SOOO glad to be out of January - feel like we are rounding the corner - 27 more days until March 1!!!
The cats and dogs all fight to be inside and we find ourselves guarding doorways when company comes to keep animals from invading our home. I feel badly for my sister tonite as her dog of many years is facing her final days - it is like losing a child when a dog passes - so whisper a prayer for their family and for the dog that it will be peaceful and that the Lord will comfort them.
As for our Tennessee visitor, Girlie...........ahem................I am HOPING she is gaining weight cuz she is eating well................if not, my friend Andrea who may decide to bring Girlie home with her may be in for more than she bargained for!
I will take Girlie to the vet for a distemper booster and find out for sure at that time.
Mom left today for her month with my sister. It is so empty when she leaves - so hard to have her go, but this past month I believe I made it a point to spend all possible free moments with her, to treasure her, listen to her stories, and just "be still" and let thoughts of all I should be doing be put on hold. I don't want any regrets. Still, some of the stories were hard to listen to - stories of her family during WW II in Norway when she was growing up - stories of losing her mother to tuberculosis when my mom was only 11, having to be raised by step mothers and grandmothers and grandfathers and being so very poor. Stories of later years after marrying my dad, and summers in Wisconsin. The worse part was hearing of her anguish, knowing that when we left Wisconsin to go back to California my dad kept our family dog chained to a doghouse for literally 4-5 months, alone. The neighbor came down to feed and water, but he was no animal lover. I can't imagine what that dog must have gone through - the feelings of abandonment and loss of his family's love. When I was 15 my father went back to California to sell our house in order to move everyone permanently to Wisconsin. Over the years my mother had built a family of many cats - all were outdoor cats - but she had a name for all of the 15-20 that were ours. She just told me this past month that when the house in California sold my mother wanted to bring the cats, or at least a couple of her favorites. My dad forbid her to take them, and promised to "take good care of them". She never knew what he had done until later, when he shared that he had put them all in a cage and taken them to Svedal, a public park outside of San Jose near Morgan Hill, and let them all go there. My mother has kept this hurt inside for many years, and I am sure she was relieved to finally be able to talk about it. It shocked me, but then again, why should it? Maybe this is why I ended up in animal rescue............or maybe it was in my DNA before I was born. Here is a poem I'd like to share:
I Am An Animal Rescuer
My job is to assist God's creatures
I was born with the desire to fulfill their needs
I take in helpless, unwanted, homeless creatures without planning or selection
I have bought dog food with my last dime
I have patted a mangy head with a bare hand
I have hugged someone vicious and afraid
I have fallen in love a thousand times
And I have cried into the fur of a lifeless body too many times to count
I have animal friends and friends who have animal friends
I don't often use the word "pet"
I notice those lost at the road side
And my heart aches
I will hand raise a field mouse (I have a great story about this when I was 12!)
And make friends with a vulture
I know of no creature unworthy of my time
I want to live forever if there arent' any animals in Heaven
But I believe there are
Why would God make something so perfect and leave it behind?
Some may think we are master of the animals
But the animals have mastered themselves
Something people still haven't learned
War and abuse make me hurt for the world
But a rescue that makes the news gives me hope for mankind
We are a quite but determined army
And we are making a difference every day
There is nothing more necessary than warming an orphan
Nothing more rewarding than saving a life
No higher recognition than watching them thrive
There is no greater joy than seeing a baby play
Who only days ago, was too weak to eat
By the love of those who I've been privileged to rescue
I have been rescued
I know what true unconditional love really is
For I've seen it shining in the eyes of so many
Grateful for so little
I am an Animal Rescuer
My work is never done
My home is never quiet
My wallet is often empty
But my heart is always full
-Author unknown
As we think about the poem, I want to reach out to those of you who may have a place at your home for the following in need this week:
Flaunting It - was going to be adopted once and fostered once, but the connection
has not yet happened
A Team Hall
Honey Fitz
King's Royal Fella - if not placed by Thursday this week, they will be brought to our farm against our better judgment. We do not currently have room for three horses and need to emphasize these three horses are trained to ride and trail safe and please help ASAP if you can! The horses are near La Crosse. We are currently carrying buckets to two horses where there are no heated tanks - three more would take us way over budget and we do not have adequate water supply for this many horses so please help us!
We had one new tank heater go bad last Friday (good thing there was a 3 year warranty on it!) and another one is not working at 100%. Our electric bills are skyrocketing, and we are headed into horse fairs where we will need money to travel, for motels, and for food and stall space. Sponsorships are badly needed!
Our board meeting was held last Friday night because we had at least 50% of our board present - notes to follow.
Have a GREAT WEEK!
Susan
