Thursday, April 15, 2010

Day 665: Fursday Finkin... Emotion of Rescue

This has been a very difficult and emotional week for the us and our passion for Rescue. Today is not the right day to share story, but today the Mom share wif the me just ONE reason why she invest such deep emotion... and that is the Old Golds.

Ever body got a 'fing', but the Mom's 'fing' is for the harder to place seniors. Some got a lotta zesty life left in em and some just want a place to peacefully retire wif  the grace and dignity, surrounded by love... but the Mom, she see herself in em all. And she know importance to feel loved and needed... [I would say "first hand" but I am smart boy, do not want to be in proverbial dog house. Just sayin].

For example, take this 8 1/2 year old guy... owner surrender to "no kill" (no such fing) shelter. Shelter originally refuse him because of his age and knowin how hard it would be to place him, but owner make it clear eufanasia was their next plan... so take him in, they did.
Stories vary on why he was shaved (from mats to less wear and tear on swimmin pool), but this is photo they put on the PetFinder! Ain't so much to look at, really.

Well, this poor old dude stay in that shelter... wif the peoples believin in him and even takin him home wif em, peoples just hopin tomorrow he will find he family...

This go on for 9 long monfs... no bites, no nibbles. And outta the desparation, these people contact the Golden Retriever Rescue of Houston, some bzillion (not really, but it's far) miles away. And the GRRH says "Ok, we'd love to help him... we'll do our best to find him the perfect home!".

And so the transfer is made and while he is a little scruffy and of course, a senior, GRRH is committed to help this old boy...
GRRH discover that old boy has BIG zest for life... like a lot of em do. In this particular case, this is why the shelter shuttled him here and there, tryin to keep him on the "awake" list. Had he been less active, or had the folks at the shelter been even slightly less compassionate... He very likely would never have made it to Houston.
The wonderful fing about GRRH, is they commit to the proper treatment of the Golden. Period. And they committed to this 9+ year old, recognizin how very difficult he would be to place... plain and simple... because, let's face it... Ever body wants perfect (life, spouse, kid and certainly) dog, and on surface... it is totally understandable.

My the Mom just wish that more people would scratch deeper than they own surface, empafize wif imperfection, accept vulnerability and be open to joy shared when you right life's wrongs, you provide comfort where it's never been known... and you love freely wifout expectation...

Also... it would be nice if ever once in a while... instead of finkin, "I need a dog that will give me the maximum amount of happiness"... you fink, "I need to give a dog the maximum amount of HE happiness". Instead of only weighin what kinda difference a dog will make to your life... consider the huge difference you can make in theirs. Just sayin.
And I'm sorry if this post has gotten too deep, too heavy, too sad... but it's been that kinda week.

You may wonder what ever happened to "old senior dude" wif  the not much goin for him other than zest for life and people who recognize it... Well, as sad as this week has been, this is indeed the happiest part.
On a counta "old dude" is the me.

Signin out from the Day 665 Of Bliss... wif love from the Luke

17 comments:

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Woo made my mom all leaky -

I think this is the third or fourth time today - the furst ones on Katie The Border Collie's blog as they were waiting to me their new sisfur Libby -

Woo are one lukhky golden boy The Luke -

The khool thing, woo know it and so does your the mom -

Mom's third reskhue Sibe was a slightly older gal - Ladygray had been returned twice to a shelter - she didn't play enough - sometime during her life someone had hurt her fur her tail had a khrook in it - Mom nikhnamed her 'flame tail' fur that - Ladygray knew more love in the khlosing chapters of her life than many know in all of theirs -

Sorry I'm babbling but Mom has rubbed off on me -

Please give your keeper of a mom some special stuffs from US!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra & Khousin Merdie By Proxy
PeeEssWoo: Here is Katie's post that made us leak -

http://katiebordercollie.blogspot.com/2010/04/almost-love-at-first-sight.html

Woo khan go bakhk through the posts to see how she ended up with them - me thinks she has some GOLDEN GIRL in her!

houndstooth said...

Awwww, Luke! We're so glad your mom saw the gem that you are! Senior greyhounds are in a similar plight.

There's a program around here that takes older dogs and places them with senior citizens, and also helps them with some of their care. The idea is that a lot of the older folks would like to have a dog, but they're afraid that they'll die and nobody will take care of the pup. This group promises to take the dogs back if something should happen to them. They will help the seniors with transporting the dog to the vet for care if they need it and will help if there are some unusual vet bills (but not for regular maintenance, they have to be able to pay for an annual check up and shots). It's been a good thing for all involved!

Bunny

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

PeePeeEssWoo: Watch out fur your next post ;-) woo devil woo!

Scout and Freyja said...

We believe in rescue. We believe in adopting. We believe in adopting mature dogs. Momma says that she has raised her last puppy (Freyja). All the dogs from now on that become a part of our family will be 'mature'. Momma says that one day all of the humans will be 'mature' and will want someone to love them, so it is only right that she loves the 'mature' dogs - and cats.

Sheila and Bob said...

Luke;
Wonderful story you are a truve Rescue gem .....

Hamish & Sophie

Anonymous said...

Luke - my mom's leaky now. We are very much Most Happy you founds your forever home! Your mom is a very much special lady, that's for sure, to see in you what others couldn't - or wouldn't - see.

My mom and dad wanted that "perfect" first dog and they pretty much got him in my Brudder Ranger. But me - I'm what they call a "project dog." Sometimes I wonders if mom and dad hadn't come along, if anybuddy else woulda taken a chance on me. Cuz I'm kinda different looking and I was real skeered of the world and stuff. And you know, mom and dad weren't sure at first but they say all the time now how happy they are they took a chance. I wish more peoples were like that cuz there's lots of doggies like you and me, Luke, who are waiting to give more luvs than the peoples could ever imagines.

So how you and your mom feels is right - peoples need to think what they can do for a dog (or kitteh), not always what the 4-legger can do for them.

Please gives your mom extra kisses and tail wags from me. I just don't know what this ol' world would be like withouts Most Wonderful and Big Hearted peoples like her!

Wiggles & Wags,
mayzie

KT and Easton said...

Lady is my first, but not my last senior Golden rescue. She rescued me from my deep sadness and grief over losing Devo so young. I owe her more that she could ever owe me. When I read your post, early on I thought, send him to me, Lady needs a friend. But then the story had such a happy Lucky Luke ending. It surprised me and delighted me.
Yayyyy LUKE

kissa-bull said...

oh lucky luke
you made our mommish cry buckets of water
she thought he still needed rescue and shince we're here in houston her mind started the working on who she could find to take him in
but no fret cause the lucky luke has hish forever loving home now and we are furry happy for the ending
you MUST give your mommish most slobbery pibble sugars for being the angel she ish.we give you sugars as well of coise you hanshum stud you

the pittie pack

Anonymous said...

You are so right, dear Cousin Luke! Mom and I found each other when I was 8 years young, thanks to you!

Love you,

Cousin Mojo

Maxmom said...

Hi there
GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA
What a wonderful story!...and you are a wonderful person! You are correct...not everyone can do your kind of work. This makes you INCREDIBLY special!!!
Thank you for sharing Duke's story...it is profound. We wish both of you all the best in you journey forward.
Lotsalicks
MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

Maxmom said...

My apologies for the spelling error!....Thank you for sharing LUKE's story!
MAXDOG IN SA

Angel Tucker, Daisy and Leo said...

Hey, the Luke

Our mom suspected from chats she has had with your the Mom that the dog in the story was the you. We are so glad everything worked out so you guys are together and happy and you have a mom that loves you as much as you love her.

Daisy and Tucker

D.K. Wall said...

Luke - you are one lucky dude and a great story teller. You know our hu-dad is a huge believe in rescue and adopting those that are more "challenging". The Herd is a mix of former HW+, stray adults, and abandoned behind foreclosed houses crew (except for Natasha - the only one known as a puppy). But our past and our age is irrelevant - our present is fun, happy, and - most of all - incredibly rewarding for our hu-dad. Everytime someone says thanks to him for taking us i, he honestly replies - you get far more back from them than you give. And it is so true.

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

We have always been so grateful that we found your blog Luke..Thanks for being you and having the courage to post "deep" stuff!!

Smileys!
Dory

the booker man said...

oh, mr. luke, this is the best story evarrr!! my mama is laughin' with happiness and leakin' all at the same time!!
*woof*
the booker man

Dog Foster Mom said...

Luke, that was such a great story - it really made me smile at the unexpected ending. Thank you for sharing that.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

What a wonderful and touching story!! You know that I have a place in my heart for the seniors, and only the pups that are over 10 come and live with us...I could talk all day about how much each of them mean to us, but I think you know that as well as I do!