything. So we bring him with us, so he can have the life he deserves.” Despite her youth, Rachel carries a depth of wisdom beyond her years. “I’m only 21,” she says, “and I still have so much to learn. But if I could tell the world one thing, it would be this: Life isn’t just about what you accomplish it’s about what you experience. Go out there. Live. Feel. Learn. Love. That’s what makes it all matter.” Thank you for so much visiting!