From Shelter to Shine – Neo’s Story: The Love I Didn’t Know My Heart Needed
“Sometimes the dogs who need us most are the ones who come to heal us too.”
A young Neo — curious, gentle, and waiting for a chance to be seen
The Love I Didn’t Know My Heart Needed
I wasn’t looking for another dog.
My heart was still shattered from losing Hot Rod — my soul dog, my best friend, my constant. After over 12 years together, the grief still sat heavy on my chest. The house was quieter, emptier, and though surrounded by love from my other dogs, there was still a piece of me that was missing — the part that only he filled.
Hot Rod was the first dog who taught me how to truly listen and communicate with love. He was my introduction to nonprofit rescue, fostering, and the beginning of this journey I now call my Legacy of Love. Over the years, I fostered countless dogs, drove thousands of miles transporting rescues across state lines, and helped others find their forever homes. Each one left pawprints on my heart, but none changed me quite like Hot Rod.
A Lifetime of Rescue, Fostering, and Heartwork
My journey with rescue started young. My first girl, Angel, came into my life at 19 — unplanned, but exactly what I needed. She made me a dog mom for the first time and taught me the meaning of responsibility and unconditional love. Then came Chisholm, a soulful Basset who, like so many rescue dogs, carried scars from his past. Through time and patience, we built trust and understanding.
And then there was Hot Rod — the ten-month-old Parvo survivor who stopped me mid-scroll one day and changed my life forever. His energy, his joy, and his will to live brought color and meaning back into my world. He became my partner in advocacy, my service dog, and the inspiration behind Legacy of Love.
Little did I know that the next chapter of that legacy would begin in the most unexpected way.
A Familiar Soul in a Sea of Eyes
That summer, I was interning with a local organization that supports participants who self-train their service dogs. On one particular day, we were visiting a county shelter to evaluate potential candidate dogs for the program.
As I walked down the aisles of hopeful faces — some curious, some scared, and some quietly waiting — one young, all-black puppy caught my eye. He wasn’t a candidate on our list that day, but something in his gaze stopped me. It wasn’t familiarity, but connection. His eyes met mine, and something inside me softened.
I stopped, spoke softly to him, and tossed him a treat. He wagged, hopeful and sweet, and I remember thinking, what a good boy. I didn’t know his name, and I certainly didn’t know that this fleeting connection would one day change both of our lives.
Destiny Has a Way of Finding You Again
Months later, as I began volunteering at a private shelter, I was handed my list of dogs to work with for the day. As I scanned the names, one stood out — Neo. I couldn’t explain why, but I immediately felt drawn to find him.
When I arrived at his kennel and saw him, I felt an instant spark — that same kind of energized, magnetic connection I’d felt once before. I didn’t know it then, but later I would learn that Neo was the same black puppy I had met months earlier at the county shelter. The realization gave me chills — the universe had truly brought us back together.
Neo was my very first behavior dog to work with professionally. He challenged me in every way — mentally, emotionally, and professionally. But he also reminded me of what it means to lead with love.
The Boy Who Taught Me Patience Again
Neo’s time in the shelter had left its mark. Long-term kenneling takes a toll on dogs, especially young, social ones. He was high-energy, overstimulated, and deeply craving connection.
I remember one day sitting with him outside his run during his quarantine period, talking to him softly while tossing him treats and engaging his mind through simple tasks. It wasn’t much — just quiet companionship, patience, and love — but it meant everything to him. It became the foundation of our bond.
As our relationship grew, we began going on doggie outings together. Neo loved being out in the world, exploring, sniffing, and simply being a dog again. Each outing brought out more of his personality — his goofiness, his love for adventure, his joy in experiencing life beyond the shelter walls.
Neo also taught me one of the most profound lessons of my career: the energy I bring to a dog matters. When I approached him with calm, he mirrored calm. When I carried tension, he felt it instantly. He reminded me that our energy is part of our communication — and that awareness became a cornerstone in how I train and connect with dogs to this day.
“Sometimes forever finds you first.”
The Day Forever Found Us
By December, I had spent months working with Neo, and my heart had long since chosen him. When I got permission to take him on a “doggie date,” I could hardly contain my excitement. We went for a puppuccino, visited a local pet boutique, and stopped at a bakery for treats.
As we drove back to campus that evening, he finally lay down quietly in the back seat, completely calm and relaxed. I remember glancing back at him and feeling my heart swell. When I got him settled back in his run, I handed him one of the bakery treats and whispered, “I’ll see you soon.” My heart was heavy as I walked away, yet I couldn’t stop thinking about him all night.
A week before Christmas, I brought Neo home on foster. I told myself it was just for the holidays — a chance to give him warmth, family, and love for a few weeks. But deep down, I think I already knew he was never leaving.
After his arrival, we went out together one night to pick a few toys and a soft new blanket for him to lay on — a Christmas gift to mark his first step as part of our family.
Just fifteen days later, I lost my sweet Shyla girl unexpectedly. My heart was raw and tender, still grieving the loss of yet another beloved soul. But Neo’s presence brought light into that darkness.
When an email came saying a family wanted to meet him, my heart froze. I knew in that moment I couldn’t let him go. Neo was already home. And so, I followed my heart — and made him an official member of our pack.
Healing Through Training With Heart
Neo’s journey home was just the beginning.
It took nearly eight months for my entire pack to accept him fully — and ten months before he was able to spend his first night sleeping peacefully in the room with us all. It’s been a journey of learning triggers, understanding thresholds, and using love and structure to guide his progress.
Every step has been rooted in positive reinforcement and compassion. Neo thrives on enrichment — frozen Kongs, chew sessions, and puzzle play at home. These simple outlets help him decompress, stay balanced, and continue to grow.
He’s learning to self-regulate, trust, and relax. Neo and I also much enjoy our long walks and treks through the Bosque together — exploring the peace and quiet that nature brings us both. And he’s taught me that true transformation takes time — and that patience, love, and consistency can heal even the deepest scars.
Neo loves to flash his big, goofy grin (lip caught on his teeth, tongue out, pure joy) — and every single time, it reminds me that he’s happy. Safe. Home.
Legacy, Love, and the Lessons They Leave Us
I truly believe Hot Rod had a paw in sending Neo to me.
Maybe he saw how broken my heart was and knew I needed a soul who could help me heal — just like he once did.
Neo is living proof that training with heart works. With love, patience, and time, every dog has the chance to shine. Our bond is built on understanding, trust, and the same compassion I strive to bring to every dog and client I work with.
My life is better because of Neo.
And his story is a reminder that love, once given, never disappears — it just grows and finds new ways to shine.
Train with Heart. Lead with Love. Live your Legacy.
About the Author
Tracy Rosenberg is the founder and heart behind Legacy of Love Professional Dog Training & Pet Services, based in Albuquerque, NM. Inspired by her soul dog, Hot Rod, Tracy’s mission is to help dogs and their humans communicate with compassion, patience, and trust—building a lifetime bond rooted in love.
💬 Have you ever met a dog who changed the direction of your heart?
I’d love to hear your story below or in the comments on my Facebook page.