Tail Talk

This year is the year to do something outside of your comfort zone.  Since it’s the first of the year, make this the commitment that you keep, commit to make the lives of shelter dogs and cats so much better that soon the need for shelters to exist will cease.  Commit to it so thoroughly that you think it and breathe it every waking moment of your day.  Tell it to your children, your parents, and everyone you come into contact with so there is no doubt where you stand on the issue.  Lobby your legislators to change the laws to give animal cruelty laws teeth so there are repercussions to hurting the least of them among us.  Lobby local prosecutors so anyone caught hurting animals is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the laws available to them.  If the laws don’t have teeth, then start a petition to make the laws stronger so it can’t happen again with limited consequences.  It sounds like it would be difficult to do but you can go to Congress.org, put in your zip code, and they’ll supply you with the email addresses to send an email to either your Federal legislators or your State legislators, or both.  If you want to send a formal letter, for an additional fee they can send it right from the Congress.org website or you can get the addresses to send them from your own computer or writing pad and mail them yourself.  But take the time to do it.  We have the ability to change the world ourselves if we take the time to do it.  It just depends on what is important to you.  Are animals important to you?  Are your children and grandchildren important to you?  You know that once people start abusing animals it’s just a short while until it’s their wives and children that are next.

Are you thinking of adopting an animal and bringing it into your home?  How about adopting an animal that’s middle aged, one that’s been around the block before and for no reason of its own was surrendered and put back on the shelf.  Ask the shelter director which animal really needs a home in a no-kill shelter, or which animals are going to be euthanized first in a high-kill shelter, before you make the rounds to find your pick.  If you concentrate on the animals that need you the most you’ll be rewarded in ways I have no words to describe except with a friendship where you’ll never be forgotten, and a love so pure and deep that it transcends any relationship you’ve previously had because they know you saved them and they’ll never forget your kindness.  I have yet to bring a middle aged dog or cat into my home that hasn’t been a special gift from God, straight to my home and heart, so much so that I have to wonder what kind of an idiot ever lost sight of this wonderful creature because I am going to make sure that I never make that mistake.  To do so would kill my soul because they bring so much to our lives.

So this year you only have two resolutions you need to commit to, first to lobby for animals and second, if you bring a new animal into your home, adopt a middle-aged animal that needs you almost as much as you need them.  If you do those two things the world we welcome in 2013 will be exponentially better than where it begins in 2012.  And never forget, it’s only through you the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

Action Jackson is a gift from God, pure and simple.  I had never thought or wanted to get a dog while we still had Budward since it was at the end of his life and I didn’t want to take away any time from him.  I loved him and I felt he deserved every moment of time I had to share with him while we were together.  He was my best friend, the one that knew me better than I knew myself.  He could get me to take a nap when I needed to rest, and he got me up when I need to move.  I would do anything for him because he watched over me and took care of me.  Then I got an email about this white German Shepherd that was going to die within 24 hours unless I did something about it.  So I acted even though I knew that to save Jack I would take away time from my Dink.  I have found in retrospect that it was the best decision I could ever have made because our Action Jackson is a very special animal, and he knew when he was saved that we loved Budward very much, and he was given a special opportunity to live and learn from Dink, and he took full advantage of the gift he was given by learning to be just like Budward, so there are times when people call him Budward because the two are so alike.  He learned to be a caring, loving animal that watches 24/7 to make sure I am safe.  And because of his seizures, I do the same for him.  I am ever hopeful that his last seizures are his last seizures, but so far we haven’t been that blessed.  I live in fear that we’re going to lose Jack early in life because his seizures are so serious, and no matter how we try we get them under control for a couple of months we’re successful, then they come back with a vengeance.  He is an angel of light and love in our lives.  He brings us joy throughout our days, reminding us to live in the moment with him.  No matter what you’ve got going on, if you have an animal you love they will take you out of your circumstance and bring you into their moment and their life, and you get to experience the fun and laughter of the here and now.  What else does that for you?  I’ll bet money that the rest of your life is mostly thoughts of the past and worry of the future, neither of which does you any good.  Especially that worry of the future thing.  Don’t misunderstand me, you have to be aware of your future and move in a direction that is good for you and your family, but to spend all hours of your day in worry about what will be are hours wasted.  If it is bad, then you have to live it twice, and I’ve always thought it was bad enough having to go through it once.  Do your best, and what will be, will be.  Live with animals and you learn that there is only this moment in their lives and they live it to the fullest degree.  They are never in a bad mood unless something provokes them, then it’s over and they’re back to having fun, living in the moment.  And when they see you, they let you know in every way they can how important you are to them.  There is never a doubt that you are loved almost beyond their ability to impart the emotion to you.  Their gentle touch, a soft kiss or body hug, anything they can do to let you know how much you mean in their lives.  If you don’t feel love in your life, then go to the shelter and adopt a dog that is suited for your lifestyle.  You will find joy beyond my ability to describe, and you’ll feel loved every moment of every day for the rest of your life.  What a blessing from God it is to love and be loved unconditionally.  Don’t miss out on this greatest of joys.  And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.

The New Year’s Eve Rescue, a true story.

This post is a true story, written by Becky Loyd, the Rescue Coordinator for Rainbow Farms, an amazing place for special needs furry “kids.”  It is poignantly written and every Christmas season I share stories such as these as a reminder of what your animal rescuers at RCHS and across the country do, but they can’t do it without your support.  As you read of the New Year’s Eve Rescue, we pray you will find it in your heart to remember the Randolph County Humane Society this Christmas season, and help us continue our mission of saving lives, one by one.

New Year’s Eve Rescue

I went out last night, just after midnight, to make sure all the heat lamps were working in the goat, chicken and turkey houses. The temperature was supposed to go to zero or below. All the dogs had long gone to bed and the night was silent. Stepping on the porch I was greeted with the sight of a crystal clear sky and multitudes of stars.

Turning on the flashlight (we refuse to have one of those blasted dusk to dawn monstrosities that keep the stars from shining) I made my way to the barn. Earlier in the evening I had taken some straw to freshen the farm animal’s bedding, and had dropped a flake outside the gate that I failed to retrieve.

Walking down the drive, I saw a set of bloody paw prints pressed into the snow, that came out of the woods and ended at the pile of straw by the gate. Curled on the pile of straw was a dog. Medium sized. Could have been any kind of dog. It was hard to tell in the darkness. The only thing for sure was that it was a dark color.

I put my hand on the back and felt cold ribs. I took my gloves off and felt behind the front leg. A heart beat.Then I heard a faint thump. The end of the tail was going up and down making a slight impression in the snow, but the head didn’t move. I saw the deep brown eyes that seemed to say, “please don’t run me off. I can’t take another step.” The feet were cracked and bleeding.

I checked to make sure the heat lamps were working and gently scooped up the frozen dog. No resistance, just the thump of the tail. Not much weight for the size of the bundle. I made my way to the front door. Coming inside I laid the dog down inside the door. It never moved. Checking to make sure everyone was still asleep, I began the search for a blanket. I was pretty sure we had used the last dog blanket for our latest rescue. Nothing in the closet, nothing in the dryer, nothing on the couch. I went to the bedroom and gently retrieved the one off the bed. Even it was old and beginning to fray around the edges, but it was the last one available.

I folded it and set it by the heat register closest to the furnace.  Then I picked up the dog and laid it down on top.

After midnight, on New Year’s Eve, in a very rural area of Southwest Missouri? No way I could get a Vet to see this one tonight. We would have to try tomorrow. I went to the kitchen and took a container of chicken broth out of the fridge and popped in the microwave. I went back to the living room and set the bowl down next to the blanket, within easy reach of the cold nose. Another thump of the tail, was the only movement.

I reached down and put my hand under the chin, gently lifting the head. Now inside I could see that the dog was black, at least on the parts that had not turned grey. Almost the entire face showed the white signs of time past, and the pupils surrounded by those dark brown eyes were blue. The ears were that of a Lab and so was the tail which thumped every time I came near. The body was skin and bone. There were no front teeth. The canines were worn or broken down to nubs, and I was able to see three teeth in the back. I didn’t want to pry to see if the old dog was a male or female. It really didn’t matter anyway. I told the old dog I was going to go to bed and patted it’s head which was met by another thump of the tail.

On my way to the bedroom, I wondered how in the world the dog had gotten to our farm. It came through the woods which were large and uninhabited. I also wondered why here. The answer was simple. The hand of God had brought the old dog to the right place.

It’s morning now and I’ve been up for a few hours. The bowl of broth was empty and the blanket was much as I had left it. No bloody paw prints on the carpet, only on the old blanket. Sometime after I went to bed, the old dog lapped up the chicken broth and licked the bowl clean. The blanket had been fluffed a little and the old dog had curled into a tight ball with the nose tucked inside the tail.

When I bent down to say good morning, there was no thump of the tail.  I knew then that the old dog had crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the night.

Kneeling there in front of the old dog, I thanked God for the one old blanket I had left and for the hand that gently guided the old dog to Rainbow Farms. It was then that I thought of the poem that Walt Zeintek had written for us: “Listen to the kindness, spoken softly, Often lost behind the tears. Place your hand upon my shoulder, Let it take away your fears.”

May the New Year bring you closer to the hand of God, and all the old blankets you may need.

Permission is given to repost anywhere – maybe it’ll catch a few who don’t appreciate the gift they have.

This is a powerful message for all of us that are safe and warm, with so much that we don’t know what to do with it all.  There are still so many that have so little.  Anything you do today will work miracles for the future.  Maybe even some day we could wipe out the need for shelters to exist.  It’s Christmas.  I can dream, can’t I?

A Christmas Shelter Dog’s Poem

’Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town,
every shelter is full—we are lost, but not found.

Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare,
we hope every minute that someone will care.

They’ll come to adopt us and give us the call,
“Come here, Max and Sparkie — come fetch your new ball!”

But now we sit here and think of the days
we were treated so fondly — we had cute, baby ways.

Once we were little, then we grew and we grew.
Now we’re no longer young and we’re no longer new.

So out the back door we were thrown like the trash.
They reacted so quickly — why were they so rash?

We “jump on the children,” “don’t come when they call,”
we “bark when they leave us,” “climb over the wall.”

We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed,
now we suffer the consequence of the errors THEY made.

If only they’d trained us, if only we knew,
we’d have done what they asked us and worshiped them, too.

We were left in the backyard, or worse, let to roam.
Now we’re tired and lonely and out of a home.

They dropped us off here and they kissed us goodbye…
“Maybe someone else will give you a try.”

So now here we are, all confused and alone
in a shelter with others who long for a home.

The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat,
with so many to care for, they can’t stay to chat.

They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer…
we know that they wonder how long we’ll be here.

We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads
of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds.

Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears –
our friends filled with emptiness, worry, and fear.

If you can’t adopt us and there’s no room at the inn –
could you help with the bills and fill our food bin?

We count on your kindness each day of the year –
can you give more than hope to everyone here?

Please make a donation to pay for the heat…
and help get us something special to eat.

The shelter that cares for us wants us to live,
and more of us will, if more people will give.

– Author Unknown

And take a minute or two to share this with friends and family, spread the word, spread the message. Every little bit of help counts! Share the love every day but most especially now!

You never know whose life you are saving when you save a shelter animal.  I am alive today because of the love of one that was saved from a high-kill shelter.  Every animal that is euthanized because there is “no room at the inn” could be someone’s savior, someone you know, someone you love.  Every animal adopted from a no-kill shelter opens up one space for one animal to be saved from a high-kill shelter.

And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.