Twelve Muddy Paws

I HAVE DONE SOMETHING

I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter...the cast-offs of human society.

I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness, and betrayal. And I was angry.

"God," I said, "this is terrible! Why don't you do something?"

God was silent for a moment, and then He spoke softly, "I have done something," he replied. "I created you."

-- Author Unknown


According to the ASPCA, approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats). No, I am not anti-animal control but what I am is pro spay and neuter and pro adoption.

I've said MANY times that it is full at our Inn. We currently have three cats, all rescues, and two dogs, one rescued and one acquired from a reputable breeder. What I can tell you is, while I do not regret my choice to "buy" our rottweiler, I will never again support the breeding of animals while there are so many that have been disposed of. And, believe me when I say I am not judging you for your choice(s) but please educate yourself before you choose.

I've been closely watching a shelter in the northern section of Alabama. In the past few months, this shelter has gone from High Kill to Low Kill in status. The status change would not be possible without the persistance of an amazing staff and volunteers, as well as the community who have opened their hearts and their homes to foster the dogs in this overflowing shelter. It is not uncommon for this particular place to receive multiple litters of pups with their overbred mothers in the course of one day. Unlike our local shelter, this one is not 90% pit mixed. They have an astounding number of beautiful and sweet dogs, most of which resemble boxers and labs. The Alabama shelter reported eight euthanizations in the month of February. A far cry from where they were less than half a year ago. I applaud their efforts and check their site daily to see just how well they are doing. If only all shelters had people like this one.

I recently read that a shelter in Florida held a mass adoption at a local mall and completely emptied their kennels. All dogs found forever homes and escaped the fate of the gas chamber. Yes, you heard me right. The gas chamber. Alone, unloved, scared then dead.

My head told me time and time again that I had reached my max on how many creatures I was taking care of. My heart, apparently, did not get the memo. While I was doing my daily browsing of the adoptable list at the Alabama shelter, one particular pup weaved its way in and stayed in my thoughts. Great. Now I was conflicted.

I thought long and hard and gathered information. What the hell was I thinking? Another dog? No, no way. But, look at that face! And, she was in a kill shelter. She had been picked up on the street with two friends in tow and was now sleeping on a concrete floor with the potential of never knowing what it would be like to have a family. But, she's in Alabama! Just forget it. With a mug like that, she was bound to find a home. But I wanted her. I could not stop thinking about her and decided to dig a little deeper.

I quickly learned of the "underground railroad" for shelter dogs. There are people out there who have dedicated their lives to moving dogs from the south to the north. There are also Facebook pages for each state where you can hope to find someone to share in a leg of the journey. Thankfully, I found a transport that runs from the south and has a stop about two hours away. Sadly, this pup did not meet the requirements to board the transport and they only run that particular schedule once a month. By some stroke of luck, I found another transport that runs from Texas to Connecticut twice a month. Their next pick up in Alabama would be on the 12th of April. Her requirements had to be met by the last day of March or she would not be eligible.

Needless to say, one tireless worker at the shelter in Alabama made all the necessary arrangements to get this pup vetted and spayed by the end of March. She is currently residing with a foster, which is another must in order to make "the train".

So, in case you haven't guessed it, we have made the not so difficult decision to save a life. Yes, that puts us at three dogs. You don't have to agree or even like our choice but it was ours to make. If you feel the need to say, "You have HOW MANY dogs?!" or, "You're crazy!", don't be shocked when I ask you what you've done lately to make a difference. Once I stopped worrying about what other people would think, the choice was rather simple. By mid-April, we would have twelve muddy paws to clean up after and love.

Please stay tuned...in exactly one week, Joy(as is her Alabama name) will get onto a converted horse trailer with over fifty other dogs enroute to their furever homes. These lucky dogs will have a second chance at life and you can bet they will let their new people know just how grateful they are.

"Saving the life of one animal may not change the world, but the world will surely change for that one animal" -Unknown

And, one more quote just because I love it- "When you adopt a rescue, you help save two lives: the one you bring home and the one who takes its place."

If you need any information regarding animal transport, please don't hesitate to ask.

A Sweet Face and a Slight Wag

I read something online the other day that went like this: What if the light you see at the end of the tunnel is you coming out of the birth canal into your new life?

Believe me when I say I'm not trying to get philosophical or spiritual. I found the quote interesting and I've said MANY times before that Kyla was a free spirit, so to speak, in her previous life. A free spirit with four legs and a tail.

I'm not putting my daughter down by finding the similarities between her and her favorite animal. Instead, I'm offering insight into her behavior and yet another reason to love her.

Kyla is and always has been a magnet to animals. Several times a day, I have to remind her to leave them alone so they can rest. No matter the consequence, she'll take it if it means she can snuggle with her friends for one more minute. She is a dedicated animal lover who feeds, pets, brushes and plays with her dogs. She attempts to entertain the cats but they tend to scatter when she comes bouncing around. In my mind I see the little girl in "Finding Nemo" who runs into the dentist's office and all the fish hide. Was her name Darla?

This past Halloween, Kyla was nothing other than a dog. A cute Dalmation at that! I heard during her first semester at school that she would sometimes crawl around on the floor and pretend to be a dog. No other children followed suit. When we go to the lake, her excitement over water and sticks is hard to contain. It's not unusual to see her with a stick in her mouth. I began to wonder how she would like to take a car ride with her head out the window. She recently asked me if she could go to the bathroom in the grass.

Admittedly, Kyla's best friends are her dogs. She would rather take them outside and play for hours on end than do anything else. She likes to run and hide and call for them and, yes, they do come running...each time. On a hot day, Kyla can be found hanging out under a shade tree using one or both dogs as a pillow. Wherever she is, you can bet there's at least one trusty friend at her side.

For indoor fun, Kyla loves to dress up as a Veterinarian and "fix" her friends. Her companions have no problem with the mountain of tests she runs and velcro bandaids on each paw. If she plays restaurant, she makes dishes for each pet. Just the other day, she drew pictures for each four legged member of our family.

Kyla has a keen sense of what the dogs need. She speaks to them in a way that warrants their attention and affection. The bond that I have seen between her and our shepherd mix is amazing. He follows her around inside and out and will take a break from playing to make sure his human counterpart is safe. I believe she was much like him when she was a canine.

Most of Kyla's wardrobe has an animal on it. Those are known as her favorite shirts. She can often be seen wearing her dog-eared headband both in the house and while running errands. I won't allow her to wear a dog collar, although she asks me often. She is more comfortable rolling around on the floor and in the grass than sitting in a chair. She is most expressive through her eyes. Simple directions are all she can tolerate. Her good dreams involve her being an animal, more so a dog. Kyla has asked me repeatedly, since she could communicate well, when she will be a dog. I always tell her whenever she closes her eyes, she can become anything she wants.

Whether she was or she wasn't, there's no denying her mutual attraction and likeness for the breed. I love to see her passion and will continue to nurture her love for all animals. I'd like to think her devotion will carry her far in time to come. What I see for her future is this: living on a farm of some sorts where her many animals can run freely and protected, a job that entails the care of animals, and a partner that shares her dedication. My daughter is truly happy in the presence of a dog and I couldn't be any happier for her.

Woof! Woof!