Chocolate Therapy, And Kitty Love

Feb 9th, 2011

I am always hoping for a quiet, peaceful day.  It rarely happens, but we can only hope. After a few hours sleep, I got up and greeted the new day.  We need to remember that life is a gift.  Every day is precious.  I hope to be a blessing to those around me rather than a hinderance.  Many things get in the way, but we press forward!

I received a call bright and early from the couple that took Alex.  Their little dog didn't do well with him, so he was coming back.  That was a huge disappointment to me.  He was going to the groomer that morning as planned, but I had to find a foster home for him. I know that he is such a darling dog, and he will find a home very soon, but I had to deal with today.  I hope by Saturday he is safe in his new home.

After the day we had yesterday, I know we are looking for a break. Anita told me that she was still totally stressed , after she got home, and she plopped down and spotted the brownie cake I had brought to her house for Super bowl Sunday.

"We hadn't finished it because we had so much stuff to eat, Anita said.  " I grabbed the 9x9 pan off my counter and ripped a fork out of the drawer.  My husband and my daughter watched as I planted myself and in the family room and started eating that cake right out of the pan.  I cleaned off the whole thing!  Can you believe it, Penny?  I'm freakin crazy!," she exclaimed.

"Just when I think I can't deal with you anymore, and I think you have totally lost it,  and have gone off the deep end forever, you totally redeem yourself, Anita!  Now that is my kind of stress treatment!  Forget the massage, the facials,  the soft music,  and the long walk in the woods!  Forget the shrinks that know we're crazy anyway!  Chocolate!!  Yes!  Chocolate!  A whole pan of chocolate! That's what I call therapy!

Debbie, Roy's foster mom, called today, and the news was disturbing.

"Poor old Roy is having a hard time.  He is having trouble getting up with those old stiff joints, and I have to carry him outside pretty much.  He had a blow out last night, and I had to bathe him today.  He made quite a mess.  I gave him that wormer, and I think that did it.  He is so weak, and I just keep hoping if we can get some weight on him he will gain some strength back.  I'm cooking for him, and he did eat some chicken.  I'm just going to keep cooking for him and give him a chance," she said.

I was so concerned for Roy and for Debbie.  This poor old guy has to be fifteen years old.  We have to know when to let go.  Anita and I were very concerned that he was too far gone, but he needed to be loved, if only for a few hours, or a few days.

"Don't burn out with this, Debbie, " I warned.  "I have done this over and over.  I have carried big dogs that can't walk out side to potty many times, and my lower back reminds me of that daily.   I have made slings to lift them up, I have nursed them through their final days in kidney failure,  I have dealt with the pain of cancer in some of my most beloved dogs, and I have cried a million tears as I have said that last goodbye.  You're new in this, and I'm telling you , it sucks the life out of you.  Are you sure you don't want us to put him down?"

"Not yet.  I just can't give up on him yet.   I know he may not have much time, but I'm going to try to keep him going.  Who knows, once he gets some weight on, he may rally."

We need more people like this to help us. I have people call me after having perfectly healthy, happy dogs in their homes for just five or ten minutes, and they don't want to take the time to get them settled in, yet alone, be willing to lift a big collie up in their arms and carry him outside and try to hold him up while he goes potty.  This lady is cooking this poor old dogs meals. Oh Lord, send me more volunteers like Debbie!

I knew that I only had hours to get Alex a foster home.  I had no idea where I would put him.  I was covered up here at home... tripping over dogs!  I knew that if there was no other place to put him, he would come home with me. He can't go to animal control because I made a commitment to save him.   After all, with the state of mind Anita is in, who knows what she would stuff in her mouth next!  We might be scooping her up off the floor with a sugar overload!  If we lose her, we're history!

I called Kelly, and she reminded me about a girl that offered to foster yesterday, so I called her immediately.

"I really need your help, Amanda," I pleaded.  I have that darling shaggy dog coming back, and I have no where to put him.  Can you please help me?  He's at the groomers right now.  He is such a sweet dog. If you remember, he is the dog that we saved just before he was to be euthanized."

"No problem, I'll be happy to go get him," she said.

"I can't thank you enough!" I said with a huge sigh of relief.  One less thing to worry about.

I needed to get poor old Lucky out before I ran off to do all my errands.  She is getting around pretty well considering all she has been through.   I feel so sorry for her because her life has been turned upside down.  Her family wants us to find her a new home, and I just can't bear to see all this happening to her at fifteen!  I think her bladder infection is beginning to clear up, but I look at all those scars from the attack, and I wonder how this old gal lived through it.  It's more work now for Harry and I to take care of her, but her owner is back in Winston having surgery, and then on to radiation, so we will do what we can to help everyone involved.

As I said in one of my earlier posts, my daughter and I are opening a boutique.  I went to an antique store to meet Lisa because she had spotted some items that would be good display pieces for the shop.  The phone never stopped ringing while I was in that store. I could tell that Lisa was getting annoyed because I never get away from this.  I guess I need to learn to turn that phone off when I have other things to do. One called was from a lady that was heartbroken over a stray cat that showed up at her door.

"My husband wanted me to take him to animal control, and I 'm so upset," she said tearfully.  "Can you please take him? I will pay for his neuter and his shots. I just don't want him put down. I really wanted to keep him."

 I couldn't even imagine my husband telling me to take any animal to animal control!  That would be the day!  My heart went out to this lady.  I knew that she was very upset, but my options were so limited.  Charlotte, my cat coordinator, is retiring, and she is not pulling much at all from animal control. We have been very concerned about what will happen with all these cats once Charlotte is gone.  I told the lady that I would check on the cat, and I would do all I could to get the cat to our adoptions.  She also told me that her husband had spoken with the Humane Society.  I assured her that one of our organizations would take the cat.

I went to see Anita the next day, and I went in the cat room, which I prefer  not to do.  I am overwhelmed with the dogs. " He is just beautiful," I said to Anita.  He's a beautiful long haired boy, and I have no doubt he would be an easy adopt.  As we were talking, the lady that turned him in walked through the door.  She was going to take the cat back, or board him if need be.  The poor girl was so upset.   Anita called our Humane Society and reminded the gal over there about the cat.  They were having a cat adoption that afternoon , and they were willing to take the cat.  We were all very happy about that!

"You need to keep that cat," I said, as she took him out of his cage.  "I can see that You love him already."

"I'm working on my husband," she answered, as she petted and kissed the big boy.

  "I'd work on him, all right," I thought, but I bit my tongue.

 The gal walked out the door with the big kitty,  headed for the Humane Society, and Anita and I looked at each other with that look that needs no explanation.  One more problem solved, but a bucket full were just around the corner. Her phone started ringing, and I made my escape.

I'm way behind in posting this, so I'm quitting, and I'm going to get ready to talk about the week-end.  It's so hard to get the time to do this, but I know that many of you are reading and sharing this blog.   I need to get this out to you, so you, and others, can understand what the rescue people go through.

 You have animals in your community that need your help.  If you are from our community, we need you!   Your animal  control needs your help.  I will tell you that many of these people are very skeptical of volunteers coming into their facilities.  They can be very aloof, if not rude.  Many, particularly in the South, put down almost everything that walks in the door.  You have to let them know that you are there to help them and the animals.  Your attitude is everything.  If you go in there with a 'holier that thou' attitude, they will shut you out.  You will see things that send you over the edge.  You sometimes want to throw up at the sight of it all, but you must treat these folks with kindness, and remember that you are there to serve, not to threaten.  You can make a difference!  I will be happy to speak to any group in your community that may be interested in getting started. The animals are waiting for you!