razncain wrote 1 day ago

I posted what I wanted for Christmas, that my husband be healthy again.  And thank you to everyone for your prayers, good thoughts, and positive energy for my husband!!  We're hopeful and try to remain as positive as we can and friends like ya'll certainly help!!

But I have to relate to you all, what happened this past Monday.  I bitch and moan about what people think of Christmas, all the "gimme gimme" and "I want" attitudes I see and how commericalized the season has become.  But what happened Monday, totally blew me away.  I don't celebrate Christmas as an individual as I'm not Christian.  I celebrate Solstice.

Solstice is the shortest day of the year, one that brings the promise of new life.  It's an ancient celebration honored by many different cultures but what it comes down to is, it's a day to honor, celebrate, recognize, and establish new growth.  be it human, plant, animal, hope, faith,spirituality,  or whatever you may need, Winter Solstice is the perfect time to give of yourself so that others may grow.

Monday, I witnessed an amazing sacrifice from my own children that still leaves me in awe.  We had gone to the shelter to find a dog for Mom and Dad.  They had seen him in the paper for about a month and asked us to check him out to see if he might be a good match for them.  We did and he was absolutely perfect.  He's a rat terrier mix, 8 years old, and about as lovable as you can imagine.  While we were there, we spent time with the other dogs and were told the state had seized several that morning and the shelter was the recipient of fourteen dogs of varying ages and breeds.  One in particular caught my eye, a female bull dog who had been bred so many times she could barely walk.  She scooted and did so in great pain.  Her hips were so displaced, it's doubtful even surgery would repair them.  Her teeth were broken, she was so underweight that her skin hung from her neck, and she looked as though she'd been beaten time and again.  But her huge brown eyes were full of life, begging to be loved and cared for.  I figured no one would adopt her and it wouldn't be long before she was put down.

We left the shelter after doing the paperwork to adopt Ted, the rat terrier that had caught Mom and Dad's eye and heading to Concordia for Ron's doctor appointment.  While we were driving, neither Ron nor I could get the bull dog out of our minds.  My son James spoke up first, talking about how concerned he was with her safety and health.  I was texting back and forth with my ex-husband, Edmond, who had asked me to give the kids some money for Christmas until he could make it up to see them and he said if the kids wanted to "donate" their money to saving the dog, he was all for it.  James was the first one to tell me I didn't even need to ask and I texted the other two kids and got a resounding YES!!!  So, it was set, we would rescue the bull dog and give her a home.  I called the shelter and was disappointed to learn that she was being adopted as we spoke.  Actually, I was stunned.  But, we figured she wasn't meant to be with us, so we let it go and drove on.

We still talked about rescuing a dog and even stopped in Concordia to look at the shelter there.  Not finding a match, we headed to Ron's appointment then afterward, back towards Salina.  On the way, the shelter called to tell us that Ted not only had heart worms, but that he tested "high positive" for them and gave us the opportunity to "opt" out of adopting him.  We told them we'd talk about it and would be there shortly with our decision.

We called Mom and Dad and we all decided that we just couldn't afford the cost of the treatment.  We're all strapped right now, and as much as we wanted him to come home with us, there was just no way.  We got to the shelter and learned that the treatment could be as much as $600.  The decision had been made for us... Ted was not meant to go to Mom and Dad.

But... sacrifice stepped in once again and stunned me.  The volunteers at the shelter pulled us to the side and said they would start making calls to find the least expensive vet for the treatment.  We told them we still couldn't afford it and neither could Mom and Dad.  Then they floored us... THEY would pay the cost of the treatment.  Ted had captured their hearts and they were set on seeing him find a home with Mom and Dad.  He had been there over a month, he was old, and was close to being put down.  We called Mom and Dad to tell them the news and see if they still wanted him.  And of course they did... so the volunteers began calling even more fervently!

They found a vet who would treat his heart worms for under $200.  Not only that, he would board him for no extra cost as we live out of town.  We were ecstatic and so were Mom and Dad, especially after the volunteers educated us on how the treatment works and what we could expect.  We knew Ted might not live through the treatment, but his chances were very good.  So, we gave them the thumbs up and signed the paperwork AGAIN!

But, we weren't through. James and I had walked through the shelter again, still talking about rescuing a dog with their Christmas money.  But we didn't see one that "clicked" with us the way the bull dog did. She was still sitting there and we stopped to say hi to her and play with Ted a bit through the kennel.  Finally, we gave up and got ready to leave

Just as I stepped into the lobby, I noticed a "show off pen" as I call it, by the front door.  I'd seen it before, but it had been empty.

And there he was...

All five pounds of white fluffy hair.  Peering at me through the pen.  Head cocked to the side.

I HATE SMALL DOGS!!!!  And I REALLY hate Pomeranians... at least I thought I did anyway.

I've raised Rotties, German Shepherds, Mastiffs, and other very large breed dogs and had even considered rescuing a Great Dane we had seen.  But again, no "click.

So, walked over to the pen and the little guy cocked his head to the other side.  No sound, just little black eyes staring at me... and that fur... I HATE long haired animals!!

But then I did what I should have never done... I asked to hold him.  The volunteer picked him up and placed him in my arms and I felt nothing.  He weighed next to nothing!!  He looked up at me, licked my chin, then snuggled down into my leather coat and dozed off.  He was so tiny I was holding him in one hand.  And I have small hands.

The volunteer explained to me that he had been another one seized that morning from a kennel.  He was a stud and didn't know what it was like to live outside of a cage.  He had very little human contact, which you'd never have guessed the way he snuggled into my arms and fell asleep.

The longer I held him, the more convinced I was that I hated small dogs, especially small dogs that have a tendency to "yip," and shed their long hair.  Then he woke up and looked at me again, with those little tiny black eyes that begged me to take him home and love him.

I handed him to Ron, which made him look even tinier, and outside they went so he could go potty (the dog, not Ron...).  When Ron came in, he had the "look..."  Yep, the little guy was coming home with us.  We clicked.  Big time.

He was neutered today, at the same vet that Ted's at.  I called tonight and they're both doing fine.  We pick up the little one tomorrow and Ted on Friday.  The vet told me the staff had been carrying the Pom around all day and he was beyond spoiled rotten.  He still hasn't barked, in fact he's not made a sound.  I'm not sure if he can or if he just doesn't, I'm not sure of the extent he was abused.  Not sure I want to.

My kids gave up their Christmas money to save a life.  The volunteers gave up their time AND money to safe a life.  And Ron, I, and the kids and I both found a new love that we never thought we'd find, in the form of a tiny little dust bunny who now goes by the name of Merlin after the powerful wizard who had everyone under his power, lol!!

The kids were a little worried that we couldn't afford another dog.  We have four already, along with three cats.  But we're always taking in somebody, two or four legged... or slitheries... or whatever.  We've always got food to go around, because of the generosity of others and our ability to be frugal when we shop!

Solstice... the time of new life... the time of giving of yourself for that new life... a gift that lasts an entire lifetime.  Period.

Damn it Razncian that took me about an hour to read.....because I was wiping my eyes about every 3 seconds. I so hope one of these days I get a chance to meet you Ron and the whole gang of critter savers. We are going to have a group hug, the likes you will never see again.
Thank you and your family for being a part of the good people that make this world a wonderful place in which to live.
Have a Super Holiday Season, and be safe out there.
Damn those dogs are cute...