BUT FOR THE TOUCH OF A PAW ON MY HEART--THERE WOULD BE NO DOGWOOD--HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY

Pictured-Top--Lucy at 6 mos
Bottom Lucy at seven years

Eight years ago today, my life changed forever.

It was on this day, December 6th, in the year of our Lord 2003, that Better Half and I adopted a ten week old, female, black lab puppy from Animal Control. We named the little one Lucy.

OK—lots of people adopt animals—THANK GOD—so what, you might ask, made this one so special?

To explain that, we must part the veil of time, and begin the story from an appropriate point—2002 BD (before Dogwood).

Better Half and I had been together seven years in 2002. We had experienced our ups and downs and all of the really fun stuff that all couples tread thru once the honeymoon is more than over with. All and all, I thought we were in a good place in our relationship and in our lives. But through all of our gives and takes and being flexible with each other’s needs and wants, there was a sore spot that just would not go away.

Better Half wanted a dog.

Now in 2002, though we were quite a bit more settled than we had been in the partying 90’s, we were still not known for being big on responsibility. Don’t get me wrong—we both worked and paid taxes and kept the lights on, etc. That’s not the kind of responsibility I am referring to. The type of responsibility I speak of is that which would concern the care and well being of another LIVING THING. A dog was a tremendous responsibility—a life whose happiness and livelihood would depend upon our decision making ability and our choices.

Uh—no way.

There was also a waxy build up over my heart from having it horribly broken. I had lost my childhood dog, King, in 1981. He had been my pal from my first memories until I was in the eighth grade before he crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. I had told myself that having a dog had been part of my childhood—and now that I was an adult ,such things did not have a place in my life. Dogs and cats were kid stuff--nuff said.

In truth, I still mourned that sweet old mutt who had owned part of me. There was no room in my heart for another.

So with that barrier of ice around my ticker, I did everything I could think of to rub the furry sore spot out of my life with the Better Half. I tried to appease the need for a pet with a fish tank (they died), I bought stuffed animals (Goodwill anyone?), I even went as far as to buy one of those first robot dogs (FYI-those first ones were EXPENSIVE), but alas—Better Half would not be happy until the house had been invaded by there something furry that crapped on the rug.

Being the brilliant mind that I am, I decided to take Better Half by the dog pound ever so often so that the animals could enjoy that wonderful love that was being offered. It was win/win: they got love and Better Half got a fill of fur without having to bring anything home.

Yes—I was one of those people. My heart was so unwilling to let anything in that I was willing to give that false hope to animals who were literally dying to be loved.

But God--having an even MORE BRILLIANT and DEVIOUS mind than mine--really got sneaky on me.

ON December 6th, 2003, on a routine trip to the pound, I got a kick in the backside, and a jolt of L-O-V-E that would irrevocably change my existence forever.

I was confronted by a tiny pair of the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen, carried by a tiny black frame with floppy ears. Those two little peepers were so powerful, that they looked down all the way down into my soul and busted up the ice around it. I can actually tell you the exact moment that Lucy stole my heart, and with a power I have never fully understood--made it whole again.

Cute story, huh? But lots of people get the mushies when they see puppies. So once again you may ask—why was this adoption so special??

It’s pretty simple really: If there had been no Lucy—LIFE WOULD HAVE  BEEN QUITE DIFFERENT.

Those soul searching eyes and that little heart beat gave birth to a dynasty and laid the ground work for an oasis for canines and felines that would later become known as Dogwood.

If not for those blue/brown windows to the soul and their power over me, seven of the fur bound residents that followed, and the two fosters that found temporary safety within Dogwood’s walls, might not have made it.

Every rescue and shelter with 75 miles has benefited by Lucy’s adoption.

If not for Lucy’s presence and influence in our lives, there would have been no involvement with the Humane Society or Cats Are Us, or Precious Friends, or any other rescue. There would have been no donations, no volunteerism, no Leaf Chronicle Pet People Columns, and no Dogwood Blog, because there would have been no Dogwood to blog about!

If I had turned and walked away from that little puppy eight years ago, I would not have many of the wonderful friends that I have today.  Without our involvement in rescue and shelters, I would have never have met them.

I also would not have experienced the blessings from the miracles we have been a part of. It has been by joining hands with pet owners and rescuers that I have seen  proof of what good people can still accomplish by working as one.  Together we have shared the ability to help animals who are hurt, dying, or without hope.
Yes--no matter how you cut it---it ALL boils down to the very existence of that little furry female that wormed her way into my house, my bed, and my heart and paved the way for others to follow.

One moment in my life—one decision—changed more lives and rippled out into the animal rescue community in waves of both success and heartbreak.

But for the touch of a paw on my heart—none of it would have happened at all. That’s what is so special.

So Happy Birthday Lucy—and Happy Birthday Dogwood.

May you both have many, many more to come.