rescue animals

The day Rocky died, I posted online about wanting another small dog and Susan of Colorado Furbabies contacted me, saying that it might be fate because she had heard that day of a little Min Pin boy in a Montana kill shelter who would be put to death if no one wanted him. His name was Mozart. So she decided to pull him.

So all the past week, I had been emailing back and forth with Susan and on Saturday, H and I agreed to help out with a fund raising event for the organization. They were taking pictures of pets with Santa and the proceeds were going to support the organization. However, to make a long story short (but I will post if it happens), we met a little girl there called Cinnamon and fell in love with her, despite the fact that she had already been adopted.

We may end up adopting Cinnamon and fostering other dogs, but not Mozart, since Susan has found a home that maybe would like to keep him forever. Apparently, there are quite a few candidates who may want to keep him. We can only have two forever dogs.

For anyone reading this, if you want a dog, please go FIRST to your shelter or rescue groups. There are many, many wonderful dogs out there in need of homes, including many purebreds.

The work that these organizations do is wonderful. Truly wonderful and I am so impressed the more I am learning about it. Rescuing these animals is akin to a military operation with a wide network of folks across many states helping out. For example, Mozart is coming in on a truck Wednesday night with many many animals from all different states who were in kill sheleters who are going to be fostered and then placed in forever homes. Colorado is simply huge in animal rescue.

I am going to get involved. I can’t think of how many years I have wasted not doing anything but individual one off efforts.

A Dog’s Prayer
Amongst the most touching words ever written for pet owners is a Dog’s Prayer by Beth Norman Harris. The prayer brings tears to the eyes of anyone who has loved and cared for an animal.

“Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me. Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between the blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

When it is cold and wet, please take me inside, for I am now a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements. And I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Though had you no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land, for you are my god and I am your devoted worshipper.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food, that I might stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life should your life be in danger.

And, beloved master, should the great master see fit to deprive me of my health or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest - and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands.”

Tribute
Old Drum – Senator George Vest’s tribute to the dog 1870
It is strange how tenaciously popular memory clings to the bits of eloquence men have uttered, long after their deeds and most of their recorded thoughts are forgotten, or but indifferently remembered. However, whenever and as long as the name of the late Senator George Graham Vest of Missouri is mentioned it will always be associated with his love for a dog.

Many years ago, in 1869, Senator Vest represented in a lawsuit; a plaintiff whose dog “Old Drum” had been wilfully and wantonly shot by a neighbour. The defendant virtually admitted the shooting, but questioned to the jury the $150 value plaintiff attributed to this mere animal. To give his closing argument, George Vest rose from his chair, scowling, mute, his eyes burning from under the slash of brow tangled as a grape vine. Then he stepped sideways, hooked his thumbs in his vest pockets, his gold watch fob hanging motionless, it was that heavy. He looked, someone remembered afterwards, taller than his actual 5 feet 6 inches, and began in a quiet voice to deliver an extemporaneous oration. It was quite brief, less than 400 words:

“Gentlemen of the jury: the best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his worst enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it the most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honour when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads.

The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous… is his dog.

Gentlemen of the Jury: a man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies, and when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death.”

The jury deliberated less than two minutes then erupted in joint pathos and triumph. The record becomes quite sketchy here, but some in attendance say the plaintiff who had been asking $150, was awarded $500 by the jury. Little does that matter. The case was eventually appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court, which refused to hear it.

Dick Ferguson, the reported shooter of Old Drum, later moved to Oklahoma, where he himself died of gunshot wounds in the town of Anadarko

I am still raw with grief over losing Rocky but I do want to open my heart and home to another dog who needs love. I’m checking into a few rescue groups right now.

I must channel this grief into something positive.

Saving animals is always such a fulfilling thing. No matter if it’s just helping a turtle get across the road or opening your home up to a dog in need. Another great thing to do if you’re passionate about helping animals, is to vegetarian or vegan. Did you know that vegetarians save 100 lives per year? One person can save 100 defenseless animals…it’s amazing to have that power.

I love animals and want to help them.

I have one rescue dog at the moment, and I would love to do something really special for the RSPCA or a similar charity. I donate money to them every month, but I would love to do more and really make a difference.

I’m 24, and for as long as I can remember, a huge chunk of my existence has been spent with animals. I grew up in a house in the woods, so wild animals (squirrels, birds, chipmunks, groundhogs, deer, ducks, raccoons, and squillions of insects) were commonplace, and I loved them all. My family ended up taking in a stray cat that someone undoubtedly dumped. That was in 1986, and she only passed away last July 6th, 2006. She had a fabulous life! I’ll post a picture of her pretty soon.

Since we moved to Iowa, I’ve volunteered at our town’s no-kill shelter, and have also rescued many animals. Let’s see…

I rescued a baby squirrel that got blown out of his nest when he was just weeks old (I’ve posted his picture here; I called him Squire). If you want info on raising squirrels, there’s a fantastic website: http://www.hal-pc.org/~jbsum/squirrel.html. Squire grew to be stunningly beautiful and healthy, and had a nice long life out in the neighborhood. He never ventured far from our house, though, and it was always a treat to get to see him hopping around the trees outside.

I rescued another squirrel that I believe got hit by a car. I found him in the middle of the road, and he was bleeding. I rushed him to the vet, and they said I should have him put down. I refused, and had him for about 2 weeks after that. He was doing very well, but he finally succumbed to something I had no idea he had, which was worms. That was very sad. But he had a very good last few weeks.

I rescued 4 oprhaned baby mice, and hand-fed each of them about 5 times a day for 4 weeks, and then released them. If you’ve never hand-fed a baby mouse, you may not appreciate just how difficult it is… They’re super rambunctious! And tiny! I actually had to fabricate my own feeding “bottle” for them that was small enough to fit in their mouths. I was proud of that one, it was quite inventive!

I rescued a pigeon that was flailing and flapping on the side of a busy road, obviously having been hit by a car. I kept him/her in a cat carrier for the night, and the next day I released it, and it actually sat on my hand for a long time, seemingly not wanting to leave. He/she flew away eventually, and was fine.

I also rescued a dog from a neglectful, borderline abusive situation. He was a boxer, and he was such a sweetheart. Basically, I took him, and hid him away in a friend’s house for a month, and finally was able to find him the most loving home a dog could dream of! He’s doing very well, and his new guardians adore him.

I can say without a doubt that there’s no greater feeling, no greater rush than when you know that you’ve saved the life of an animal in need, or, at the very least, made its last days/weeks/months comfortable, warm, and full of love and care.

For anyone who may be interested, I highly recommend the book Out of Harm’s Way, by Terri Crisp. It’s amazing. Whether or not you’ve ever rescued an animal, or even want to, this book is truly wonderful. Poignant, sad, hilarious, sweet, amazing. It beautifully illustrates the joy, the heart-break, the adventure, and the fulfillment one can get from rescuing animals. It’s certainly some of the most fulfilling work I’ve ever had the honor to do!

Rescuing rabbits is great. I’ve been working with local rescue groups, which helps. Next on my agenda is finding ways to raise money for their neuters. It’ll be a while before this materializes, but so far I’m feeling good about my progress.

If you all want to save animals you will really like this organization, the ALF, they take direct action in saving animals lives.
heres a good video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WTSUGetKFc