Doggies...

When my Sophie died a few weeks ago, a little part of my heart died with her. She was my tissue when I cried, my partner when I danced, and my most trusted confidante. She loved our family like any dog would: unconditionally and selflessly. She was beautiful to look at and people often stopped me in the street to tell me as much. Kids loved her and her patience with them was infinite, in fact, she was friends with almost every child in our neighbourhood. Sophie was also a big goof...so very clumsy due to her missing eye and completely oblivious to the fact that she was 100lbs of solid dog. She would crash into things, skid around on the hardwood floors, and knock people over. Despite the destruction she often left in her wake, you couldn't help but forgive her immediately.

The day we had to euthanise her was one of the worst days of my existence; coming home to a dogless house was unbearable. It was the little things...sweeping the floor after a meal because she wasn't there to help, climbing into bed without having to roll her over (not an easy task), and not having a smiling, wagging doggie to greet me when I came home from a shitty day at work. Even the cat missed her. I was barely functioning...eating, sleeping, and basic communication just became difficult. Friends were calling and messaging and I just couldn't bring myself to answer. The only thing that seemed to bring any solace to my troubled heart was the idea that one day, in the near future, we would have another doggie in our home to love.

I started to search....

I started with the usual places... SPCA, LAPS, and other local shelters. We prefer bigger doggies but a lot of local shelters won't even consider your home unless there is a large fenced yard. I was forced to expand my search and discovered Rescue Paws Canada. I scoured their Facebook page and my eyes and heart fell on Sam. Sam was being kept on a coconut farm in a small town in Thailand, tied up twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to a post. He was skinny, dehydrated, and in terrible form. His rescuers had to pay the farmer for his freedom. I immediately sent off an email enquiring about him and quickly received a response telling me that he was available for adoption. I was also told he was part of a bonded pair and was asked if we were in the market for two doggies; his girlfriend, Coconut, was also looking for a home. Coconut was living on the side of the road, with her puppies, in the "care" of the same farmer as Sam, on the brink of death when the rescuers found her. It is believed that Sam may be the father of her pups, most of whom died with the exception of one. After thinking it over, weighing the pros and cons, it was decided that both dogs would be welcome and loved in our home.

Everybody had an opinion...

Are you crazy? Isn't it a bit soon? Sophie's body is barely cold. Can you manage two dogs? Why Thailand? Aren't there local dogs that need homes? And on and on and on.... It got to the point where I just didn't want to tell the story because people were so careless with their words and it just made me feel worse. To everybody that had something positive to say...thank you, you've made this journey easier.

Today....

Today we pick up our doggies and there is much excitement in our home. We are tracking their flights, getting all of the gear ready, but most of all, we are opening our hearts. It's not hard to love a dog, it's not hard to love two dogs, and there are so many doggies out there that need loving homes. Dogs love like no human ever could...without conditions, without limits, and most of all, without selfishness. I've discovered that my home and heart are empty without the companionship of a dog. I love my family, my cat, my friends but in order to feel complete, I need a doggie (or two).

https://www.facebook.com/rescuepawscanada/

Coconut

Sam and Coconut

Sam