My True Colors Seem to Care More about Dogs then Humans

[Jennifer and Jack]

Today I was out.. I finally after six months was going to get my hair done. I have been waiting and waiting to do this and today was my day... ( I have a doodle friend coming tomorrow and I didn't dare let her see my many inches of regrowth) I love my hair to be straightened and I can never do it quite like the girl at the salon can. Anyway...

It was pouring rain here today, I mean pouring, thunder and all. I was stopped at a Red Light and I look to my left and there is a middle aged man there standing in the pouring rain, getting soaked, I saw him holding a sign that said passing through and need supplies.... then I look down and there is a dog attached to a leash.

You can clearly see the dog is scared of the thunder, he is cold and soaking wet. I instantly start to tear up, I rip open my purse and try to give him money.. I gave him money and asked him if he had food for the dog, he said yes some, I had my car door open because my windows don't open, the poor dog was trying so hard to get in my car, my heart broke, I asked him if I could have the dog to find him a home or if I could take the dog for him until he is more stable, He said No... I remembered I had a bag of dog food Orijen I was going to return to the store because Jack is no longer on it. I give it to him...meanwhile the light turned green and people are waiting for me to go, They were polite but still.. All I said to the guy was " You better take care of that dog, He deserves better!!!"

I never once offered to help the guy, give him an umbrella, I have a million of them in my car, I didn't even care about the guy or think about him again until later and I realized that I put that mans dog way before the human. I went back a little while later, I went back to look for him, I wanted to tell him to walk to the mall and wait outside, it was right across the street, I wanted to get him dry clothes, shoes and something. I don't have any idea how he got to be homeless but we all need grace...  f

I guess I could say the man made choices that landed him where he was but the dog was innocent, the truth is, I have no idea what happen to that man, and I sure as heck would not want to give up Jack if I was homeless.. Though I would find him a good home.

So my new hair do is back to being curly and frizzy from standing in the rain, but my heart is so sad for that dog. When that dog tried to get in my car it broke my heart...I sit here watching Jack lay on my bed, snuggled under my down blanket, laying his head on my down pillow not having a clue about the horrors of this world and some how I wish I could join him in his ignorance.

[Jennifer and Jack]

That photo says so much!!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

This hits me in the gut!!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Beautifully said, Cindy.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I am so glad you said that, I would imagine it is true about the dog being such a support for the human, I think I surprised myself by my initial reaction and then when I left I felt so guilty that I didn't do enough for the man, just the dog and that is why I tried to go back to get him so dry clothes and shoes.

I am way to soft that is for sure, don't ask me how I was ever a trauma nurse, because I know now, I could not ever do that again....

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thank you so much for the different perspectives, I couldn't agree more, I just didn't think of it that way...The different perspective helped me feel better about it. I so so hope I run into him again so I can do more for them both.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

You already did a lot....you showed you cared.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Jennifer, You did a great thing... not just for the dog. You saved the man from spending money on his dog for a while so he can spend some money on food for himself. You did a good thing. I'm very proud of you. Have a good time with your friend from Wisconsin. hugs and doodle kisses.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

You are not alone Jennifer, I feel the same way, pets depend on us humans 100% for survival.  I am sure they could survive out there if the had to but my two doodles are so pampered that they would not have a clue on what to do - LOL.  At work my boss donates to a charity of our choice as a gift to his staff for Christmas, everyone chooses their favorite charity and I always go with a animal charity - I can't help it animals don't have choices as humans do and they are innocient.   I would have done the same as you did to make sure the pood dog was cared for first.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Jennifer - you have a heart as big as the ocean and that is such a wonderful thing!!!!  You did indeed help the man by helping his dog, who if his story is true, is very grateful for your dog food.  I do though want you to know (as I am older and been around the block a few times as they say) that not all of the people holding signs and asking for help - they are NOT always what they seem.  Many (not all) of these people - this is what they do for a living, sad I know but true.  Often, they just move their begging location around so people don't catch on.  They will often have a dog or worse a small child with them in order to get sympathy - thus more money.  I once saw a man with a dog holding a sign that said he would work for food - wow - I could do better than that, my boys have a 10,000 acre farm - I could get this guy a job!!!  Guess what - he DIDN'T want a job at all - he only wanted money.  This after I even told him that there were other farm workers that I often would pick up and drop off in an effort to help.  So I'm just saying - we all need to help those with less - humans and animals alike - just becareful how you donate to make sure that it really is going to who you think it is.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks Jane, I know some people take advantage....Sad but true. I think it was the pouring rain and thunder and how wet and pitiful the looked and here I was going to get my hair done at a salon and those two didn't have a place to even sit, I felt like a spoiled jerk, I am not even close to having money, in fact my family is currently supporting me for a good portion of my living right now, but I still felt so spoiled.

Sort of like when my mom took me on a cruise when I graduated nursing school, one of the stops was in Jamaica. I was so excited to go there, They shuttled us off the boat and on to a bus and drove us through the ghetto to get tot he beach, The sites I saw made me cry, all the babies with the bloated bellies from lack of protein, I spent the entire day feeling sad for all the kids that couldn't eat..

I am just hopeless in that department..

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

You are definitely a very generous and caring person Jen, and there is nothing wrong with that at all. Regardless of who the recipient is.
I however, am of the same camp as Jane. Maybe I lived in Florida too long and saw scam after scam and a sense of greed and entitlement that caused me to become VERY selective in donating.
There was even an article in our Palm Beach Post about a family who begged on a major cross road, everyday, then went home to their house at night and that was how they made their living. I too have offered side jobs at our home like lawn work or remodeling help to those with signs only to be turned down.

I like organizations that can in turn help these folks and animals. DRC, American Red Cross, United Way, Needy families the hospital designates and monitors for eligibility, etc. There is nothing wrong with going to get your hair done, or taking a cruise as a reward for completing nursing school. You worked hard to have those things and those were the right choices for you. Others may make their own choices as well. Whether for themselves or for those in their care. That is their privilege in America. Many prefer to live as they do, many are earnestly trying to get out of a bad situation, and many can seek help.
There will always be people with less and people with more. And certainly in our own states and country.
My vote is for actors and actresses and football players and politicians and Facebook creators to give a % of their gluttonary millions back to society at large so there are more organizations to distribute and help those who qualify and genuinely need it. Not those who choose to take advantage.

This is really a sore spot with me as I have had years of experience working in a Medicaid hospital and watched relentless abuse of the system. I actually had to leave that job as I was becoming so bitter with the way the system worked and with those who obviously chose to blatantly and proudly abuse it. I had it rubbed in my face everyday for 7 years. All the while working 12-14 hour days taking care of them.

You did far and beyond anything that I would have thought to do, and that makes you a wonderful person. You are so kind and honest with your feelings and emotions and for that I totally respect you. like Jane said, be careful who you donate to. But don't stop caring for others and the helpless. That's what makes you so special. I am just a hardened old lady I guess.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Karen, what that says about you (us, we) Is that the helpless, the one's who depend on humans or adults in a baby or child's case, for comfort, shelter, food, love, are who we worry about. Not that you didn't care about that man but that the one who couldn't help itself needed you.That man knows how to take shelter and was taking care of his needs.

Your act of kindness did not say anything bad about you but rather something "special".

So now Karen, you are back to being beautiful both on the inside and the out! ;-)