Tail Talk

While watching the news about the 3 year old Missouri boy that had disappeared into the deep woods one recent rainy afternoon, one news station mentioned that the rescuer that found Joshua noticed two dogs in the woods in an area he thought unusual to see dogs. When he checked them out he found the boy that had been missing three long, rainy days. The same boy that if not found soon would certainly not survive the wilderness he was lost in. What I found most interesting about this is that the dogs did not belong to Joshua or anyone in his family or any of the many rescuers scouring the woods. They were shelter dogs that belonged to a woman that lived in the area. Apparently the dogs found Joshua while playing in the woods and stayed with him. There is no doubt in my mind that without those dogs to keep him warm and protected in an area inundated with coyotes and bobcats the story would have had a very different ending. There is a special bond that happens between animals and children. I believe it is because children have the generosity of spirit that allows them to accept the love pets have for them unconditionally without obligations and time constraints getting in the way. A child would never worry about whether or not dinner is on the table when they’re caught up in a moment of play with their very best four legged friend. When I think of saving shelter dogs my first thought has always been that it is the adults of the world that offer the caring and support the animals that have no one need, but I am beginning to change my thoughts on this. Since writing Tail Talk I am confronted with story after story of kids that give up everything in order to help the animals that have nothing. Again this week it happened. The National Honor Society of the Sparta, IL High School spearheaded a school wide bake sale to generate money to purchase dog and cat food and treats for the Randolph County Humane Society. The school’s SKILLS USA Industrial Arts club built a beautiful dog house and donated it to the cause. Speaking with the Sparta National Honor Society moderator, Connie Frederking, she said every year the kids decide on a need they are going to address and the RCHS was the lucky recipient this year of their goodness. She said the program was so popular this year with teachers and students alike that they are considering honoring the RCHS in future fundraising events. Jeanne Fithian, V-President of the Randolph County Humane Society, mentioned the entire Sociology class of Sparta High School, in addition to individual students, volunteer to walk the dogs for the shelter three days per week. This is just one school. If every school was involved in helping the least of them among us, the shelter dogs that have no one, think of the mountains that could be moved. The kids of this world certainly have the capacity to work miracles. The dogs they help save are adopted out into families, just waiting for the day when they get to be the savior of a little three year old boy, lost in the woods in the rain, or the mother suffering from post-partum depression that believes suicide is the answer. You never know whose life you’ll save when you help in the rescue of a shelter dog. But never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 15th, 2009 at 7:32 pm and is filed under Animal Lover, pets, shelter dogs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.