(This was especially weird because it was around day 5 of my sleep schedule reset, so I was suuuper zombified.)
Quick break for an epic Potter Pun, if I do say so myself:
:D
The next day I went over to meet Foster Pup (still nameless). Turns out the shelter had only just got the dog the week before, and Rebecca pointed out the numerous old scars and still-healing scratches all over his head, neck, and body. This pup has obviously had a hard life, but you'd never know it for how friendly and sweet he is.
And yes, of COURSE I'm going to show you pictures.
Rebecca just sent us these:
Rebecca just sent us these:
And here he is running around with John just after he'd bowled him over, ha:
This whole story has been such a bright spot in our lives, I hope hearing about it is for you, too.
One part I left out is that Rebecca is the same neighbor who found Eva in the middle of the highway that fateful day 2 years ago, and texted to ask if we wanted a new cat.
Another part I left out is that Rebecca lost her last dog - her best friend of 13 years - just a few weeks ago, and she's been devastated. John and I had been encouraging her to foster, so we were thrilled when she brought this new boy home. It's like it's come full circle: Rebecca brought us Eva in my time of grief, and in a tiny way we helped bring this new doggo to her in hers. (And yes, she told us this new boy is officially a Foster Fail. Woot woot! Still waiting on a name, though.)
I often have people ask me about pet grief, knowing what I went through two years ago, and every time I tell them to get a new animal in their lives as soon as possible - as a foster, if they're concerned about committing again too fast. You don't have to love them the way you did your last pet, because you can't. You won't. But it's a way through the dark, a healing distraction when your arms and heart feel empty. If you're in the midst of that grief right now, then I promise you: fostering or adopting a new pet is not disloyal to your last pet's memory. It's not. If anything, it honors them, because it shows how much happier they made your life, how they taught you that life is always better with animals in it. And my gosh, what a beautiful legacy that is.
*****
Oof, that got a lot heavier than I intended. Hang on.
::blows nose::
Ok, shake it out, shake it out. I still have silly stuff to talk about, dangit!
Ahem.
*****
In other news, last weeks' Back to the Future movie night on Discord was a blast. John and I had way too much fun dressing up and recreating various movie scenes.
I've postponed Princess Bride this week because John's wig isn't here yet (ha!), so tonight we're watching Muppet Treasure Island instead. We'll have 2 showings: 8:30 and 10:30pm EST, if you'd care to join us over on the Epbot Discord. (Instructions are in Newbie Welcome.) See some of you there!
*****
I bought Foster Pup one of these balls as a happy homecoming gift. Apparently they're nearly indestructible, AND they're blue and orange, so that's all I needed to know:
Just in case you're in the market for some blue (and orange) balls. :D
I'm not crying, YOU'RE crying. ::: sniffle ::: That is one happy happy pupper. LOVE it!!! ❤❤❤
ReplyDeleteGREAT story! I love a happy ending.
ReplyDeleteWe acquired a second rescue a couple months ago. Frankie was found in a dump in Louisiana with a severely infected and deformed front paw, leading to amputation. She ended up in pennsylvania through a rescue to gets did out of high kill shelters in the south. She ended up with us, and then we discovered she had every parasite possible, AND is heartworm positive. She just started treatment, which is a very scary and long process. Despite everything she has been through, she is the sweetest, most lovable dog. Good thing, because she had zero training or manners! I would post a photo, but i'm not savvy on doing that here. Her name is short for "Frankenstein", bur drive she also sounds like a mix of Ms Piggy and Yoda, it is also appropriate because of Frank Oz. Rescues bring such joy.
ReplyDeleteI've had a terrible day and i needed some good tears. So thank you!
ReplyDelete100% right about getting a new pet soon after losing one. I had a senior kitty pass away right after returning from my honeymoon in late October of 2011. By mid-November I just had to visit some cats at the local adoption place and fell in love with a kitty. I wasn’t sure if we were ready for a new cat but I couldn’t stop thinking about her and she was home with us by Thanksgiving. Willow has been a wonderful part of our family ever since.
ReplyDeleteFostering is the best thing to fail at! <3 What a sweet pup.
ReplyDeleteI honestly think "HENLO" is a fine name for this puppers.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing!
DeleteWhat a sweet puppers. I love him.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are the best and woooooooo hoooooooooo Muppets Treasure Island! I'll do my best!
ReplyDeleteYou are awesome.
ReplyDeleteThose balls (snicker) fit in a chucker that helps fling them farther without
suck risk of rotator cuff tears (my husband tore his throwing a walnut...)
I see you did the neighborly thing when building a new fence in putting the boards on their side of the framing.
ReplyDeleteOf course, that goes without question!
DeleteIf Rebecca reads this, I have a name suggestion, from 20000-names.com
ReplyDelete"ANGHARAD (ang-kar-ad): Welsh Arthurian legend name of a love of Peredur in the Mabinogion, derived from the word angharz, meaning "undisgraced, free of shame."
I like it because he's now free of his pain and shame, and starting a wonderful new life, free to be his sweet goofy self.
That is SO SWEET, omigosh. Melting.
DeleteI rescued my Buddy just a little over a year ago. Best decision I've ever made. My life would be so empty without him. And can I just say thank you, for being pet accepting landlords. I was a renter for the first 23 years of living on my own. I wanted a dog, but was never allowed. Now that I own my home, no one can tell me no. And if I ever rent out, I will absolutely allow pets.
ReplyDeleteWe've always specified that even large pets are welcome, because in our experience, people who own big dogs are almost always THE best renters: responsible & caring. We also know they have less options for renting, so we never have an empty rental - which is a win for all of us!
Delete(Seriously, though, I think our ONLY problem renter ever was one who didn't have a pet. Coincidence?? :p)
I've volunteered with a dog rescue group for the past decade, and there is NOTHING like seeing a dog remember how to be a dog again. <3
ReplyDeleteAHHHHH!
ReplyDeleteTeam his name is Pongo!
Throw the heckin stick hooman! :D
ReplyDeleteI love watching puppers running around free for the first time. So sweet, such joy! My yard is too small to really fence in for my 50lb doggo, so I take her out to my parents' farm for a good run every now and then. It's awesome to watch her cut loose and fly across the yard!
ReplyDeleteSuch joy! What a happy doggo!!!
ReplyDeleteWe're in the midst of losing our old cat. (I expect we have only a few more days with her.) She's 15 and apparently has cancer but the vet isn't going to do a biopsy due to her age and fragility. She's my daughter's cat, and such a sweet creature and will be greatly, greatly missed. We have 2 other cats so getting another cat is probably out of the question but if the Universe give us another, we won't say no. All our pets have always been rescues and have always be the best pets ever.
Jen,
ReplyDelete2012 was a very hard year for me. I had started a new job and had been working for about three weeks when my Mom get sick. She died ten days later. During bereavement leave, my gallbladder tried to kill me and I had to have urgent surgery. While in the hospital, day after my surgery to be specific, work called and fired me. First time I had ever been fired from a job. In an effort to help my sister empty the house, I moved to my mother's house to keep an eye on my two nephews who had been living with her and instruct them on what to pack. Four days after this my husband announced that we were going to buy the house and move in. I didn't want to; the house we were currently living was the first home I had had since we were married - military family and we MOVED a lot, but we did. Got daughter changed to a new school system and all the fun things that go with moving. Week after this, husband got fired from his job. Thank God he got a new one right away. This is all from June through September. Then the cat we had had for twelve years died. To this day I hate the house we own as it has never been home but I miss the cat the most. As a kitten Sparks drove me crazy but once he calmed down he was the snuggliest guy ever.
Maureen
P.S. It was great to see you in Pittsburgh!
Jen,
ReplyDeleteLoved the video! It was funny watching the dog do a psych to John over the stick. The fence looks great. You guys worked hard on it. I was surprised to see the dog knew what to do with the stick. When we had a puppy it took him forever to figure out "getting a stick". Balls and a frisbee (which he figure out first), no problem but throw the stick - Reilly looked at us with a WTF look.
Maureen
P.S. It was great to see you in Pittsburgh!
We've been active members of a local pet bereavement group since we lost a cat 7 years ago. We have interacted with literally dozens and dozens of people grieving the loss of an animal, recently and not so recently. It's great to share your experience about getting another pet (or fostering) right away, but it is also 100% OK for them to not feel ready...for weeks, months...some wait years before they feel ready. Please don't push anyone that's not ready, it is definitely not a cure-all and is completely wrong for some people (as well as for the animal). Everyone has to find their own way :)
ReplyDelete