The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This week has been a tough week on DoodleKisses.  I am at a loss for words and that almost never happens.  Peaceful sleeping has eluded me and I know I am not alone.  I would like to say I can’t eat, but that is not how I deal with stress either.  For me, it started with the DRC “Home 4 the Holidays” slideshow.  I watched the show from beginning to end and was so touched by all the stories, but I couldn’t shake the image of Moses.  His story broke my heart. He had been beaten or kicked by someone and dropped off at a shelter. The DRC stepped in to save him, but his injuries were too severe and he had to be euthanized. 

 

I walk almost every day with my wonderful neighbor.  She is a very upbeat person and faces every test in her life by saying, “everything happens for a reason.”  I wish sometimes I could face life that way too, but then along comes a Moses and I have to ask myself what possible reason could there be for something like that to happen to an innocent, trusting animal?  Is it supposed to teach us that people are capable of incredible acts of cruelty?  Don’t we already know that and see it every day in the news?

 

Next, I came home to find Joanne’s beautiful tribute to Starlit and I am still in shock.  How can this happen to a member of our DK family and to a beautiful dog that many of us remember from the moment she showed up on the front page looking for a home?  We have watched her grow, discussed her, and many people on DK have benefited from Joanne’s training with Starlit, and Roger and Joanne’s experiences along the way.  It is hard to explain to people not on this site how you can get so wrapped up in DK and feel like you are part of a community that “gets it” when it comes to the love you feel for your own dogs and other dogs on this site. Most people think we are nuts, but we know we are just nuts about our dogs.

 

Yes, this has been one of the toughest weeks I can ever remember on DK.  The “Home 4 the Holidays” slideshow showed us that there are tons of dogs, just like ours, only not as lucky, thrown away by people everyday.  They end up in shelters, through no fault of their own; except they had the bad luck to start out with the wrong humans. Luckily, for the dogs in that slideshow, DRC jumped in and most of them got a second chance and hopefully, dealt a better hand this next time around.  Thankfully, we were able to see some of those happy endings that came about through the hard work and dedication of all of the volunteers that work so diligently to save dogs.

 

I really can’t come up with any reason either why Starlit passed away.  It just seems so unfair and wrong.  The only thing I can say is that I am proud to be part of a community that wrapped its collective arms around Joanne, Roger, and Spud, at this heartbreaking time.  I hope it helps them to know that as dog lovers, we know that losing a dog takes a big piece of our heart and anyone who says, “it is only a dog,” never truly experienced the love of a dog.  We really are like a family.  We fight, we makeup, we laugh, we cry, and we are there for each other through the good, the bad, and the ugly.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jennifer, I had to give up watching Animal Cops too. It just made me too sad. It is nice to come to a site that is filled with people who understand what we are all feeling. Thank you!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Ok Laurie-this is the first post of yours that made me cry and not from hysterical laughter!

I think you said it so well because I've had a heavy heart for the last week or so too-I bawled my head off at the DRC slideshow and for Starlit. It doesn't seem fair. I tried to explain to DH and I showed him her slideshow tribute and he said oh that's sad and I guess maybe guys deal different. He likes to watch animal cops and I know he has a huge heart for dogs since ours came along but they just show it different. I won't watch the show because it makes me cry everytime at the stupidity of others. Just once I wish the tears weren't the first things to come! I guess it just shows how things changed for me since having my "own" dogs and finding DK. Thanks for posting, at least we are all feeling the same things. Here's to a better week and some healing!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Doris!! You ain't so bad either....LOL!!!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

This is a wonderful place to be because of GOOD people like you, Laurie! Thanks for writing what so many of us are feeling! You have a way with words....

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sharon, I can't even watch that commercial where Sarah McLaughlin sings and it shows all those dogs in needs. You have a very kind heart :)

[Sharon & Monty]

Laurie, I go crazy in my mind about the needy doggies.  I also look at the Dogs Deserve Better they do chained dogs as you know.  If I give every time my heart swells, well I would have no money to live on.  :(  I will wait for "our time"   

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sharon, Someday, I do believe the right dog will find you and "rescue" you right back. It might not be the time now, but it is good that you know that and wait until your circumstances are better work wise.  You will appreciate it all the more for waiting. The sad thing is there will always be dogs needing a good home. Thank you for your kind comment.

[Sharon & Monty]

Laurie, I've been grumpy for several days now.  I try to clear my mind that DK is on online site, not my real life.  Yah, right.  It certainly has turned me into....I dunno an addict, a compulsive lurker/reader?  Your remembrance of Moses hits me most.  I always tease my DH that with a click of the mouse,  a rescues dog can be mine!! I show him dogs all the time and threaten to click and own a rescue!  lol  Well he had taken a liken to Moses but kept telling me we should wait till we retire and can commit in a proper way.  :( :(  When I read the tribute from DRC and mentioned his name, even my DH was upset.  I had no idea that terrible things had befallen that beautiful guy.  He was close to home, I wanted to go get him!  I wish I could become an ostrich again.  With my head in the sand I would not know these terrible things, these terrible losses and deaths.  But I am not an ostrich.  I will keep my head up and wait for the day that I can do right by  needy doodle.  Maybe not today, but I have time.

Thanks Laurie for putting into words some of the stuff that I think about too!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lisa, Thank you for such a nice comment!!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Laurie your heart is as big as DoodleKisses and I love that about you! Your ability to put into words how we are all feeling is incredible.

Thank you for this post.