12/15/23
Hi Delightful Person ~Did you ever have a pet that really touched your heart? Care to brag on them in the comment section at the bottom of the post?
Last week’s post mentioned ‘Beautiful’, a dog I had a few years ago who’d been through hell. This is her story – told in her own – um – words? Barks and yips? Enjoy! 🙂
Hi! My name is – well – proper names are not important here. Who we are is though, so I’ll just describe myself as a beautiful-warrior-princess-guru-dog-blessing. Yeah, that sums me up well. Even though, technically, my heart stopped beating several weeks ago (from when this was originally written) I still have one last pearl of wisdom and much gratitude to impart. So if my person will assist me, I’ll tell my story and then head off to canine Heaven.
I have to warn you my life story starts out quite sad, but it get’s better, I promise.
I won’t say much about the first year of my life ‘cept to say it was HORRIBLE! Why people like that bring an animal into their house just to abuse it beyond me. I just thank God the day came in ’07 when my first hero, a nice police officer, was called to the house for another reason but noticed me and called your local no-kill animal shelter in Sanilac County. The people there (my next herd of heroes) came and got me and my surviving puppies I had just given birth to – THANK HEAVEN! I didn’t realize it at the time, but after some rough healing days my life was going to change in wonderful ways I never could have dreamed of.
I’ll be honest with you, I was a mess. The – ahem – people? who previously had me tried starving me to death while pregnant so I weighed about half as much as I should have, and my digestive system had shut down. Once again, I thank God because the people at your local NO-KILL humane society in Sanilac County saw through my terror and defensiveness and loved and fed me anyway.
They actually made up scrambled eggs and baby cereal several times a day since I couldn’t even eat my own food. Someone would stop in nearly every night just to make sure me and my puppies were doing fine. In spite of my growling at him, a nice young man would pick me up and take me outside until I was strong enough to do it myself. There was that wonderful volunteer groomer lady who frequently gave me baths even though I claimed I didn’t want them.
Other shelter people would just sit down next to me until I got used to them, until they no longer scared me. Then they would love on me (and my puppies) in ways I didn’t know about. I thought I was already in Heaven and began to realize what a blessing I really am! I’d sit my healthier 50 pound (and climbing) body on many of my rescuers laps to show them how much I appreciated them.
Having been nearly starved to death had a permanent effect on my body and I would always walk and stand without being steady – I’d wobble. Because of that a nice older Polish gent actually offered to buy me my own set of (doggie) wheels – an expensive contraption that would’ve supported my hind legs when I walked. But alas, my person decided I’d have to learn to walk on my own (drat)!
This person I chose to bless for the rest of my natural life (and beyond) took me home and introduced me to an ever expanding world of mortal angels.
There was that wonderful veterinarian at that animal hospital in Lakeport who really saw ME and did everything he could for me right up until the very end.
My aunt from another county who would drive 150 miles round trip to see me. (She CLAIMED she was coming to see my person, but I knew better.) She was right there at the end for me, too. A neighbor lady who insisted on my presence every week so she could shower me with love and dog treats.
A nice chiropractor actually adjusted my spine in spite of the threat of losing several fingers. A lovely lady who owns a pet food store several towns over who got me on a healthier diet. A blessing of a dog trainer lady in my hometown who’d bring me a supplement from Canada because she figured it would help me.
Then there was the incredible dog trainer at a large pet supply store who taught me good manners, and the other workers there who always greeted me like the royalty I was. The pastor and his wife in my hometown who prayed over me and always asked how I was doing.
There was also that kind lady at the local post office who came out to the car to see me whenever we stopped there.
Some of my person’s friends would always stop and ask about & pet me, and (former) strangers just strolling by us on our walks would kindly ask about my delightful uniqueness.
Even my own canine brothers who did not welcome me with open paws when I moved into my home, (why they weren’t evicted when I came is beyond me!) would let me bounce off of them when we walked until I got strong enough to walk steadier on my own.
Too many wonderful people (and my – ugh – canine brothers) to count and so many to thank.
You know, I frequently heard people talking about how horrible a place the world is now-a-days, but I beg to differ. My life started out rough thanks to several people who didn’t know or care better, and I probably would’ve agreed with the negativity back then. But I’ve since met so many more good two-leggeds who proved my first impression wrong. I now think it’s just the bad people who are vastly overrated; it’s the good people and everyday heroes that don’t get much attention ‘cuz they’re more the norm, you know what I mean?
Trust me on this, I’m the (beautiful-warrior-princess) guru dog, remember?
*I had my person write this several years ago and have been w-a-i-t-i-n-g for her to do something with it. Sheesh. Anyway, now I just have to add a couple of thoughts here. First of all, I love Pearl.
I’ve been checking in on her since I crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She’s a good woman and I’m proud of how she’s been working so diligently for so long to heal from ‘the past’. And I’m even more impressed she’s finally able to do this blog to reach out to others. But there are several ongoing struggles that concern me, and I was wondering if you’d send good thoughts, or even prayers if you’re a pray-er her way about them?
First of all, she could really stand laughing at herself a bit more. God knows I do (and so does God, sometimes!). If laughter is the best medicine then she’d never get sick if she’d quit taking herself so seriously!
Secondly, even with all she’s been doing to heal, and how far she’s come, she still hasn’t fully realized she is worthy of any kind of real love. She allows herself a few good friends now but doesn’t know how to fully believe they’ll stick around for any length of time. Thankfully they’re patient with her as she’s figuring out what mistakes on both sides are tolerable and forgivable.
When it comes to decent men she’s attracted to she really doesn’t know what to do. I cringe (or laugh) frequently when I notice her unplanned, knee jerk type reactions of pushing away theperson she’dlike in her life, Great Guy, who’s done such kind things for her.
I’m not saying he has the same feelings for her, especially after all she’s done to him without meaning to, but he’s definitely one of her life teachers. He holds up a proverbial mirror facing her so she sees where she can improve her ‘social graces’ (or lack thereof).
As Pearl is doing everything she can to learn how to give love like she deserves to receive, more prayers and good wishes, if you will, that she’ll be able to implement what she’s learning, soon!
And maybe pray for the Great Guy she pushed at, that his ego/sense of self is healthy enough to understand that the unearned negative stuff she’s done to him is in no way about him. He’s just paying for the sins of others, and she knows (and regrets) that.
Everyone she’s pushed at, please forgive her.
