We’ve been trying to get our home network operational with our computer, laptop and printer. You know, the things they say are plug and play (for everyone except for you when you try it). Booger, the dog spirit in a cat body, has been playing house hockey with a piece of dog food, batting it back and forth between his paws, sending it flying and chasing it. Jack takes his dog food very seriously, even down to the single morsel, cleaning out everyone else’s bowl when no one is looking. He has not forgotten his days of starvation that were just one year ago, and to play with your food is something you just don’t do. Budward is lying next to the couch in front of the TV while our beautiful deaf Girlie Sue is getting her beauty sleep on her fleece doggie bed in the bedroom, oblivious to everything happening in the rest of the house. Jack has finally had enough and as Booger takes off after that single morsel of food Jack is in hot pursuit, through the kitchen, into the dining room, under the table, back into the kitchen around the island, into the living room. The couch is too close to the window for Jack to make it through so that’s where they split. Budward can’t join in the “reindeer” games but he does his best to chomp at the cat as Booger runs past, just out of reach. Finally Jack has the last word when he sees the single piece of food on the floor and runs for it, grabbing it while quickly settling in next to my recliner. There he calmly chews that piece of food like it will be his last while looking into Booger’s eyes the whole time. And so it goes until this evening when it’s chowder time and Jack gets so much in his mouth that he can’t help but drop some. He’s our little piggy. Those memories of his life before he became our farm dog are always close to the surface and never to be forgotten no matter how many times we show him the chowder bin and promise he’ll never have to worry, the pain of his life before is just too much for him to ever forget. But he has forgiven. There isn’t an inch of his soul that is given over to anything but love and appreciation for everything that he receives being part of our bevy of bubs and he lets us know every day in every way he can how very much he loves us and appreciates all that we do for him. Over the past weeks people have been dumping their animals in the numbers of 10 to 20 per week. I’m shocked by this. I know life is hard. We struggle also since Tim was laid off. We’ve been selling everything that isn’t absolutely necessary to our existence so we can keep the things that are near and dear to us no matter how thin the pickens’ get. Call the shelter and ask them for advice. They receive donations of food and on occasion may have enough to share to help you keep your love monkey with you at home. And if you exhaust every avenue open to you rather than dumping them take the high road and take them to the vet to be euthanized. If you don’t have the money ask if you can pay in installments or if there is a facility around that can help. Someone will help you. Ask a family member or a friend. No one will think unkindly of you but instead will admire you for not allowing your loved one to suffer. Your pets have given you their unconditional love throughout their time with you. Please, please take care of them at what will ultimately be the end of their lives. They ask so little of you and have given so much. Don’t leave them to die of starvation. Don’t let their last feelings be of fear. Take them to the vet, hold them in your arms and let them cross the rainbow bridge feeling safe and surrounded by your love. For those of you that aren’t suffering financially please visit your local shelter today. They are in desperate need like never before to have those that are able come in and adopt because the number of adoptable animals are growing exponentially every day. And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.
Tail Talk
About animal lovers and shelter dogs
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Tail Talk
