Bus Full O'Boston's

I/we have done a transport or two in our time. We've hauled Labs, Golden's, all American's, Setters, Pointers and then some. Most are memorable trips and the feeling of gratification is profound. Each transport is unique. Like the three-legged dog (who's name escapes me), or the trip with the 4 dogs that included one female in heat, one male aggressive dog and one female who didn't like human males. There was the time I broke the relay person's glasses during the hand off. Egads, I'm still sorry about that little incident.

This morning we hauled four Boston's to Lincoln, about an hour away from home. We figured it would be a piece of cake. We figured wrong. There were two six month old puppies, a senior girl who's tongue stuck out the whole time. We think she was giving the whole world raspberries. Plus another female named Angel. One must always wonder about dog's named Angel.

The hand off was interesting. Four drivers with dogs in tow. Each dog with a bag of vet records and kibble. Two crates, a box of something traveling with the dogs going on to Colorado. Extra leashes. We brought water and water bowl.

Crate use was optional. We hadn't even left the parking lot when one of the dogs horked down Reno's arm. You may have heard the swearing. First stop was to buy paper towels. Note to self, pack paper towels next transport. Cleaned up first mess and hit the interstate for the run down to Lincoln. Dogs all settled, three in a huddle. Fourth one settles on top of a crate. No doubt the best position to give other travelers raspberries from. Yes, I was worried a sudden stop would jettison her off the crate. No, we didn't try to remove her because crawling into the back and over the pile of dogs didn't seem viable.

Part way there one dog, or was it two? takes a crap in the back of my truck. This might be a good place to mention Reno's nose is a thousand times more sensitive than mine. The pack is milling around then, giving each a opportunity to walk through said piles. Yes, more cursing.

Then there is the city of Lincoln. We've been there several times. It's always hell. We found our drop off point, but the pick up team couldn't find us. Delay of transport, but an opportunity to clean up the crap. While waiting the horker walks up to the front seat, lets out one little cough and horks yet again, all over my purse. Any reports of a man spewing a barrage of profanity have not been exaggerated.

This transport of dogs sets new records for excitement! Ahhhh.....but the hand off is completed, safely, which always is a relief. Somewhere across the state of NE four little Boston's are hauling butt to their furever homes. Somewhere in NE a truck is having its upholstery cleaned. Somewhere new owners are anxiously waiting their next best friend. I'm happy to have helped make this possible. All things considered, it was worth it. Reno, however, may say otherwise.

Dog Paths

There is a path the dogs run in the yard. They began it when we moved here 10 years ago. Same path, multiple dogs, many years. Grass will never grow there and the dogs rarely deviate from the path. It is the shortest distance from the front yard to the back.

We all have certain paths we use in life. The quickest route from one place to another, from home to work, from work to home. For home to work and back I always take the same route. Any other place I travel I use one route going and another route coming back. It's not a conscious decision - I just do it.

Sophie would not use the regular dog path. The path she has worn into the grass is through the middle of the yard. As far away from whatever she feels is scary. To her it doesn't matter if it's the quickest. In her head it's the safest. Where she goes nothing can jump out and surprise her.

Which path's do we take that "feel" safest? Are they really? What if, for once we embraced all the easy comfortable things, and rejected the scary, emotionally exhausting things.

What if Sophie took the established path? Well for one, the yard wouldn't look like it has a motocross path down the middle. It would still have an obvious path close to the house that hundreds of paws have carved. I wouldn't mind that. Even when the kids were little playing on the grass was way more important to me than having pretty grass. So far be it from me to stress over the path that many happy dog paws have created.

Sophie may never consistently use the "regular" path. She may, over time, use it unconsciously whenever she forgets to be afraid. Perhaps that is my greatest wish for her.....that she forgets to be afraid. In fact, I wish that for all of us.

Feeling the Pain

Into each life a little pain must come. Or, wait...was that "a little rain must fall". Either way sometimes it rains on our parade.

I, for one tolerate pain and rain fairly well. Maybe too well. Sometimes we are meant to slow down for inclement weather. My body has a case of inclement weather right now in the form of shingles. I could continue to truck through my days as I have forever and ever, or I could slow down take a different approach.

I am attempting to opt for the different approach. Usually I am the "I can, I have, I will, I do, I did, nothing is stopping me sort." Perhaps it's time to be the kind to step back and breathe instead. All I really have to do is take care of me first. The rest will fall into place. Hmmmm, take care of me first. What a novel idea.

Each life experiences pain at some point in time. Surely I've seen that from my experience with the dogs and rescue. But what I haven't seen before is that sometimes we all need some rescuing, some time to grow, to learn new ways and to heal. For once I am that timid hurting foster dog that longs for love and a second chance. My day has come.

Favorites

We all have favorites. Somewhere along the way. It is simply a part of life. We have favorite flavors, favorite dog breeds (pointers, duh), favorite sibling/child/grandchild (not mentioning any names here), favorite holidays, favorite colors, favorite shoes (ohhhh shoes!) ....and if we are lucky a favorite Uncle or Aunt.

I lost my favorite Uncle this week. Overall, he is in a better place. Pain free and happy. I wouldn't deny him that. It makes me smile to think of him. I imagine right now he's enjoying a glass of good wine, kicked back on the beach somewhere. If he were to speak something funny would come out of his mouth. It would be a short comment, quietly spoken and guaranteed to make you laugh.

Losing a favorite makes them all the more valuable. Imagine never having your favorite ice cream again? Or waiting for your favorite holiday. Not having it increases its value. We savor it more, honor it, cherish it.

Loss makes us pause. Pausing makes us think. Thinking helps us appreciate. It's good we have favorites. It's especially good to give thanks for them. Remember those who go before us. Remember with a smile....and thanks for time shared.

A Dime

If I had a dime for every time I got up to let dogs in or let dogs out, I'd be living in a large country house on a lake near the mountains with not one, but two doggy doors.

Suffice it to say I make the trip the the door a bazillion times a year. And that is a conservative estimate. Honestly, I should be a lot thinner than I am for just that reason.

I should be thinner, and the carpet should have worn out. The door should have had to be replaced and I've probably worn the soles off of approximately 30 pair of shoes. I'm amazed the steps havent collapsed and the handle broken on the door. Seriously a toll booth at the door - the idea has merit.

Most the time I go cheerfully to the door. Sometimes I admit I go begrudgingly. Other times I drag my weary butt to the door and barely have enough energy to whistle. All this said - I'm not really complaining. Just making an observation. ......just now I jumped up to go let Sophie in. Silly diva was out barking at something in the dark. Evidently I was too comfortable in my chair blogging away.

Letting them in and out, is part of the deal the dogs and I have. I wouldn't trade all the dimes in the world for them, so I guess I'll just keep doing what I do - for the doggies.

Sophie in Public

Some people don't test well. Normal, intelligent, responsive people get into situations where it seems all their brain power vanishes like it never existed. Sophie is that way in public.

We did another adoption event today. Bless her heart she is like a social retard in public. The fact that I am her foster Mom, and that I said "bless her heart" first allows me to insinuate she is somewhat challenged. Today enroute she threw up in her crate. Maybe it was my driving. I'm not sure. Then, as is the case, when we arrived she took an enormous poo in the parking lot. I know this happens, I prepare for it. Still it is amazing the volume she cranks out from sheer stress.

Then she proceeded to tremble the entire time we were there. I think perhaps a convent might be a good home for her. If she never had to leave the convent walls she would be quite happy. Her issues certainly make the other dogs look extremely adoptable.

This event was a new location for her, so of course that added to the stress. But, she did sniff and lip a doggie muffin that a kind lady offered her. She wouldn't eat it, but the fact she acknowledged it was improvement. She even chose to sniff a couple butts. Progress, however minute, is good.

Too bad people don't see the Sophie that lives with us. She is a completely different dog. Not totally confident, but definitely not totally in a dither. Ah well, the challenges of fostering, the joys of loving and the reality of living with Sophie.

Ten Reasons to Foster

Ten reasons to foster an animal....

10. You get more than you give could ever give. Trust me on this one.

9. You save a life. That's priceless.

8. You meet new people and learn new things. We need that in life.

7. You go back to the basics of loving. A timely reminder if there ever was one.

6. You stretch your ability. Always a good thing.

5. You learn how to give just because you can. Even if it's not always
convenient.

4. You save a life. Worth mentioning twice.

3. You help a family find the best friend they are searching for.

2. You discover that the rewards out weigh the challenges.

1. Your love for animals is paid forward each and every time you foster. It's
good karma squared.