The Puppy that Adopted a Family :)

Good morning!  It's the 28th and that means the Calendar Girls post once again with a themed card and this month, I'm the hostess :)  I have been meaning to get this post up for the better part of a year now but for all reasons this and that, I never have.  I thought of all the possible themes that are out there for my turn to host and knew that I really wanted to go with the fur babies and have PETS as our challenge this month!  I originally planned a simple Elzybells doggy card but my post just took a life of it's own ;) **This is a personal post as well as a CG post - please scroll down to the bottom if you'd rather not read the full story and see the pictures, which can be heart wrenching and hard to view :(  


Most of you know that we have two wonderful pups in our family - Buddy, a 2 year old Jack Russell, and now Buster, our wonderful eclectic "everything in the kitchen sink" mix of a dog that truly graces our lives with comedy and unbridled love.  Buster adopted us a year ago, almost exactly :)  One Saturday morning we were going out front to bike/skate and saw a HUGE line of traffic on our street - cars back up to both lights at either end, honking, screaming.  Right in front of us a tiny puppy was criss-crossing into traffic, spotted us and ran to us - apparently he saw us before we saw him.  He was so excited!  I, on the other hand,  was horrified.  Not only did he miss getting hit by mere inches, but I was able to see what terrible condition he was in.  Yet he here was, so happy!  I tell you, he did not stop wagging his tail and I would even swear this dog was smiling!  I saw traffic start to resume, one driver screaming obscenities at me saying to 'lock up my dog, put him on a leash, who did I think I was'  ..... my dog??!  I knew I had to take action - find the owner, take him to the vet to see if he had a chip, get him some help. I knew in my heart he didn't.  And I knew in my heart this dog was in bad, BAD shape.


I scooped him up much to my husband's dismay and grumbling and put him in the car - diseased, bloodied, infected, infested .....  The girls insisted on going with me but I made my son stay home - I already knew this was not going to turn out favorable and I couldn't bear for them to see this poor puppy in pain, poked, prodded.  I rushed off to the Humane Society and they confirmed he did not have a chip, hence, no way to know who's dog this was in such pitiful shape.  In fact, they asked us to leave immediately, afraid of whatever he had was contagious and that we'd have to put the puppy to sleep.   Our vet was closed as was chance #2.  #3 came when we rushed to our local Pet Smart as we know on Saturdays a dog rescue organization is there and they confirmed again, he was sick, diseased, and I needed to get him to a vet but he was "probably not save-able."  By this time, the feeling that swept over me infuriated me.  Was anyone going to say something good - something to give us hope?  I found a vet open on the way home, by pure chance. By this time I was teary eyed, feeling helpless, hopeless.  The vet saw us right away and was so very kind - he listened as I explained "this is not my dog, I know he's a mess, but what IS wrong with him and is it treatable?"  Maybe if we could help him, he could be adopted or find a home.  He offered to do some tests pro bono but that I would have to pay out of pocket expenses for all the rest, a figure that knocked me backwards.  I was a mess.  I was literally sobbing when I called my husband to tell him I still had the puppy and I was not going down without a fight. I did not want another dog.  I had Brandy at home with terminal cancer and it was tearing at my heart - what lesson in suffering and humility was I to learn in all of this?  All the doors were closing, people were telling me to put him to sleep without a chance.  It felt wrong.   My girls were teary eyed, the assistant kept coming in with tissues, and I knew part of me already loved this doggie that was a complete wreck, yet still stood there wagging his tail NON-stop. 


We agreed to start his treatment - which was for infections, shots, wormings, getting a horrendous case of mange under control, etc.  I knew I had Buddy at home, and Brandy who was at the end stage of cancer, not to mention the kids, dh and I and asked "can he even come into my home!?"  I'll never forget his reply - he said "it's not contagious - we just tested him.  It's only going to affect him.  But it will affect him for the rest of his life. We'll treat him, we'll work with you, but the commitment is huge.  And expensive. If you can't do this, I understand - we'll take it from here.  I think you know what that means. He clearly isn't going to be adoptable.  But if you chose to go forward, then we'll make this puppy right."  And he left me to think it over, and call my husband who was already on his way with the checkbook, lol.  But then he turned in the door way and said "Oh, btw.  Thank you for loving him."  That was all it took for me.  I knew he was ours :)


Buster, before :(

Buster has been with us for a year now :)  He's a completely healthy, 110% recovered, and thriving pup, but more than that, he is the joy that we could not have ever imagined.  He is the happiest dog I have ever known!  I tell my kids, dh and sometimes my friends, what a lesson I have learned from the stray that stopped traffic, found a family, and rescued us.  So many days I am 'in a rut' and I see him, doing something so funny, and I start cracking up thinking "You're right, Buster - it's not really that bad" :)  Sadly, Brandy passed away just a couple of weeks after he joined our family and but Buddy and Buster are inseperable.  They became fast friends and sleep together every night, snuggling like two fur babies sharing one family, one home.  My hubby likes to joke that he went from pitiful homeless dog to a pampered interstate traveler ;)  He's been a joy to add to our family, this small little rescued doggy that adopted our family ~ and I whispered in his ear, holding him after one of his painful treatments, never to fear - with us, he has a forever family :*) 


And Buster now, with lots of TLC :)

Mmmm, mommy!  When is dinner!?! ;)

                                   
So here is my submission for the Calendar Girl's post with PETS this month!  We have 2 dogs now, one bunny rabbit, and a macaw.  But I couldn't resist creating a page of a candid shot I took of the boys :)  They are my absolute shadows - I go from room to room and so do they.  They are constantly on my heels and as I sat to craft one day, they sat beside me and stared ~ so I took their picture.    Maybe I should give them some cardstock and markers? LOL!
Thank you for making this far, if you have :)  Here is my finished, simple project for the month - PETS and the two fur babies that have a FUR-EVER home :)  

 My page is simple - I love simple pages!  They make creating them so much easier, especially with the stack of pictures I have to scrap :)  I used papers from DCWV and Basic Grey and SU!  Everything is from my stash except the picture which I had to run to Walgreens to print ;)  I wish it wasn't so washed out.  And I do hope you take a moment to see what the rest of the Calendar Girls have created for you this month -- you can find them in my sidebar over there  -------------------------------->


Thanks for taking the time to read if you made it this far, I appreciate it and I am glad to finally introduce Buster along with his brother, Buddy, who you've seen on my blog before ;)  


“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea tell you. Every one of these knows that the hand of the Lord has done this. The life of every creature and the breath of all people are in God’s hand.” ~Job 12:7-10

Big hugs,

Bigger Blessings and

Furry hugs!! :)

~Kelly