White Dog and The White Dog Army (including Quinn and Nuka) sat with me this afternoon. “Did you know, momma,” White Dog began, “that nearly 7 thousand five hundred pets are euthanized in shelters every single day?” “EVERY day, momma,” Taiko echoed. “The rescues are constantly full and often are not able to help because they have no room,” Oso pointed out. Puff added, “Foster parents are a rare commodity and there are never enough of them to house all of the animals waiting for forever homes.”
“I know dearest ones, it breaks my heart that so many die just because they are old or naughty or no one wants them. I pray for the day when every creature is loved and has a home.” YoYoMa rested his head in my lap, adding his energy to my plea.
“It is time, momma,” Nuka whispered. “I know your heart is still in pain but every day that goes by a pup that could have been rescued is lost. And the White Dog Army has room to provide a most amazing home filled with love and redemption and security and care. It is what I want; it is how I want you to remember me…as sharing the most beautiful thing ever in my life on Earth with a fellow dog in need.”
“I am so glad you and dad brought Taiko home after I guided him to you,” Quinn spoke into my heart. “He is a prize and would have been killed had you not been able to realize that your healing from my loss could happen at the same time as the WDA joyfully greeted a new recruit. You knew in your heart that our love is forever.”
With White Dog’s nod, Steve handed me a sheet of paper with a photo. “We have all been scouting for the perfect recruit. One that we all agreed needed us most. This is for your consideration. If you are not ready we will understand, but…”
The tiny Eskie girl on the sheet was a senior breeder dog who had been given up when she could no longer produce “reliable” litters. She is being fostered in a small town about three hours from us. With a population of only 49,000 this remote community is not likely to generate much adoption interest in her. The foster parents have generous hearts and provide sanctuary for several fosters; and an adoption would allow them an opening to bring home another rescue.
The scared face staring out and the chorus of White Dogs reminded me of a quote I recently read from Gretel Ehrlich, The Solace of Open Spaces …“All through autumn we hear a double voice: one says everything is ripe; the other says everything is dying. The paradox is exquisite. We feel what the Japanese call "aware"--an almost untranslatable word meaning something like "beauty tinged with sadness.”
I am ready to bring Tiny White Dog, TWD, home., if she will have us.