My dear college friend, who now lives in New Zealand, has five aging rescue dogs who share her life, home, and all sleep in her bedroom wherever they like. She’s acquired them from the area shelter, who call her when they have a very special placement - one they assume will not get a home before they die.
JJ has taken in one after another, preparing meals with tenderness, bringing them to an equally attentive vet, administering salve, medication, and going on communal walks around the lush countryside where she lives. They resemble a herd of various breeds as they follow her about. They even howl altogether, daily at about 7am.
Being in NZ makes it possible for her to leave her doors open - even at night - throughout all but the cold/rainy season. This allows them to usually go out whenever their bladders need.
When we were last there, she let me know two more dogs, whose elderly owner had died, were in need of homes. She resembled a small child pleading for a puppy. The practical me had to say, No, five - and caretaking her sister with dementia - was enough. At least for now.
As I share this with you, it seems beyond understanding, but midst her keen care and their relationship with one another, it kinda makes the whole world better.
(I’ll send you their picture. Folks do love a good animal photo. 😉)
Thanks for this One Good Thing, dear Sylvie, especially Jesse’s moments.🫶🏼
Oh my, Maryli. That is quite an inspiring story! I would LOVE to see a picture. If it's okay with you and your friend, I could post it on my blog ... kind of an update to yesterday's post, which seems to have touched so many people. What do you think?
(And, yes, Jesse's comfort meant a lot to me, as you can tell.)
Thanks so much for your heart warming message. I love those stories of animals of different species who help one another. Mr. Spice Pie, my cat, says hello to you.
Sylvia, your post made me cry. If only we, humans, could learn to love and accept each other the way the animals in your post do, we would be saved. Thank you so much for writing this. Hasty
Hasty! I was wondering who Mary Hickok was. I figured it must be one of the Hickok cousins, but I couldn't remember ever meeting a Mary. Now I know!
Thank you so much for your note. And I agree. We could learn a lot from the other animals in the animal kingdom, especially the ones that reach across species. In truth, that actually includes us with our dogs, cats, horses, gerbils, etc. Maybe we could learn something from our own good actions!
Thank you for sharing such beautiful memories and stories.
I, along with many others, can’t imagine living without an animal in my life. My son has “inherited” the same feelings. He has a dog + multiple chickens and ducks!!!
Loved all of this! Animals are such a comfort and inspiration.
Indeed they are. Thank you, Irene
Oh, my melting heart. Thx Sylvia
Thank you, Clare!
My dear college friend, who now lives in New Zealand, has five aging rescue dogs who share her life, home, and all sleep in her bedroom wherever they like. She’s acquired them from the area shelter, who call her when they have a very special placement - one they assume will not get a home before they die.
JJ has taken in one after another, preparing meals with tenderness, bringing them to an equally attentive vet, administering salve, medication, and going on communal walks around the lush countryside where she lives. They resemble a herd of various breeds as they follow her about. They even howl altogether, daily at about 7am.
Being in NZ makes it possible for her to leave her doors open - even at night - throughout all but the cold/rainy season. This allows them to usually go out whenever their bladders need.
When we were last there, she let me know two more dogs, whose elderly owner had died, were in need of homes. She resembled a small child pleading for a puppy. The practical me had to say, No, five - and caretaking her sister with dementia - was enough. At least for now.
As I share this with you, it seems beyond understanding, but midst her keen care and their relationship with one another, it kinda makes the whole world better.
(I’ll send you their picture. Folks do love a good animal photo. 😉)
Thanks for this One Good Thing, dear Sylvie, especially Jesse’s moments.🫶🏼
Oh my, Maryli. That is quite an inspiring story! I would LOVE to see a picture. If it's okay with you and your friend, I could post it on my blog ... kind of an update to yesterday's post, which seems to have touched so many people. What do you think?
(And, yes, Jesse's comfort meant a lot to me, as you can tell.)
Thanks!
Sylvie
I’m sure she’d be fine with that, especially since she isn’t named.
I’m trying to find those photos. I’ll send them soon.
What a beautiful message, Sylvia. You have blessed us all -- creatires great and small.
Thank you so much, Lucille!
Thanks so much for your heart warming message. I love those stories of animals of different species who help one another. Mr. Spice Pie, my cat, says hello to you.
Hello to Mr. Spice Pie! And to you, too! Thanks so much for your note.
They/we are all out there; may we find each other. Thanks for these stories!
We have so much to learn from them!
Sylvia, your post made me cry. If only we, humans, could learn to love and accept each other the way the animals in your post do, we would be saved. Thank you so much for writing this. Hasty
Hasty! I was wondering who Mary Hickok was. I figured it must be one of the Hickok cousins, but I couldn't remember ever meeting a Mary. Now I know!
Thank you so much for your note. And I agree. We could learn a lot from the other animals in the animal kingdom, especially the ones that reach across species. In truth, that actually includes us with our dogs, cats, horses, gerbils, etc. Maybe we could learn something from our own good actions!
Oh my melting heart!!
Thank you for sharing such beautiful memories and stories.
I, along with many others, can’t imagine living without an animal in my life. My son has “inherited” the same feelings. He has a dog + multiple chickens and ducks!!!
Thank you, Sylvia!!
You are kindred spirits, for sure! I have been through periods without animals in my life, but they have been blessedly brief!
Heartwarming indeed Sylvia!
Thank you, Jessica!