A Rescue Puppy Who Rescued Us*
The Dog Shelter named her Sheba. She came home with us two months ago in March and we fell in love with her from the moment she wagged her long silky looking tail. She was mostly black with light brown paws, white toes and a big white tuft of soft fur on the back of her neck! She was smallish with a long body and her big over-sized ears flapped high and low in the breeze as she ran. She was so much fun to hang out with. I swear she could smile!
Our huge older dog was not impressed with his new friend. He growled and scowled on her first day with us but she didn't give up on him. She persisted in playing with him and once he learned how to jump around with her, he never stopped. He was gentle and loving and barked loudly if anyone so much as looked crooked at her. He even let her sleep on his favourite bed! The. A. Team.
What is it about animals taking over our hearts in many moments of bliss? Our rescue horse Miloman was about to be shot dead donkeys' years ago when we took him home. Everyone thought he had about three months left in him to live. He wouldn't eat with any other horse, was grumpy, approaching 40 (or so we thought), and tried to kick the head off me on more than one occasion! One of our other horses showed Miloman plenty of care and within a year of so Miloman was literally eating apples out of my hands, because the other horse had shown him how. Now Miloman is living the Dream! In his home.
We since found out Miloman is a pure bred Arab of 30 years old. He runs around like a greyhound, looks similar to a 4 year old horse and loves his life more than I can put into words. Our daughter is his favourite human, no one else will do!
We had a rescue cat who was 17, and refused to eat for most of his life. He wouldn't speak to anyone, except me, for the first two years of his life. In later years, he demanded cuddles whenever the fancy took him, meowed every day at his bowl to be fed, and was a loyal friend.
Sheba, our 20 week old rescue puppy, died suddenly last Thursday morning and we are deeeevastated. She had been vaccinated in April and became ill around 9th May with a badly swollen back leg joint. The vet put her on strong medication. Sheba nearly died over the next few days but slowly recovered. Then last Wednesday evening she became weak again, lame back legs, had breathing difficulties and died on Thursday morning. There have been buckets of Tears ever since!
We have a NO BLAME agreement in our house but we are searching to make sense out of what has happened. Not. Quite. There. Yet.
Have you heard the widespread debates, over decades, in the USA (Reference: Dr John Robb - TOP USA VET) and in Australia, about over-vaccination of dogs, especially small ones? See Australian Choice's article by Cecilia Lee 28.8.14 - Are you over-vaccinating your Pet? - still relevant in 2018. Did Sheba die from over-vaccination, or too many toxins in her little body, or osteo sarcoma (bone cancer), or something else? We'll never know for sure.
My friend George has shown me this week how to pray through acceptance, understanding, peace and wisdom. It. Ain't. Easy. But I'm trying, especially when I wake up at 4am every morning hoping the last week has been a big mistake!
Sheba brought mountains of joy to our lives and showed us unconditional celestial love, as most animals do.
Rest in Peace Sheba. Until we meet again...
Who knows when our last day on earth will be? I'm buggered if I know... so I hope you enjoy your animals today. If you're an animal lover, then I know you're Vegan!
Rescue dogs and other animals have tons of Love to offer. Are you getting enough!
Have you ever lost an animal suddenly? Tell me your Story at www.hunterksmith.com and Thanks for Reading my Blog.
All the Best,
Hunter
*The Views expressed by Hunter K. Smith in this fictional blog or in any other form or media are based on her own interpretation of 15 years' science and medicine research including The 26 Year China Study and Forks Over Knives DVD. They are personal views only. Please consult a Nutritionally Qualified Doctor, Dentist or Vet for advice and before using (or ingesting) any food, drink, plant, nutrient or natural recipe remedy, on humans and/or animals. Thank You.
