Weekly Wrap-Up ~ Working With The Humane Society

This has been another crazy week, work,  adult health clinical, the free health clinic, and the humane society pet adoption day. Exhausted but bless is how I describe my life. 

 

Because my life is crazy with school I usually do not attend pet adoptions days - I also do not attend because I cry and want to bring home the dogs that are not chosen.  This week the Big Man and I decided to help out - it was an emotional day, but this time in a good way. 

“Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever” (author unknown).

 

The Blytheville Humane Society changed the life of 5 dogs and 2 cats on Saturday. 

A group of dedicated humane society volunteers took several dogs and cats to Petco in Jonesboro (60 miles away).  The humane society’s participation in adoption days at Petco will assist the humane society in becoming eligible for Petco Foundation grants and gives the animals an opportunity to show their personalities to the public.

On Saturday the world changed not only for the animals but also for the loving families that opted to adopt a shelter dog. 

Sinbad a sweet young adult, Cairn terrier/Shih Tzu Mix whose owner surrender him because, they no longer wanted a dog, found a home.  His family had spent the morning looking for a dog, they decided to stop by Petco just to see if any of the local rescue groups where at the store.  It was love at first sight, Sinbad was taking it easy in a volunteers lap when his new family spotted him.  He immediately perked his ears and almost smiled.   

Harmony, a terrier/pug mix had been previously adopted and was a very good girl.  Sadly, one of the children in the house was allergic to dog dander and Harmony was returned to the humane society.  Harmony spotted her forever Dad the minute he sat down with the dogs, she could not get in his lap fast enough – she left walking tall on her new leash.

Caleb, a young shy chiweenie (dachshund / Chihuahua mix) who was found starved & abandoned in a storage facility, picked his new family while the family was playing with the other dogs.  As the volunteers watched a young family play with the dogs, Caleb sat in the corner watching the family. The minute the lap of the child in the family was empty, Caleb sprinted across the space and jumped in the child’s lap, as if to say, yep you are my forever family. 

Courtney, a Chihuahua/Fox Terrier Mix found her forever home. She went home with a young lady who was all smiles as they left, the volunteers wonder if Courtney’s little feet will ever touch the ground.

Isabelle a very sweet 2 year old who is  great with kids and other dogs, was the last dog on Saturday to get her forever home.  Remember Caleb the chiweenie that picked out his family, the family had really thought Isabelle was the dog they wanted, but Caleb won.  The family felt they might know the perfect home for Isabelle, a grandparent’s home.  Before they left with Caleb they sent their grandparents a picture of Isabelle.  As the day came to an end the volunteer started backing up to bring those who did not find their forever homes back to the shelter – Isabelle was placed in a vehicle and started home. The young family came rushing back to the store for Isabelle, the grandparents thought she was perfect and wanted to be her forever home.  The volunteers could not have worked faster – they called the volunteer driving Isabelle to the shelter, she turned around and drove back to Jonesboro.

The volunteers will do anything to help an animal find a forever home.  After a few tears were shed, Isabelle left headed to her forever home. 

The packing up to go home continued slowly, because during the time the volunteers were waiting on Isabelle to return, a very sweet lady found her forever cat.  Suki, Siamese cat who had been in the shelter for over a year.    

Saturday was an emotional day for the volunteers and the animals, but in the end, life was changed for 5 lucky dogs, 2 cats, 7 special families who opened their homes to a shelter pet and for me - I realize I can not save them all - but I can make a difference.

~  Connie ~

 

Weekly Wrap-up Victoria's Story

The Blytheville Humane Society can’t be everything to every homeless animal, but Saturday afternoon, the group worked together to be the one thing a starving homeless Mastiff mix, named Victoria needed.

 Susie Brooks got a call from Humane Society Member, Denise Johnson, she had found a very thin large brindle color dog on the side of the road just off the Victoria exit.  The dog had been there at least two days - we assumed whoever had dumped her on the side of the road had left her food, water, and a crate. 

 By luck, the shelter had an open pen, Susie asked Denise to bring the dog to the shelter. 

Victoria, even though she was starving, wasn’t ready to go with Denise.  A young couple stopped and tried to help.  Together they were able to get a leash on Victoria, but Victoria still wasn’t ready to get in a vehicle. 

After a couple of calls and text messages the Big Man and I got in the truck and headed out to help, with lunch meat we were able to coax and kind of shove Victoria in the crate.  After loading Victoria, I survived the area, thinking to myself, thank goodness whoever dumped her at the least left water, food, and a crate.

I believe Mississippi County has a big heart, standing on the side of the road Saturday afternoon, my beliefs were confirmed.  A man stopped, he got out of the care with a hot pizza and thermos of ice water for Victoria. This man travels that road every day, he had noticed Victoria on Thursday and fed her what he had in the car. He had feed her again on Friday, even went back to his house and made her a couple of peanut butter sandwiches. He told us that he had seen other people stop and fed her.  He was worried about her, he called 3 agencies in the county trying to get help, but was told each time that they could not help. He had even tried to coax Victoria to get in his car, but she wasn’t ready to give up her corner.  When he could not get her in the car, he had gone home and gotten a crate and blanket so that Victoria would have shelter in case it rained. 

The one concern the man had when we said we were with the Humane Society, was Victoria being euthanized. We quickly assured him, the Blytheville Humane Society is a no-kill shelter, and Victoria will be safe till we can find her a for-ever home. 

We will never know how Victoria got to the side of the road or why she did not jump at the chance to get in a vehicle with all the kind people who stopped and offered her help.

What we do know is, that in all situations there are unseen plans and good people do exist.  Too often we dwell or focus on the bad and we could do that in Victoria’s case.  Instead we are focusing on the good – thank to everyone who not only saw one of God’s helpless creatures on the side of the road, but who also offered her a helping hand.  It is the big hearts of Blytheville and Mississippi County that makes it possible for the volunteers of the Humane Society to care for the Victoria’s in our little corner of the world. 

~ Just another day in a blessed life~
Connie

Life is Fragile

Today did not start as expected - it started with me standing by a friend as his wife left this life.  It is in those moments when I see how fragile life is, that I remember tomorrow is not promised.

Sitting here tonight with my four-legged babies, I started thinking about how quickly life changes.  My friend had been married for 35 years.  Like me, he is a nurse, he said to me - I have done this 1000 times for others, it is harder on this side (he was referring to being the family).  He is right, it is hard, it is also hard  to be a nurse and know that when God calls someone home, there is nothing we can do to ease the pain the family experiences. 

As I stood with my friend this morning, with my heart breaking for him, I realized that The Big Man would be devastated if I left him and I would be lost without the Big Man.

Tonight - I wonder how will my life be measured ?

In the end - there are more questions than answers. 

Remember to say what needs to be said -  Love like tomorrow doesn't exist - 

 Make sure your moments take your breath away.

Life is fragile

~ Connie ~

 

 

Weekly Wrap-up ~ Finding Peace

As usual - it has been a week. 

My mother use to say there is "no peace for the wicked" - I really don't think I am wicked, and I certainly hope no-one thinks I am wicked, but there has been no peace (will maybe just a little) at my house this week.

My washing machine decided to get sick last Sunday night - the repair man came out but she needs a transplant so we are on a waiting list - for a new drum.  Hopefully she will be well by this coming Thursday.

My car decided it didn't want the washing machine to have all the attention - so she let a wheel-bearing go out. Luckily, we have an awesome mechanic who got her fixed quickly.  But, it meant a trip to the Chevrolet / Cadillac dealership where the Big Man decided he needed a new truck.

  Look what the Big Man got - A New Shiny Red Truck

Oh, but we were supposed to pick the truck up on Friday afternoon, instead we made an emergency run to the veterinarian's  office.

Gidget found a water moccasin that did not belong in our backyard. With the Big Man telling her he had it under control - she decided he still needed assistance in killing the snake, so she grabbed it.  Her heroics ended up with three bites from the snake. Luckily the Big Man was home and I was only 5 minutes away  - a shot of antibiotics and steroids along with antibiotics and steroids at home - have the girl ready to tackle the next snake.

I did get a couple of days of yoga in this week.

I got to do a little sewing

A cushion for the bench in the sunroom

A new pillow for the four-legged babies in the sunroom

So, I have had a busy week (nothing new for me) but I have also found time to do the things I enjoy and to recognize Peace is focusing on life as it should be rather than as I want it to be.

I hope everyone has a great week

~ Connie ~