Everyone Warned Her Not to Adopt Him—They Were All Wrong

What she saw in him that no one else could—and how it changed everything.

☕ He Put His Paw on My Step

This week’s They Saved Me First story is a slow one. Quiet. Gentle. But powerful.

Jagoda wasn’t looking for a dog. She had just come out of a divorce. She was in a draining relationship. Life felt like it was unraveling.

And then her daughter saw a photo online of a husky-malamute mix named Amor—already on his third home by the age of two.

Everyone told Jagoda not to do it.

But sometimes, you just know.

And she knew.

What happened next wasn’t just the story of a rescue dog—it was the story of how two beings helped each other feel safe again. Not by rushing. Not by forcing. But by sitting still. And waiting.

This 9 minute clip introduces you to Amor and the beautiful life lessons he taught Jagoda.

🐺 Meet Amor

When Jagoda adopted Amor, she had no idea how much she would need him. Or how much he would need her.

He had already been passed between three owners by the time he was two. “Everybody else was like, are you crazy?” she said. “You have three kids, and you’re bringing a problematic dog into your home?”

But Jagoda saw something different. She said, “I don’t think the dog is the problem. I think the people are.”

The previous owners had wanted a guard dog—something aggressive and watchful.

But Amor wasn’t like that.

He was sensitive. Gentle. Full of love. And what he needed most was connection.

Jagoda had to travel to another country to pick him up. And when she finally saw him in person, she knew right away: “This is it.”

🐾 What Healing Actually Looked Like

The moment they got home, Jagoda faced her first challenge.

Amor was terrified of stairs.

And her apartment was up a flight of them.

So for the next two days, she spent eight hours sitting on those stairs with him—waiting. Encouraging. Never pushing.

She tried forcing him at first. It didn’t work.

But when she finally stopped trying to convince him and simply sat—offering calm, presence, and safety—something changed.

She put her foot on one stair.

He placed a paw beside hers.

Then the next stair.

Then the next.

Until eventually, they reached the top—together.

Jagoda said, “After that experience, he 100% trusted me.”

And maybe more importantly: she started to trust herself.

💛 A Dog, a Divorce, and a New Beginning

When Jagoda saw Amor’s photo online, she said it felt like meeting a person where something just clicks. There was no logic. Just deep knowing.

At the time, she said, “I had a feeling that everything was falling apart. I knew I needed to do something—but I didn’t know what.”

Adopting Amor became her answer.

He didn’t judge her. He didn’t ask questions.

He just waited.

“He was my therapist,” she said. “And he still is.”

When she was sad, he was quiet. When she had time to play, he brought her a toy. When her daughter was struggling, he’d climb into bed and offer comfort.

“He always knows what I need,” she told me.

And by giving him that same attunement—by learning to listen with her whole presence instead of her words—she started to heal.

🧘‍♀️ Lessons From the Stairs

There’s a moment in our conversation that keeps coming back to me.

Jagoda said, “I tried to persuade him with force at first. But then I just sat there. I gave him a safe space. Because we all need that to flourish.”

And that’s what struck me most.

What Amor needed wasn’t training. It wasn’t technique.

It was trust.

He needed someone willing to wait for him. To offer love without rushing. To say: “I’m here when you’re ready.”

And once he received that, he gave it back tenfold.

🌿 Lessons With Fur On Them

🪜 1. Go at their pace.

Lesson: Jagoda didn’t push Amor up the stairs. She sat with him—step by step, paw by paw—until he was ready. That moment built their entire bond.

Action Step: The next time your cat (or your person) resists something, try sitting beside them instead of solving it. Ask with your energy: “What do you need to feel safe?”

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🧘‍♀️ 2. Presence is more powerful than persuasion.

Lesson: What healed Amor wasn’t commands—it was calm. It was stillness. It was presence.

Action Step: This week, try a 5-minute silent sit with your pet. No phone. No task. Just be with them. Let them feel your calm. And feel theirs in return.

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💞 3. Listening doesn’t require words.

Lesson: Jagoda said, “It’s not just the animal and human relationship—it’s all our relationships. When we quiet the noise and listen with our heart, that’s when connection happens.”

Action Step: Is there someone in your life (animal or human) who might need your quiet attention this week? Try asking them—not with words, but with presence—“How can I support you?”

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🐾 Something to Think About

Jagoda didn’t rescue Amor because she had it all together.

She was still healing.

Still uncertain.

Still figuring things out.

But in him, she saw something worth waiting for.

And in her, he found someone willing to sit still until the fear passed.

So here’s what I’m thinking about this week:

Where in your life can you stop pushing—and start sitting beside?

Whether it's your pet, your partner, or yourself—maybe trust starts with presence. And healing starts with a single step, shared side by side.

🎧 Want to Hear the Full Interview with Jagoda?

👉 Click here to listen to the full episode now or search Golden Whiskers wherever you get your podcasts.
”The Dog Everyone Said Was A Mistake - Until He Saved Her Life.”

Thanks for being here,
Scott 🐾
Founder, Golden Whiskers