May 4, 2012

White Dog and I were just sitting down to write this post and the phone rang. It was Candace, Dragon and Sen-ge's mom. "I have a a big issue and I don't know what to do," she started. I have learned to sit silently for 20 seconds whenever I get calls like this from anyone before jumping to conclusions.

She continued. "I was going home and these two puppies ran across the street. They kept charging out into traffic and people would stop to let them cross but no body stopped to help them." But you, Candace...I already knew that ending. "Took them to the emergency vet and they have no chip, aren't wearing collars, no id. The vet would keep them and take them to animal control tomorrow but I just couldn't bring myself to turn them over knowing they would go THERE."

Of course this was 9:30 tonight and all of the rescues were closed. "I took them to my house but Thurber pitched a fit when I put the crate in the Big Dog area and Dragon just was not nice at all. Can I borrow your big crate so I can set them up and they can sleep outside?"

"It is time to walk the talk," I said to White Dog and turned to Steve. "Candace is on the phone with a found pup emergency we don't have a problem with her bringing them her for the night do we? If the White Dog Army is hospitable they can stay in the house; otherwise they can go in my studio." Candace was on the other end of the line, waiting and holding her breath. Steve sighed...and sighed again...and shook his head while saying "do what we need to do."

The two 8-week old doxie-wawa girls were full of bravado but the WDA was unfazed. Then Steve brought up the fact that the pups were untested for parvo and other diseases as far as we knew. "They can stay but we will make a place for them that does not put the Army in danger," was the ruling. Tomorrow Candace and I begin the search to find a rescue and to post announcements hoping that someone might be missing these two sweeties.

And, by the way, this is our 2,500th post!
White Dog and I spent time earlier today looking back (or forward from the beginning). She has spent her life on these pages. We recommitted our marriage here. We went from being Siku, only child, to White Dog, Leader of the White Dog Army of five...And having a teen.  Our joys and triumphs were recorded here...

...and also our sadnesses. My congestive heart failure. The deaths of beloved friends (two- and four-legged). Puff's heartworm. We have become cancer warriors in an attempt to end the pain of so many losses so unexpectedly soon. We have been fortunate that there has been far more happiness than pain.

For the most part, though, there are no incredible highs or lows. Ours is a story of an ordinary family living an ordinary life and sharing the simple journey together. We try to live by the motto of "We may not be able to do everything but at least we can do something."  I am not a great photographer so most times there is not even squeal appeal.

At first we talked just for the practice of daily writing and no one listened for a long time. I have two years of actual physical diaries of posts that I would first write out longhand and then "translate" to the monitor. After a while we found a voice and a confidence and slowly discovered we were part of an amazing community.

Today if you should ask why we continue to blog, we would without hesitation respond that it is because of the amazing family we have become a part of, and care about, and share our journey with. It is to lend support as much as to receive it; to join paws and hands with the most amazing beings(no matter how many legs) we have ever encountered. Mostly it is because here, home, is where we can begin our 25000th post with a story of unexpected overnight guests and everyone understands...and better yet, would do the same!

We ask the Universe for the opportunity for many many more entries. Thank you all for your readership and love.

Siku Marie, The White Dog; The Mighty Quinn; Nuka Angel; Puff the Magical; YoYoMa; Steve the Tolerant; and me.