Visit the animal shelter lately?
This came my way in an email recently, giving us a very different perspective on the value of adopting abandoned animals from our cities' animal shelters:
I rescued a human today.
Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.
I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.
As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life. She got down on her knees and made little
kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle
fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for
companionship.
A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.
Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.
I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.
I rescued a human today.
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About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.
I am with the previous blogger...but I am also a blubbering mess every time I visit the shelter ...that or I bring home another one.
BTW...www.theanimalrescuesite.com sells shirts that say *My dog adopted me* :-)
3Dogs2Arms:
I concur!!! Where is the tissue!
I..am...blubbering like a fool with this one. Thank you for posting it as it makes me feel less of a weirdo when I respond to people how I am "their human" rather than them being my dogs.
Visit the shelter! Not just to get a pet but to share some kind words and interact with animals in need of a human reaching out. You might be the first person not walking away since they got dumped or lost.
I'm printing this one out for my wall and sharing the post with friends.