October has been designated by the ASPCA.org as Adopt a Shelter Dog month (Adopt a Shelter Cat is in June). As one who has adopted my fair share of shelter dogs, I am here to tell you that if you want to bring unparalleled joy into your life then make a visit to the Randolph County Humane Society and pick out a dog to take home and snuggle up to on the upcoming long winter days and nights. A little over one year ago we brought home Action Jackson, the love of my life, who came to us as a head on a stick he was so thin when we picked him up from the high kill shelter one day before his life would end if we hadn’t intervened. You wouldn’t recognize if you saw him now. He’s a farm dog extraordinaire. He sleeps next to me on his bed at night, and the last thing he does before he does his twirl to settle in for a good night’s sleep is give me a big sloppy kiss just to let me know how much he loves me for taking him out of the darkness of impending death and into the light of love and appreciation only a loving family can give their rescue dog. First thing in the morning when my husband gets dressed to go feed the farm animals Jack is ready to go and sits between my husbands legs as he tries to put his boots on, just to let him know he’s ready to help him in whatever farm chores are awaiting him that day. He was with us during our time of sadness when my father-in-law was dying, bringing what little joy there was to be found into our lives by just being Jack. You couldn’t help but laugh at his antics. When we rescued shelter cats he took them under his wing like they were his own. His capacity for love is greater than any I have ever known in people or animals, and the lessons of life I have learned from him, the lessons of compassion and acceptance have changed me, the crabby old woman that just couldn’t walk away that day from the high kill shelter when she saw the dog they advertised as a white German Shepherd that was anything but except he was white. Oh my God what I would have missed out on if I would have been so set on my wants that I walked out that day and left him to be euthanized. What the world would have missed out on by not hearing of Action Jackson in the musings of Tail Talk. He has been the light of my life in so many ways over the last 14 months, and I wouldn’t give up a second of it. Not during the car ride home from the high kill shelter when the smell of impending death was so strong that we had to ride with our heads out the window to breathe until we took him to the groomer and she brought forth the smell of new life. Not during the horrific moments during his epileptic seizures when I was afraid for his life after they came over and over again. Not when my husband lost his job and I wondered how we would afford to make it. Because I had the comfort and love of my family. Together we could overcome anything because we are together, my husband, myself and our animals. We are a pack. We are an island of love in a world that is filled with angst and hatred. Together we have strength. You can have it to if you visit the Randolph County Humane Society during October, the Adopt a Shelter Dog month. And remember, it is only through you that the RCHS is able to continue to save lives, one by one.
Pictures with Santa is coming up again and will be here quickly on Nov 1st at the Movie Gallery in Sparta from 1-4 and Nov 15th AFSCME Union Hall in Chester from 1-4 so MARK YOUR CALENDARS or you’ll miss it.
