In the winter of 2019, Chelsea arrived at Living Free with 4 adorable puppies. Slender and graceful, this affectionate dog was a wonderful mom to her puppies. There was something special about Chelsea. With her gentle expression and warm personality, it did not take long before she found her forever family. 

Sean and Donna Cliver met Chelsea and instantly fell in love. 6 months prior, their dog Meko, a service dog that was a rescue from Costa Rica, had passed away and they were hoping to find another dog to fill their home. They adopted Chelsea in March of 2020.

Occasionally, rescue dogs take some time to adapt from the kennel to a home environment. When Chelsea first came home, Donna and Sean did everything they could to help her feel welcomed and comfortable. However, she had a hard time adjusting. 

Donna shared, “We did have an issue at first which has since been worked out. We were not sure if we were going to be able to keep her because Chelsea would behave sometimes in a way that my mother, Hon, became increasingly uncomfortable around Chelsea.”

“We decided to take Chelsea to the Marvel K9 boarding facility in Temecula for some hands-on training.  We were told that Chelsea was ‘resource guarding’ and did the same thing at the training center.  Following about six weeks with the trainers, Chelsea came home and began to bond with my mom.  A short time later, we had to leave for 6 months to go to Los Angeles on business.  During that time Chelsea and my mom bonded even further.  They became so close that Chelsea now goes and lays at her feet as if she is protecting her.  Chelsea has won all three of us over.”

“We go on two walks a day that last about one and half hours each walk.  She is very curious on these walks and is a real tracker.  If she sees a deer, she will whine and cry and get excited.”

Donna and Sean added, “Things are going great. Chelsea is super sweet, loyal, and protective. She has a goofy grin and is a happy dog.  We love her very much.  Meko was the heart of our little family for such a long time and was integral to our courtship before we were married.  Chelsea has filled that hole and rather than replace Meko, she has carved her very own Chelsea space in our hearts.”

Thank you, Sean, and Donna, for giving Chelsea this wonderful, loving home and for being patient with her when she needed time to adjust to her new world.