Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Ten-a-city

I've been thinking a lot about weeds, and bugs. Strange, huh? You wouldn't think there would be much to admire about them, but there is. They are pesky, irritating, invasive, nasty, thorny and creepy. But when you get right down to it, I have to admire their tenacity. Ten-a-city....stick-to-it-iveness. They don't give up. They keep coming back, they are dedicated. If I had a dime for every fly that has bitten me lately, and two for every time I've cursed their existence, I'd be a wealthy woman. If I had a nickel for every weed that has germinated in my garden/yard/flower pot...I'd could give Bill Gates a run for his money. A weedy run, but a run just the same. So where are we going with this? It's a lesson in tenacity. When good people suffer from illness and accidents, when dogs get lost when they should be enjoying their forever homes, when all the news seems bad we must remember the weeds. When our faith is wobbly and our hopes get dashed, we must remember the fly. Sometimes we are overwhelmed and discouraged. We forget the milestones we reach, the dogs we've saved, the lives we've touched. So maybe, just maybe a seed of faith will grow and a bite of energy will spring forth. And, maybe we'll see things in a new way.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

It Takes a Village

It takes a village to save a dog.  So here's to the rescues, the pilots, the foster homes, the bosses, the staff members, the puppy nanny, the adoptive homes.  

For the record, kudos to my boss for letting me bring Chukar to work with me this week.  Kudos to my staff for putting up with him.  It was tough, I know.  In an adorable puppy breath sort of way.  For the record, no poo hit the floor in the flower shop this week. 

Thank you to the shelter in KC that saved him, the pilot who flew him to Omaha, the family who kept him overnight the first night, the volunteer who drove him half way to us. Thank you to the college student who took him out twice a day so he'd be happy at the shop.  My kids never had a nanny, but this foster dog did.  Thanks to the family that lent us the x-pen and the vet clinic who shared a crate.

Thank you to Reno for the 5 o'clock am potty forays into the dark.  I had to wake Reno up, but he took him.  That works for me.  Surprisingly, Chukar's new home is about 7 miles away from us.  That makes us neighbors!  Gotta love that.  The miracle of the internet found us a local home for this guy.  

Maybe you have gotten my point.  It takes a village...and I'm proud you are my village.  Proud to be part of the village.  We saved a life.  Well done.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Cutie Patootie

God made puppies and children so stinkin cute as a method of preservation.  It's true.  They are adorable, irresistible and ornery.  Wait, am I talking puppies, children or spouses here?

Everyone says "awww, they are so cute, I wish they'd stay little like that forever". Thankfully it doesn't work that way.  Cute only goes so far without the grace of maturity.  It takes a while to get there.  Who of us isn't learning and growing?  

This little guy won't last long as a foster.  So we seize the moments of puppy breath, silly antics and soft cuddles.  All the while ignoring the razor sharp teeth and multitude of things he has yet to learn.  We pray for a wonderful forever home and a long life of joy for him.  Come to think of it we pray for those very things for our self and our loved ones.




For the record, we named him Chukar.  Naturally the usual suggestions came up...Sooner, Boomer, Boomer Sooner...I sense a trend here.  But we went with Chukar.  Seemed like a good name for a bird dog. Many don't know a Chukar is a game bird.   For a puppy his age life is a game, so fitting in that respect too.  

I love him when he's sleeping, and playing, but not so much when he climbs through the fence.  With a face like that I'll forgive him and ponder how it's possible to be so cute.   

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Puppy Breath

Who doesn't love puppies??  Puppy antics, puppy cuddling, puppy breath. Sometimes you just need a puppy fix.

So...we'll be getting ours next week.  I'll be the first to say, dang puppies are a lot of work.  Which is why I also say I love those seniors.  Reno, however, adores puppies. So I know when I suggest fostering a puppy, he'll always say yes.  And, then, I'll question our sanity.  



Puppies are a short-term adventure in fostering.  He'll just get in, get settled and will be off to a forever home. Now, Layla, Mick and Addy don't know he's coming next week.  Mick thinks there is enough chaos around here with Addy & Layla.  Sometimes we need to stir things up...and what better way than with a puppy.

My only worry is the nothing else will get done while he's here.  The lawn mower will sit still, the projects will get shelved, cleaning will wait. However, the camera will get a work out!  As will little puppy teeth.  

We're lucky we can do this.  The resident pups will think they're lucky when he leaves.  And the pup?  He's already a lucky dog because he's begun his journey to a forever home.