Cypress, one of the dogs on the adoption page is now at her forever home at my friend Shelly's. She is a gorgeous, gentle lady like creature -Cypress, not Shelly. Ok, Shelly is nice too, but I was talking about the dog. Oi.
Grey's don't need tons of exercise, even though they are big dogs. They are sprinters, not marathon runners. Their ears are soft as the finest silk, and I'm sure rubbing their ears and lean bodies has healing qualities. My hands did not stay still the entire time, I was too busy stroking dogs and playing with ears.
I couldn't help but think of Mim's Mom and how nice that would have been for her, so I did sent a prayer that she would find her dog soon.
11 comments:
What a good thing to do. Helping the Greyhounds find homes is great. My daughters friend had a rescue Greyhound and she was the best dog.
I think one of the best things that ever happened was the idea to save these wonderful dogs.
I worked for a vet near a dog track in Massachusetts once and I quit in a fury of tears. The track used to bring the dogs by the truckload to be euthanized. At the end of the day (I swear this to be true) this vet (Dr. Wessels in Raynham)used to rub his hands together in anticipation and say "Let's go kill some Greyhounds."
When I quit I wrote him a long letter and all he said was I was too soft for the job!
He just didn't get it.
I take full responsibility for using his name but I understand if you'd prefer to delete it :)
No deleting here....in my world, your name goes next to your actions.
What's even more heartbreaking is that euthanasia is probably the best thing most of those animals get-the rescues have no trouble keeping foster homes full but due to the relative low overhead, dog racing kennels are by nature much larger than race horse kennels.
I really like this rescue's philosophy-you do what you can for one at a time and don't worry about the big picture. I think I will enjoy working with them, because the other one's I've been involved with become all all consuming and burn me out.
Sadly, in dog rescue there is a lot of politics. There is one fairly well known rescue here that rarely adopts dogs to their own people-the requirements are such that a middle class person probably doesn't have the facility, and are, in my mind, completely not necessary. In Deb's world-a dog needs a suitable sized crate, ample exercise for the breed, food, water, proper vetting and love. Everything else is gravy.
Of course, I see lots of dogs on Craig's list with tons of toys but 'I can't afford to give them the care they deserve" code name for shots. Ok, I'm rambling and I don't mean to, but I'm not deleting it either.
I know it's pre ordained that a greyhound will come to my home, but I think I will wait until it will be permanent, because we all know I'm not a foster. In the meantime, I'm really going to enjoy working with these creatures.
Greyhounds was a long time dream of Shelly, who got Cypress this week. And it was a true blessing to be able to share in the dream and understand completely.
Also, my friend I just met with is looking for a dog-and she is timid around dogs-I already see a perfect match. These are the kinds of things that fill a heart with joy.
deb, i love greyhounds. a woman who used to work with me started greyhounds rescues years ago, here in massachusetts. her name was/is louise coleman.
i am almost ready to adopt another shelter dog. my life has been too unsteady to make do on that, but i'm close. this is one of just one or two areas i could easily devote my life to.
i may have more to say as the day progresses. take care of yourself, and keep that joy in your heart. you deserve it.
:)
KJ-I always said if I had the money I'd be a full time retirement farm/rescuer-but it takes more than one person to run what I have in my head. Rather than give up, I'm pitching in with others and we just all do what we can.
Rescue is so bizarre-I've spent thousands on Greta, and the business side of me says that is a waste, I could have neutered hundreds of dogs with that money. Even the vet pointed out that my good deed could have been a more prolific deed with the same amount of money. But I don't think my soul would have survived.
I think we, to a great extent, choose our own reality, and I choose a place where sometimes things matter just because they happen to cross your path.
Now I have to go brush my hair. I'm taking my Mom to the Mall for a walk, and she requested that I brush my hair. She asked nicely, so I'm also putting on a clean t-shirt. Oh, I'm benevolent and good....LOL.
:) debra kay.
since your words are absolutely true, what am i supposed to do with a four year old doll of a child in foster care whose mother has not visited her in months and who has been molested and who i have come to love?
it gets complicated...
xo
i know nothing about greyhounds at all, must do some research, i never imagined them cuddleable (but then probably all dogs are). kj i feel for you with that little child....sigh....
Deb - I thought of a greyhound and wanted to take mom to an adopathon but we missed it in all the other things that we had to do. I've known greyhounds and they are lovely dogs - gentle and quiet but loving. I've seen on in an antique store just slithering in and around all the china - it was very impressive.
I give money to ASPCA, Bernie Berlin, NEADS etc. I don't think I can volunteer at a shelter, even a no kill one, without losing my heart every day.
But KJ - honey - you've got a real problem - I don't know what they hell I would do with that story, except try to give that little girl as much love as you can..while you can.
Oy is right. Oy, Oy OY!!!
KJ, you just have to decide what you are willing to do, and do it. If professional help is what you can offer, then offer it. If you want to do more, what's stopping you?
I'd look at each of those "reasons not to" and think them all through and then decide. When we were younger, reasons not to were just largely ignored, but with age comes experience. It's pretty easy to go somewhere quiet and listen to our hearts and hear what is just normal jitters and negative chatter and what is a real concern.
I know when I reach a decision, if there is a calmness and peace in my heart, it's a good decision. I also know that decisions, even when they are good, don't guarantee a good outcome. I wish they did, but they just don't. But, I've never regretted having my heart broken over something that I did with honest love.
Oh, I just had an insight. Honest love-what did I mean by that? I meant the love that is genuinely for the other person and not out of "if I do this you will love me back".
I'm not comfortable with the term unconditional love, because it's been used so much to justify being a doormat, and in most cases it's "If I put up with this BS he/she will love me back..." and they never do.
yes that is an excellent way to describe it debs, that calmness and peace in the heart means it's right for me, and i alwasy try to sleep on it and see what my first thought is when i wake. unconditional love (when not overused) means that you love a person 'warts and all', not that you are blind to their faults. hard to do though....
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