An Attempt to Resume Blogging

The last time I blogged was last year when I joyously wrote about the adoption of Rodney and Stella (subsequently christened by their new mom as Pucci and Sushi). Since then, a lot of noteworthy thigs have happened in my life and happened all in a blur so I didn’t really have the time or inclination to sit down and write about it. I was too busy living. Anyway, since I find it useful to record events in my life (as I’m prone to forget them), I’m going to resume blogging.

Rodney and Stella

Rodney and Stella have been adopted! Finally! They've been with me for 3 months and have gone to 2 open days where they were always overlooked. I'm glad someone decided to adopt them and to give them their forever home.

I have complete trust that Julie, their adoptive mom, will take good care of them. Though I'm going to miss them terribly, I know that from now on their lives are going to be better. Julie's friend Lucy told me that it is guaranteed that they will both be spoiled rotten. Spoiled rotten is good! I told Julie she can change their names if she wants.

They've come a long way - previously, Rodney was lord of the garbage bins around my apartment building. Stella, presumably his sister, would follow him around his haunts. One day, Rodney followed me home, scruffy and begging for food. I took him in and that night I didn't get any sleep because he was jittery and yowling all the time. The next morning I set him free ( I was thinking he didn't want to be cooped up in an apartment and was a true feral cat). I started feeding him by the garbage bins and discovered Stella. That was the reason why he was yowling the whole night - he was worried for his sister.

So I took them in (no yowling this time), told Feline Friends I'm fostering them, got them neutered and vaccinated, brought them to 2 open days and fell in love with them over time. It was hard to see them go but I'm happy for them.

So tonight, instead of snoozing on my armchair, they will be sleeping in a posh high-rise apartment. I'll definitely visit them someday.

Who is Harrison?

I've noticed that I've been posting a lot of dogs in this blog lately. So to even it out, I'll take the opportunity to post a photo of my wonderful cat, Harrison. And yes, he's also the one featured in this blog's banner.

This is him:
I love this cat so much it should be illegal!

Need Some Cheering Up?

This video should do it. It sure lifted up my spirits.

Bridgestone Ad

I've had this video for a long time and it still makes me smile.

Loyalty

The pictures say it all. No words are needed.






Images from www.modernpooch.com

From An Animal Rescuer's Heart

I Found Your Dog Today...
(author unknown)

I found your dog today. No, he has not been adopted by anyone.
Most of us who live out here own as many dogs as we want,
those who do not own dogs do so because they choose not to.
I know you hoped he would find a good home when you left him out here,
but he did not. When I first saw him he was miles from the nearest house
and he was alone, thirsty, thin and limping from a burr in his paw.

How I wish I could have been you as I stood before him. To see his tail
wag and his eyes brighten as he bounded into your arms, knowing you
would find him, knowing you had not forgotten him. To see the
forgiveness in his eyes for the suffering and pain he had known in his
never-ending quest to find you...but I was not you. And despite all my
persuasion, his eyes see a stranger. He did not trust. He would not
come.

He turned and continued his journey; one he was sure would bring him to
you. He does not understand you are not looking for him. He only knows
you are not there, he only knows he must find you. This is more
important than food or water or the stranger who can give him these
things.

Persuasion and pursuit seemed futile; I did not even know his name. I
drove home, filled a bucket with water and a bowl with food and returned
to where we had met. I could see no sign of him, but I left my offering
under the tree where he had sought shelter from the sun and a chance to
rest. You see, he is not of the desert. When you domesticated him, you
took away any instinct of survival out here. His purpose demands that he
travel during the day. He doesn't know that the sun and heat will claim
his life. He only knows that he has to find you.

I waited hoping he would return to the tree; hoping my gift would build
an element of trust so I might bring him home, remove the burr from his
paw, give him a cool place to lie and help him understand that the part
of his life with you is now over. He did not return that morning and at
dusk the water and food were still there untouched. And I worried. You
must understand that many people would not attempt to help your dog.
Some would run him off, others would call the county and
the fate you thought you saved him from would be preempted
by his suffering for days without food or water.

I returned again before dark. I did not see him. I went again early the
next morning only to find the food and water still untouched. If only
you were here to call his name. Your voice is so familiar to him. I
began pursuit in the direction he had taken yesterday, doubt
overshadowing my hope of finding him. His search for you was desperate,
it could take him many miles in 24 hours.

It is hours later and a good distance from where we first met, but I
have found your dog. His thirst has stopped, it is no longer a torment
to him. His hunger has disappeared, he no longer aches. The burrs in his
paws bother him no more. Your dog has been set free from his burdens,
you see, your dog has died.

I kneel next to him and I curse you for not being here yesterday so I
could see the glow, if just for a moment, in those now vacant eyes.
I pray that his journey has taken him to that place I think you hoped
he would find.
If only you knew what he went through to reach it...
and I agonize, for I know, that were he to awaken at this moment,
and (if) I were to be you, his eyes would sparkle with recognition and
his tail would wag with forgiveness