Tail Talk

This is a very sad day for me because Budward, my very best friend for the past twelve years, was euthanized today.  I had hoped beyond all hopes that he would cross the rainbow bridge from natural causes during his sleep, but it didn’t turn out that way and it was necessary for me to intervene.  I wrote about the special friendships we experience with our animals when I wrote about my best friend Budward in the November 13, 2008 www.TailTalk.org article called “My best friend knows me well.”  If you didn’t see it when it was originally published, please take a moment and read it now.  The other day I received an email from the shelter about the recent influx of animals that have made their way to the shelter, and there are 7 that are heartworm positive dogs that will require extensive medical treatment.  I ask that if you have enjoyed anything I’ve written over the past year that you dig deep into your pockets at this time and make a donation to the shelter or perhaps even become a sponsor for one of these animals.  You never know, any one of these dogs could be someone’s Budward, but without your immediate help they may not make it to that point.  I write these weekly articles for the benefit of the animals for no payment, only in the hope it will stir the hearts and souls to adopt or volunteer at the shelter.  If anything I’ve said has brought a smile to your face or a tear to your eye then I’m asking in honor of my Budward or your own special friend that you dig deep and make your donation now.  It would mean so much to me to know that you would honor his memory by helping the dogs that are in the same place Budward was when he and I first met 12-1/2 years ago when he first walked up to my doorstep, snow and ice frozen to his belly, legs and feet, alone and with no one to love him or care for him.  Someone had dumped him, just as is happening now so frequently at the shelter.  Go to Petfinder.com, search on dogs in zip code 62286 and you’ll see how many dogs have been left at the shelter in the past week.  The shelter can’t survive with this number of dogs being dumped week after week, especially the number with serious medical needs.  If you can’t afford to make a donation to the shelter then consider volunteering your time.  But understand what this means.  This isn’t a one time deal, but if once is all you can give then make that known when you call.  Otherwise you will be put on a schedule.  You may be given a mop to clean a cage.  You may be asked to walk a dog.  If that dog poops while you’re walking him, then you’ll be responsible for picking it up and bringing it back for disposal at the shelter.  That means you may get dog poop on your hand.  Trust me, the world does not end if you get poop on your hand.  Over the past months my best buddy Budward lost the use of his hind legs and there were times when he got poop on his fur, and I cleaned him up, over and over again.  I did it because I loved him.  He didn’t do it on purpose.  He didn’t do it out of spite.  There was nothing wrong with him except he lost the use of his legs.  My legs don’t work so well either, so I could relate.  Having poop in places it shouldn’t be is something we go through at the beginning of life and again towards the end of our lives.  Hopefully we have loved ones around that are willing to take care of us because they love us and the task, while never fun, is just something that has to be done.  But do it for love and be rewarded for what you do with the greatest love that you will ever know.   I know, because I have this huge empty feeling in my chest because I am missing the love from my very best friend that crossed the rainbow bridge today.  Oh what I wouldn’t give to have poop on my hands right now to wash off.  Because that would mean my Budward would still be with me, making me laugh with his silliness and his antics.  He always knew how to brighten my day no matter what was causing my clouds.  For now I’ll miss my very good friend but I know I’ll see him again.  He’ll be there, waiting to show me the way across the bridge when it’s my turn, but oh how I miss him.  You can make a difference in the life of a dog at the shelter right now, and every one of those animals is someone’s Budward.  Please help.

The Randolph County Humane Society is having their fall garage sale the first week of October.  Call the shelter at 618-443-3363 for information about where to drop off donations.