When They Are Ready

Dogs are incredibly loyal, and even if their owners are arseholes, it takes them a while to understand this fact. A few weeks ago as I drove down the mountain, I saw a dog sat by the bins. This is common as many people dump their dogs there, no idea why, but its a typical "dumping" spot. She was sat waiting for her owners to return, as often the dogs believe they will be back.
I stopped the car, got out treats in hand, but she was newly dumped, full of hope that her owners would be back. She didnt want my help, and showed me she was tough and brave with the barking, and the walking away. I got back in the car, knowing she needed time to realize they weren't coming back.

She stayed near the bins for around a week, it was where she last saw her owners, therefore, she didn't want to go to far just in case she missed when they came back for her. Every time I saw her, I stopped got out, approached, but she was telling me its fine, they will be back soon.

After a week she begun to venture further down the mountain, maybe her owners were waiting for her down there. She looked and looked always returning to the bins. Then the inevitable happened she got hit by a car, with an injured leg, and little food and water, she still was convinced her owners would return.

Yesterday as I drove down I saw her, but she wasn't searching, or running, she was laid on the side of the road. She had given up, you can always tell that face, the realization that her owners weren't coming back. I stopped the car, got out, same ritual, but she didn't move, she laid there looking at me.

I poured the water, got the treats, and she simply lifted her head for me to noose her. Three weeks of running, searching, and hoping were over, she was safe, and now able to have a meal, get the leg checked over, and start her life again. As I put her in the back of the car, she looked at me, as if to say they didn't come back you were right.

Dogs Are So Forgiving

We could learn so much from dogs, other than to pee on people we don't like, and to sleep a lot. Dogs are amazing, and some forgive so easily, regardless of what they have been through. I have a dog here at the moment that has every right to hate humans, but he sees them, wags his tail, and greets them like long lost friends.

A few months ago a dog was in all the newspapers here, he was on every TV channel, and of course social media went insane. This dog had been found by the police in a rubbish bin in the city. That's not unusual for this island sadly, but what made this case so different was the state of the dog.

The dog had been tied up so he could not move, defend himself, or run away. He was then repeatedly raped with what is suspected to be a metal pole. He was then beaten so badly with the metal pole that they crushed his skull. After they had finished they threw him in the bin to die. 

When he was found everyone thought his chances of survival were slim, he entered the main pound.

I read the article, shuddered, muttered WTF a lot, and moved on with my life. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I was asked to help a dog at the pound that was "special"

At first I had no idea who the dog was, but as they begun to explain the penny dropped. I was looking at the dog in the photos from the news articles, but he certainly didn't look the same. The transformation was amazing, and he was so happy.

Of course I said I would help, when do I ever say no! GI Joe as I have named him due to his amazing fighting spirit is an incredible dog. He is so friendly, so loving, and needs a home to call his own. Whoever is lucky enough to adopt this dog, can learn so much from him!

Reaching The Crossroads

Another long week, compacted by people attacking me on the internet, has brought me to a crossroads, where I am not sure if this is the route I want to continue on in life. This time of year is always exhausting, and internet trolls don't make it any easier. Too many animals, not enough donations, and exhaustion has caused me to stop and ponder.

Some say I deserve the abuse and others say I am justified in my answers, and the way I react. The honest answer is, I am who I am, and I'm not going to change. However, I don't deserve  to be attacked by complete strangers who know nothing about me.

You may not agree with me, or what I say and do, but until you have been here, seen what I do, and understood it all, you have no right to tell me what to do. People claim I have lost donations, support, and that I need to be more fluffy and nice.

When did we become a world where everyone is so easily offended, where people have to jump on a post that has nothing to do with them. I will not be bullied into removing comments and changing who I am, because people think I should. I believe in my charity, and I believe in what I do.

My father once told me, if you reach the crossroads, you must sit, and consider all the reasons in your life to be thankful. So, I sat, and pondered, and realized that life is good, and although the world is full of pain, suffering, and disappointment, there is always something to be thankful for.

I am thankful that I get to make a difference to both animals and people.

I am thankful for my husband, who is my rock, my strength and has never left my side regardless of what crazy path I have dragged him down.

I am thankful for my health, although I am aging, and I cannot do the things I once could, or I have to do them slower, I am alive every morning!

I am thankful for the opportunity to be doing something that I enjoy, and although it is stressful, incredibly demanding, and extremely hard some days, it is also very rewarding

I am thankful for my supporters, and my UK team who have helped to build the Pet Pals Gc family.

I am thankful for the people who live in my phone, and are there when I need them.

All in all I am incredibly lucky, and think this path is a good one to continue on, so for the time being you are all stuck with me. Embrace the journey, laugh at the comments, take everything in your stride, and support my amazing charity.