<p>Today on the way back from a doctor’s appt (my husband is very ill) he was having a better day so I took advantage of the opportunity. We stopped by some donations for our local animal shelter and to visit. They brought out the sweetest little blue eyed beagle pup (those eyes were striking) for puppy therapy. My husband held that dog and cooed, I cried. I havent seen a smile like that on him in months.</p>
<p>Ah the power of a puppy…</p>
<p>How wonderful for him and for you.</p>
<p>Take your husband back again tomorrow!</p>
<p>Or – adopt the puppy.</p>
<p>Oh no… I already have two of their adoptees plus an old English Setter. That pup was already adopted just awaiting pick up!</p>
<p>Aww, what a great story. I love puppies. They are priceless. My best to your husband and family.</p>
<p>I rescued a human today - Janine Allen</p>
<p>I rescued a human today.</p>
<p>Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the
kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.</p>
<p>I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid. As she stopped at my
kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t
want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the overworked shelter
keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.</p>
<p>As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only
have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life.</p>
<p>She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and
side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck;
she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to
assure her that all would be well.</p>
<p>Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her
arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I
would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.</p>
<p>I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who
haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.</p>
<p>I rescued a human today.</p>
<p>Sistersunnie: I am so sorry that your husband isn’t well. I wish you both health, peace and happiness in the coming year. I know (truly I know) how horribly difficult it is being the cargiver.</p>
<p>"just"amom, on behalf of my two rescues thank you. I have never read this before and now, remembering the day that we were blessed with them (different times) I am sobbing.</p>
<p>Aww, sistersunnie! Puppies, dogs, kittens, cats… - they have incredible therapeutic powers. I wish you and your family all the best. Justamom, thank you so much for posting this!</p>
<p>Sistersunnie, I have an old English Setter too. Aren’t they the best dogs?</p>
<p>SSunnie, thanks for sharing. What a great idea you had, to stop at the shelter. I hope your husband has mostly good days and many more smiles. Sending you both, and the girls, best wishes for a happy holiday.</p>
<p>I was “rescued” by a fox hound mix, during the same time my mom was dying. He’s been with me 3 years now, and I have never felt more loved. He was skin and bones when he “rescued me” and is now a healthy weight. He curls up in the bed with me, and we have mutual admiration society meetings often. He used to live in a car. Now we are happily growing old together.</p>
<p>sistersunnie, I too send warmth and caring during these unsettled times.</p>
<p>Our two rescues: One dog we got from another family who didn’t know how to take care of him. He lived in the pool house and almost drowned three times before we got him. He was very underweight and pathetic. The other we got from a rescue society. Someone dumped her in the desert to die. Again, she was skin and bones (but had gained 5 lbs. in rescue), with a tooth missing when we got her. Two weeks after we got the second dog I was diagnosed with cancer. My dogs never left my side when I was alone in the house.<br>
Can you tell that they are incredibly loved?</p>
<p>Dogs are the best. If they could drive and take out the garbage, they might replace some people in our lives.</p>
<p>VeryHappy, I have a framed picture (cartoon drawing) with a woman in bed, and a dog sitting next to her reading a book. The caption read, “Honey, did you put the dog out?” It made me laugh out loud.</p>
<p>My D’s best friend suffered a severe brain injury in an accident last Feb that left her in a coma. She was in a coma stimulation program and nothing made her work like the dogs that visited. Last week we took her back to the hospital to see one of the therapy dogs, and they still have a close bond. Tootsie immediately came to her and snuggled, just like she used to when Julie was barely able to move.</p>
<p>The dogs just know who needs comfort. Several times I was at the hospital waiting with her mom, and the therapy dogs would seek out her mom, and just come stand in front of her, as if to say, I am here, you are not alone.</p>
<p>SisterSunnie, I am glad you had a nice day with your husband, and got to share that moment. Dogs are the best.</p>
<p>puppys are great! I was a little worried when you said it was a beagle. I was going to warn you about their horrible baying when they get older, but you are not keeping it. Apologies to all beagle lovers.</p>
<p>But babies are great too!!! Maybe a little harder for some of us to access. Have you seen the commercial with the laughing baby? If you go to youtube and do a search on “laughing baby” you will find some incredibly therapeutic videos. Of course everyone puts videos of their own babies on Youtube thinking theirs is the cutest ever, but most of them are fun to watch.</p>
<p>Well you all have made me cry (not that I dont do that at the drop of a hat these days), Just a mom the worse with that “I rescued a human today”. I hadnt seen that before. I often say I dont know who rescued who when I got my female schnauzer. So I could relate much to the words. We donate to the shelter each year BECAUSE of the impact of adoptees/adopters, etc. Our family has always been blessed with rescues! And yes we have had beagles and bassetts so are aware of the baying :)</p>
<p>English Setters are wonderful dogs, drool alot and shed but are great temperaments. He was my husbands dog and they miss one another now that he is in a facility. My husband has a degenerative disease, it has taken a huge toll of everyone in these last 7 years. The dogs help all of us immensely. </p>
<p>Good to know others appreciate the power of a dog…</p>
<p>When my kids were younger, before we had dogs of our own, we used to go to the local SPCA as an outing. Always fun playing with the pups and seeing the other animals.</p>
<p>Can also attest to the healing power of babies. Back in undergraduate school (~150 years ago), when things got <em>really</em> stressful (like during exam week), we’d walk over to our University’s hospital and look at the newborns. Pretty uplifting stuff.</p>
<p>hugs, sistersunnie…</p>