PET PHOTOS IN THE WORKPLACE PROVIDE LOVE AND COMFORT

Recently, a co-worker stopped by my small cubicle, snarled up his nose and asked, “Man, how many dog pictures do you need in here?”

I told him that I hadn’t given it much thought. He sighed and walked away.

He’s one of “those” people who can’t understand my close pack relationship with seven fur balls that wet the floor, take up all the space in the bed, shed on the furniture, and chew up my belongings.

But his comment had lit curiosity. How many pictures did I have?  I began a slow spin in my swiveling chair to count the images decorating my office space.

There are framed photos, photo copies, post cards, photos in magnetic sleeves, photos on little clips, and photos taped or pinned up. There are tiny frames and large frames, some with one opening, others with multiple ones, and so on.

These contain pictures of Better Half and each of my kids: Lucy, Charlie, Pearl, Hines, Daisy, Bart, ,Sebastian and Linus. I have pictures of my foster dogs, of rescue dogs whose adoption I was able to help with, of animal friends that I have made over the years, and of those who have left this world for a better place.

Atop the cabinet that encloses my work area, there are pictures of Charlie and Lucy as pups. There is one displaying the first time I ever held Daisy in my arms.   I have a tiny framed picture of Bart, sitting on my shoulder on his first day at Dogwood. There’s another of Better Half getting “lubbins”.  

On my left are pictures of Hines, the rat terror (I mean terrier).   One was taken on Hine’s first day. He looks tense, worried, and not so certain of his surroundings. The one beside it was taken after he had been established as my “special little guy”: relaxed, confident in his place and in his affections.  The images are like night and day.

There are pictures of birthdays, back yard shenanigans, and cheesy grins.  There pictures of my kids napping, chewing the cushions off the couch, peeing on the rug, and doing other “cute” things that have made them infamous.

On the shelf above my head sits a framed image of my sweet Pearl, lying in her favorite basket by the back window. , This photo has its own special place, and of all my pictures of her, this one is my favorite.

I miss my little girl.

I recently added some pics of our newest addition: LINUS.  He came to us broken--but you all know that Dogwood has a healing effect. Linus has turned out to be a Daddy's boy--and I wouldn't have it any other way.

As I examined my photos, I forgot all about counting them.  These moments, captured forever and displayed in funny little squares for all to see, are very precious to me. 

Those happy, innocent, furry faces have a power to warm my heart and make me smile in times of stress, or when I’m just having a crappy day.

How many pictures do I have?   Let’s just say there are a lot.

How many grins, chuckles, happy thoughts, and warm feelings do they provide? 

The number is infinite, priceless, and very cherished.

YOU CAN HELP A MIRACLE!!!!

 I think by now almost all of the rescue lovers who follow Facebook know about a sweet senior dog named PAM who was left behind by her "owners" and brought to Animal Control in Clarksville by neighbors.
 The officers at Animal Control tried to make her comfortable, allowing her to lie on a soft dog bed as opposed to lying on the concrete floor of a kennel. 

But things were not looking great for the old girl.  We all know that senior animals usually get the short end of the stick (no pun intended). Most people want puppies or cute and cudleys--not the old weather worn warriors who have seen many, many moons and are approaching twilight time.  Older animals are forgotten--or like Pam--are left behind to fend for themselves--or to fade away. 

But thanks to rescuers at Willy's Happy Endings--Pam's future took a turn for the better.  Rafi Johnson and her team of huge hearted folks pulled Pam from her uncertain hours and placed her in their foster program.

The story gets even better from there. The Robert Reed family in Georgia saw Pam's picture on facebook, and to semi quote Robert, "It melted his heart".

SO at this time, PAM is undergoing prep work towards her transport and delivery to her new family.

MIRACLES still happen! Pam is well on the road to living out the rest of her days in comfort and in love.

BUT--Willy's Happy Endings could use a few dollars along the way to help get the old girl ready to enter her happily forever after.

This is the Face Book post from Rafi and Willy's Happy Endings:

Willy's Happy Endings

18 minutes ago

OK WHE friends! Pam's entropion surgery and dental has been scheduled for monday morning. The estimated cost for just those procedures is $325.00. She will also need pre-anesthetic blood work to be sure that she does not have any heath issues that would make the anesthesia dangerous.

If you can help, there are many ways to donate!

1. Send a paypal to info@willyshappyendings.org

2. call our ve...

t directly at 931-232-9900 to make a donation to our account with your credit card over the phone!

3. Send check or money order to
Willy's Happy Endings
PO Box 175
Woodlawn, TN 37191

4. On our gofundme page www.gofundme.com/willyshappyendings

If you cannot donate please take a second to share! :)

WHE LOVES YOU!

 

 

SO HERE IT IS FOLKS---MY patented, beloved FIVE DOLLAR CHALLENGE!!!!

If you can spare FIVE BUCKS to donate towards PAM's vetting and transport--I am asking that you send to one of the venues offered above.  Go one day with out that fancy coffee---drop your pack of cigarettes for a day---pack yourself a lunch tomorrow instead of scarfing down a Wendy's burger.

FIVE DOLLARS!  We can all afford that (I hope).

 

If you can't afford that--then I ask that you spend FIVE MINUTES in prayer--asking that this need be met, and that this wonderful, loving senior dog will be delivered safely and happily into the arms of the hearts who her image moved so much.

 

That much I know everyone can afford!

 

SO COME ON ANIMAL ARMY---get out those wallets and check books and credit cards and let's make this thing happen!

 

MIRACLES HAPPEN--sometimes we have to nudge them along.  JOIN THE NUDGE!!!

 

THREE YEARS AGO--DOGWOOD GOT ITS FIRST FOSTER CHILD

Sweet Sadie--abandoned at Animla Control--scared-lost-heartbroke.

Sadie after being at Dogwood for ten minutes. I'll carry the warmth of that smile to my grave.

 

This is the story I wrote in 2009 celebrating the adoption of our FIRST FOSTER CHILD at Dogwood. SADIE was a five year old border collie that had been surrendered by her family to Animal Control. She was FULLY TRAINED, house broken, and one of the most docile sweet dogs I have ever known. She opened the door for quite a few more who followed.  I CELEBRATE LIFE with this story, and remember a sweet, sweet spirit that I was able to save.

 

On October first, Better Half and I received our first Humane Society foster dog, Sadie. Since then, she has been living at Dogwood with the rest of my heathens: Lucy, Charlie, Hines, and Pearl the cat.

            Sadie was rescued because the Lord spoke to my heart. That's the only way I know to explain it. She had a purpose that had yet to be fulfilled, and it wasn't time for her to leave this Earth until she had done so.

 Trust me. I didn't understand why I was doing it either. But I had faith and believed that everything would work out.

            I had no problem introducing her into my pack. The only wrinkle was the fact that she was way too curious about the cat and got knocked around quite a few times when Pearl had finally had enough. There was no aggression involved but it was evident that cats would be a "no-no" for her forever home. 

            While Sadie has been with us, I've had to remind myself that she was living with us temporarily, and that the day would arrive that she would leave us. But as the weeks have sifted by, my reminders began to slip. Better Half and I decided that if Sadie was still with us at Christmas, we would keep her.

            But something wasn't right. Yes, I had fallen in love with her, and she had become attached to me. But the happiness I had felt with the adoptions of my other kids just wasn't there. I felt I was doing something wrong.

            I prayed about the conflict I felt, and was answered. Somewhere out there, the person who needed Sadie more than I did was still waiting.  If I adopted Sadie, her purpose would go unfulfilled. I was being selfish and sticking my fingers into God's plan for her.

 So I asked God to help me not interfere and to not be selfish, as I would soon be overcome by my attachment to her.

            The morning after that prayer, I received an email from the Humane Society about a fantastic adoption application for Sadie. The applicant family had lost their fifteen year old pet in July, and felt they were ready to have a new dog. There was a void that needed to be filled in their household. I knew in my heart that, as always, the Lord had delivered, and that this was the place for Sadie   

            It all snowballed very quickly. Before I knew it, it was time to say goodbye.

It's not an easy thing to give something you love away.  But God would not desert me, and would make sure that Sadie's life would always be happy.

              Sadie is now blessing a wonderful household with her gentle love and peaceful demeanor.  It's been a bumpy ride for her: Loved once, abandoned, saved from death, and finally delivered to be cherished as she deserves. Her journey is a reminder     that God's ways are so wondrous and merciful, and that he cares for all things he created.

            Life at Dogwood is back to normal, or as normal as it gets there. The saga of the first foster dog is over. Will I foster again?? That will depend on what the Lord lays on my heart next.  He'll tell me when, and lead me through whatever comes.

But I will always remember Sadie, the first foster of Dogwood... and smile.

            You made it, little girl. I love you.