Miracles Happen

"I promised myself that I would get some sleep tonight, but here I sit with little Tazzy on my lap prompting me to write about the doggies. My little three pound friend has become quite a treasure in just a few days.  Tonight I hit the couch to relax after a very long day.  She was lying on my chest and snuggled up to me as we watched American Idol.  She looked intently into my eyes with such love.  I said, "I love you, my little Tazzy.  You are safe and loved forever."  With that she rolled over and put her tiny head under my chin.  Then she reached up and touched my face with that miniature paw.  All the stress of the day melted in that moment.

Our day always starts very early because the dogs make it very clear that they want their breakfast served on time. After feeding the gang, Harry set off to pick up Lucky.  For those of you that have missed some of my posts, you will find her story in the last few entries. I was still a bit apprehensive about my commitment to take care of this fifteen year old injured dog with all I have going on, but I knew that we were all these people had to step in and help them.  I heard Harry drive up as I was getting cleaned up.  A few minutes later I smelled a nasty odor creeping up the stairs.  I was no stranger to foul smells, and I immediately knew that just minutes after they walked in the door there was already a problem.

I went down stairs to find Lucky tracking poop all over my tile floor.  It was too early for this!  I grabbed a roll of paper towels and started cleaning up the floor a bit before the mob and bucket took over.  Harry walked in the door looking disgusted and a bit nauseous.

"I hate to ask, but what happened? I said .

"She pooped all over my seat, and she walked in it," he said grabbing the odor killer.  I  knew that he had a blanket on the seat, but the poor guy was out in the cold trying to clean up the mess. "She can't wear a collar or a harness because of all the injuries, so I don't know how we're supposed to take her out.  She is peeing every few minutes because she has a bladder infection.  She has never lived in the house, so I doubt she is housebroken, and she is here for 10 days. We definitely have a problem here," he said walking back out in the cold.

"Crap!" I muttered, grabbing the orange scented room spray. "I give up!"

After getting the dog and the nasty mess cleaned up, it was time to check in with Kelly.  She had been answering the Friends for Life phone since I had been out of town, and I was sure there would be morning news.

"They guy with one of the puppies called early and said the puppy had blood in her poop," she said as the list began.  "I told him to take the pup to the vet, and they would check her out.  The pup is eating and drinking fine though," she said.

"Probably worms," I said reaching for my toaster waffle.

"The older woman that took the puppy as a foster to adopt on Saturday said that she's not up to taking care of a puppy, so she's bringing the pup back today, and the other young man called and said he doesn't have time to care for a puppy either, so he's bringing that one back as well.  Debbie will be bringing the pup she has been fostering, and she will stop by animal control if you need help  .Oh yeah, Mack is coming out as well, but she will foster him if he doesn't get adopted."

"Any other great news?" I asked, wishing I could walk upstairs and shut myself in my room.

"No, I think that's it," she said.

"Great!  Let's hope we get those puppies somewhere.  I can't send them back to animal control as full as  they are."

I hung up the phone, and it rang again. It was WATA radio. I almost forgot about the radio show I do on Wednesday mornings.  "Ready to go on the air?"  the DJ asked.

"Absolutely,"I said, looking at the cold waffle smirking at me next to my cold cup of extra bold coffee.

Harry and I got all the dogs in the right places and rushed out the door for the pet adoption. "We're going to be late to get the dogs at animal control," I said, already exhausted and irritated.

We grabbed some crates out of our storage truck and headed for animal control.  Anita was blow drying Alex, the  adorable shaggy dog we rescued in the nick of time yesterday.  I had left him there last night hoping that we could groom him a bit before the adoption. I appreciated Anita's help with him with all the mess she had there. She looked like her day was going about the same as mine. She was blowing the hair out of her face and wiping sweat off her forehead.

"We've got to get some of these dogs out of here, or we're in trouble.  What about that transport? Can we get these puppies moved up north this week-end?  I am going on vacation and Gabe is new here, and I can't leave him with a full kennel. And that poor old Collie can't even get up, and he's pooping on himself, and I just don't know if we did that old dog any favor by taking him.  He is going to be groomed this morning, but I don't know Penny...."

I went back into the kennels and looked at poor Roy.  He looked so bad. I appreciated that Anita kept him there for me until this morning.  He was struggling to stand up, and his poor dim eyes couldn't even see me as I called to him.  "Oh, Roy," was all I could say. Harry came in to see him, and I said, "You know, he may have to be put down, but there was no way I was going to let this poor old dog die in that gas chamber.  If he can't make it, we'll put him down surrounded by love," I said, as I walked away feeling defeated and so sad that his life would end like this.

"Well, what do you think?" Anita said as I walked back out front.  "I think he's blind, Penny," she added.

"He followed my hand when I moved it in front of him.  I think he sees shadows at least.  Let's get him cleaned up, and we'll go form there.  I took him out to save him from dying at animal control.  I'll figure it out," I said, wondering if he could even stand up long enough to be groomed.

"What am I going to do with all these old animals?" I asked Harry as we headed back to get the dogs out of the kennels.  I have Roy, Nikie, and Lucky.  All of them are about fifteen years old.  It's not as if I have people beating down my door begging to adopt dogs ready to move on to dog heaven any minute.

We took Sally, the Chocolate Lab, out of her pen.  She was exuberant to be out.,  We took wild  little Lexus out of her cage as we held our breath.  This poor little dog had spent months at the vet kennel and then at the pound, and she was going crazy being locked up for so long.  I knew if we didn't get her out of there it would be curtains for her soon. I hated to take her to the adoptions because she would bark relentlessly and drive all of us bonkers, not to mention the effect all that carrying on had on the other dogs.

"I think I would like to drug her," I said to Anita as Lexus pulled Harry out the door.

"A little rescue remedy might help, Anita said, laughing at the sight of this wild girl dragging my husband through the place.

"What do you mean Rescue Remedy for her?  What about us?  Buy a case of that stuff, so we can drink it! "I laughed to myself.  Just looking at what a mess we already were so early in the day was somewhat amusing.  If you don't laugh, you cry! cry! cry!!!!!

"A bottle of Prozac wouldn't touch her!" I exclaimed, wondering how I would handle this dog for six hours at the mall.

We walked in to the mall with the dogs, and the puppies started showing up at the same time.  Its always pandaemonium when we get there. A woman spotted Sally and began to ask me questions.  "I have a Lab at home," she said.  "This girl is just beautiful."

"You can foster Sally if you like and see how the dogs get along.  Sally is very sweet, and she would be fine with any dog," I said, wondering why no one had called looking for this wonderful girl.

"I will go home and get my other car.  I'll  bring her home and see how it works," she said.

"Great!"  I said.  "Give it time!" I warned.  I asked my normal questions and handed her our foster form.  "We'll hold her for you," I said, feeling happy for this great dog.

Someone else came in to pay for their puppy, and a crowd gathered around the dogs.  Lexus started barking like a wild woman, and that got Mack and Alex going. The choir had begun their rehearsal!  That is not a good thing because it can carry inside that mall, and that could cause us trouble.  My friend,  Joe, the mall maintenance  man,  had already warned me that one of the shop owners hated us and was looking for trouble.  I was trying to hush all the dogs, and I was getting totally stressed out at all the commotion. I shot Harry a look and said, "Please help me quite these dogs down!"

A young woman came by and fell in love with Mack.  This dog had my heart from day one.  He is the dog that loved that couple so much,  and they brought him back within minutes of bringing him home because they said he didn't like their dog.  He had been in another foster home since that huge disappointment with two other dogs and a cat, and he did great.  He needed a break.  We took Mack out of his crate, and he rolled over at the girl's feet and slapped her leg with his big paw. He was really working on her, and it was working.

"I'm taking him to foster him, and I'll probably adopt him," she said with a huge smile.

"I hope he can stay with you forever," I said.  "He has been heartbroken since his family turned him in to animal control. "

I was thrilled to see that big boy walk away with her.  She is a true dog lover, but you never know what could go wrong.  This time maybe he will have a forever friend.  He deserves all the love anyone can give.  To me, he's the perfect dog.

The puppies were getting lots of attention, and another one was fostered to adopt.  Then a couple came by and really fell for Alex. I told them that we saved him just in time yesterday.  They took our card and left.  A few minutes later they were back.

"He's so thin!" the lady said, as she rubbed her hand down his side.

"He was a stray, and who knows how long he was out there alone," I said.

"If we take him to foster him can we get him vet checked right away?" she asked.

"I'll call our vet right now and try to get an appointment," I said, reaching for my cell phone.

"Ok," she said.  "I've never had a male dog. I'm a little nervous.  We also have a very spoiled dog at home."

"He's very smart and very well behaved ," I said.  "I think you will love him."

"We have a meeting, but we'll come back and get him," she said as she put him back in his crate.

When they walked out the door I hoped and prayed that they would be back.  I took this guy out of that animal control, and I was responsible for him.  I was hoping he would find a foster home because Harry and I were so overloaded.

My phone rang, and it was the lady that took Sally.

"I think I will have to bring her back," she said.  "I hate it because she is so sweet, but my dog is driving her crazy, and I'm not sure she is house broken."

"You just got her home.  They need time to get to know each other,"  I said, remembering the episode with Mack last Saturday.  I just couldn't believe it!  Meanwhile, Lexus was still barking so much she was actually loosing her bark! "Thank God!"

"Well, I don't know...  I think I need to bring her back," she said.

"Ok, we're here,"  I said.  I hung up discouraged again.

My friend, Debbie, had been helping us with the adoption, and she was talking with someone when the phone rang again.  This time it was Jackie.

"Can you get this transport together for Saturday?  We have to get those puppies up there.  There will be all kinds of dogs put down if we don't get them out.  You need to see what you can get worked out," she said in a panic.

 I had to take a deep breath because I knew that no one had any idea of the pressure I live with everyday, and I just couldn't figure out why I am the one to work it all out every time.  After all, I was offering our SUV, and I only have about 23 dogs now at my place to care for. I'm standing at the mall praying that I can save Lexus before she's history.   I have all these old dogs to worry about, and now I have to get the transport worked out while I'm in the middle of the adoption!

"It was worked out for last Saturday, but they cancelled," I said, feeling frustrated.

"The weather was bad," she said.

" I know that, but I don't know who can drive this week-end. I have the pet adoption, and I need the SUV to pick up."

I looked at Debbie and said,  " I don't suppose you could drive the dogs to Virginia this week-end to meet the New York rescue, can you?'  I think Kelly will ride with you."

"Yes, I can do that," she said.

"You will?" I said, shocked out of my mind.

"Yes, I can go," she said.

"I have a driver," I told Jackie.

"Screams of delight came through the phone."

You owe me dinner, you wild woman," I said as I hung up.  It's a good thing we are all friends or we would kill each other.  We may anyway!

The phone rang again.

 "Hi Penny.  I called earlier about bringing Sally back. I'm going to hold on to her.  They're doing better. I can bring her back Saturday if I have to," She said. "I really love this dog,"

"Great news!" I said.  "I hope it works out."

I looked up and saw the couple that wanted to foster Alex. I was so glad they were back.  They took him and headed for the vet.  I was a bit concerned about this foster.  I knew she was nervous, but at least he was safe for now.  It was a good day.   Several dogs were safe for now.  Hopefully they will be adopted. We had Lexus and two little puppies left, and Debbie said that she was willing to foster the pups and pick poor Roy up at the groomer and take him home.  What a blessing that was!

The phone rang again. It was Anita.

"Anna went nuts over here when a child came in to the kennel.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we can't have this," she said.

  I was about to loose it by then.  We had spent a fortune on this dog.  She had her leg amputated, and we spayed her and gave her the shots she needed..   I know she is going nuts over there, but I have been taking dogs out of there like crazy. She has mange, and I can't take her home yet.  I have been working myself to death trying to get the dogs out of animal control, and now I felt that I was hearing that this dog needed to be put down after all we had done to save her. That pretty much sent me off the deep end.  I felt like everyone was pulling at me to make all the miracles happen, and I had had it.

"We have to get her well, and I'll see if I can get financial help to send her down for training if she needs it." I said, as my face was turning red.  "I don't know where I can take her. I'm just a bit overloaded here," I said wanting to just kiss it all good-bye at that point.  I had been stressed with all the barking and carrying on all day. I was worried about all the old timers, and whether I could get Alex placed.  I had a sick old dog at home that was probably pooping everywhere.  I knew that Lexus would not be safe if I sent her back, and now this.  TILT!!!!!!

Anita and I are good friends, and I knew she was very stressed today as well, but I knew that if anything happened to Anna I just couldn't take it..  I can't see Anna die because she has mange and can't get out of there.  Its not like I can board her anywhere!  I'm sure Anita heard the frustration in my voice.    We all have a breaking point, and I was more than there.  She said she would move Anna to the back if need be, and that was the end of that conversation. As I said, you have to form solid friendships to help hold each other up.  We all  get pushed to the limit.  Many people bail out. I totally understand.

A young woman came by and looked at Lexus about an hour before.  I had asked her if she could foster Lexus, and I told her the sad story. I told her that she was very hyper because she had been locked up for too long, and it would take time for her to settle down.  She said she would make a couple of phone calls, and maybe she could help. I wasn't holding my breath believing that she would come back.

I looked up, after hanging up the phone, and there she was.  "I came back to adopt Lexus," she said.  My family has a big fenced area off the mountain, and we love our dogs.  We can give her a good home."

"Seriously?" I said stunned.

"Yup! I have the money.  I'm so excited!" she said. We were all in shock, and the rejoicing began.  Poor little Lexus had been chosen at last!  I pulled out one of our new bright colored bandanas that read, "Love rescued me." " She needs this," I said, fighting tears.

Words cannot express what I was feeling when she walked out the door with that little dog."Thank you, Jesus!" I said, still stunned. "Please let this work."

The phone rang. It was Anita.

" I think I may have someone to foster Anna " she said.  "She's going to ask her husband, but Anna did great with her, and I just hope she comes back tomorrow! She doesn't have any dogs, so maybe it will work!"

"That would be the topping on the cake if we can get her in a safe place," I said with a renewed hope for this poor dog.''

"Just pray she comes back," she said.

Pray I will. Prayer has kept me somewhat sane!  I have set a record tonight. It is 1:50 AM, and Tazzy is looking at me wondering why we are not snuggled up together under the covers. Cookie is totally ticked because she wants to be snuggled up at the bottom of the bed.  So, I think I need to put my computer to sleep, and call it a day.  I hope I have very little to write about the rest of the week, but I won't count on it.

Miracles happen!  I saw several today. Pray for Anna.  She needs a miracle.

Bow Wow for now!