I didn’t get custody of Earl, way back in the summer when the blanket was split. And this has been the first time in forever that I’ve been w/o a four legged. Without a dog.
In the past, my dogs have been BIG. But I’m living in town now and my house is just little. So when I started looking at Brother Wolf Animal Rescue’s web site–hundreds of pics–I decided that I would get an adult dog. A LITTLE adult dog. Maybe so old that it would be hard to otherwise adopt. But little. I was thinking 25 pounds or so.
Started looking a few months ago. Stopped by the facility a few times. Looked at the web site so often that I knew the dogs by name. Banjo. Coco. Chloe. So many dogs needing “forever homes.” I surprised myself. Typically I would have snatched up the first dog that jumped up in its pen, or hung its head or barked for attention. But not this time. Some thing was different. A sense that some thing was coming and I just had to wait. And that some thing I was waiting for is called Hope.
Hope was shipped in from Virginia–shipped to our “no kill” shelter along with ten other little dogs. She comes from a “hoarding” situation–a person of not-quite-right inclination has kept over 30 dogs outside w/o shelter–for years–in all types of weather. Food scarce. Water –more scarce. And the dogs are in pretty bad shape. But when she came on Friday for a meet and greet–I knew w/o a doubt that Hope was meant to be here. She stayed for an hour. Her foster person took her back, she was spayed yesterday and I picked her up this morning at 7:45. Now she is home.
Everything startles her. She doesn’t know what a dog dish is. Or a washing machine. Or anything that makes noise. She is happiest when I’m on the floor at her level. Part of her pack. And she’s amazingly affectionate for one who has had almost no contact with two-leggeds.
I told Logan about her yesterday. He understood the need to be tender. Quiet. The need to let her approach him. She is tiny. Weighs 6 pounds. Fragile. They met this morning–another two hour school delay–and it went like this:
As soon as this next winter front passes, another journey will be made up to Virginia–more dogs brought back from that same situation. I will foster one. Probably adopt it, but maybe not. It will all depend upon Hope.
following thread 
she is too precious!
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she is–a little bundle of pure innocence.
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Thank you for doing this.
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Hi Judith. nice to have you here! i feel i’ve been gifted something huge from the universe and am giving thanks right as we speak.
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Logan has such a gentle spirit.
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that “side” really came through this morning and truly, it gave me goose bumps.
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Oh, that is wonderful!
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hey Carol! so glad to see you here.
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I’m in love with Hope already!
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truly–a six year old amazing little bit of a thing. a love machine i think.
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I am so, so happy for Hope and for you as well….she has old soul eyes….blessed be! And as always, love. Elizabeth
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you’re right–that’s what it is–old soul.
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how beautiful she is with her WILLINGNESS. how can she know Anything at All???? she
can’t. but she is WILLING. Willing for kindness and SAFE. how can she even know this
as a possibility????? this is so beautiful and tells us so much about the innate Sense of
Goodness that PREVAILS…somehow. somehow. amidst all else. Bless her. Bless You
and Bless the child.
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isn’t that the truth–and the willingness to TRUST. i’m totally blown away by this little being. and her goodness. and thank you for your blessings–for her and child especially. so much love to you.
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Hope and Logan, those photos say it all, especially the last one, Logan reclining, his gentle hand on Hope, she on his chest. Small things, loving caring things that mean so much. Teachable things that come from a caring Grandma showing that in this off kilter world, acts of kindness and love mean everything…
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oh Marti–yes, the progression from Hope watching, Logan waiting, to the final picture–two trusting beings passing love back and forth between themselves. i’m not sure it was teachable. there was a “knowing” at play–a sense of recognition of sameness–oneness perhaps. and love. and your observation that in this off-kilter world, kindness and love mean everything–YES. kindness and love. everything. thanks for your visit here. your comments always mean so much.
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That’s a lovely thing to do, to give a lost dog a home. The world needs more of this love.
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