By Cathy Davis
I can remember many years ago, I required major surgery and was in the hospital for almost two weeks. My son was just 3 years old, so my mother came up from New Jersey and took him home with her for a couple of weeks until I got out of the hospital, then brought him back.
The day they were to arrive I was sitting on the back step, up and down, pacing, so excited to see my baby boy I could hardly stand it. I missed him so much. He was, and is, the light of my life, such a sweet child then and such a thoughtful caring individual now.
I watched the minute hand on my watch, guessing what time they would arrive, and then finally I heard the car coming up the driveway and my face lit up with eager anticipation. Sitting there with arms outstretched, waiting to hug my child — he emerged from the vehicle, ran up the steps, and ran straight to the dog and gave her a big hug.
If you have ever looked into the face of a deflated mother, that was mine that day. Today I can laugh about it, and feel good that he was definitely his mother’s son, an animal lover even way back then.
Recently we had a situation where my dad had to be hospitalized for a few days. When he is home, our dog Scruffy is his constant companion. Sitting on his lap, laying by his feet, watching his every move. He follows him upstairs when he goes up for a snack, and back down to lay by his side. So when we returned from the hospital, dad in tow, I thought Scruffy would turn back flips when he saw his Grampy.
To my surprise, Scruffy cowered down like he was scared, drug himself across the floor, belly hugging the carpet, and sniffed his shoes. It was almost as if he didn’t recognize him. But then I realized that he wasn’t scared at all, he was punishing his Grampy for leaving him alone. Once he made his point, the doggie “how dare you”, he was in his Grampy’s lap loving him up and welcoming him with wagging tail.
Scruffy, like all dogs, doesn’t need words to let you know what he’s thinking. If I am holding baby Lillie in my lap, Scruffy will jump in my husband’s lap, look at me with an “I don’t need you” look, trying to make me as jealous as he is. He’s a funny funny dog, full of life, smart as a whip, and great company to curl up with on a cold winter night.
At the Houlton Humane Society, it is our job to make sure that dogs like Scruffy are taken care of when they accidently lose their way. Sometimes a dog will break its leash or collar and run down the road and a kind stranger will call animal control so he can be taken to the shelter so he won’t get hit by a car or freeze to death in this horribly cold weather.
Often their owners will claim these lost dogs. When they are not, they are re-homed and Scruffy is an example of a dog who was never reclaimed but who found a new home, a good home, with the Davis family.
Every town is required by state law to have a shelter facility or to contract with one. Every shelter facility is required to have quarantine cages so that new admissions can be isolated from other shelter residents until they are vet checked and temperament checked. Many local towns contract with Houlton Humane for this service.
There is sometimes some confusion about the services that shelters and rescues offer. Because there are such huge numbers of strays, especially stray cats, many shelters are running “full” all the time so if you have had a kitty for years and for some reason wish to re-home that kitty, going to a shelter should not be your first option. They can’t always help you.
Facebook is an awesome tool to help you place an animal. One picture and a few words and often you can find someone who will take your pet, especially if your pet is already spayed or neutered. You can network with neighbors, put signs up in the grocery store, put an ad in Uncle Henry’s or the local paper. If money is a problem and you can’t afford to feed your pet, most shelters or rescues will help you with food until you can find a new home for Fluffy. All you need to do is put a little time and effort into it and keep a positive attitude and things will work out.
As I write this, it’s about 7 degrees below zero and inside my house my animals are gathered around the pellet stove, perched in Grampy’s lap or taking a nap on Momma’s bed. But there are animals at the Shelter who need homes, who dream of a warm lap, who pace their cages watching every face that goes by, eager to cling to the loving arms of a new family. Won’t you be the one who saves “just one more”, don’t you look forward to writing your own love story? How about it, stop by the Shelter today, you’ll be glad you did.
