Valentine’s Day Is About Love...
But with Great Love Can Come Great Heartache
Oh, how us pet pawrents know this…
Not gonna lie, losing two of our four Havanese to congestive heart failure last year was devastating. Some days we simply put one foot in front of the other, but we made a solid effort to brighten every day for our two surviving Havis, who -- just like us -- were suffering greatly from the loss of their lifelong friends.
However, what made my heart stop a little was when a good friend, who recently lost both of her dogs, said, “I’ll never ever have another dog. I can’t go through that pain again.”
Please, Please Don't Be This Person
Why?
Because there are dogs of all shapes and sizes in our local shelters who understand your heartbreak and they, too, know the feeling of great loss.
Together, You Can Heal
This never became more evident to me until I attended a recent event at the Jacksonville Humane Society. I was sitting with my grandson, reading a story to a dog in the small dog and puppy room. He was a little black dog named Sully who had the most soulful eyes.
At first, he gave us that expressive look that simultaneously melts and breaks your heart a little. How could anyone give up this beautiful little guy? With that one look, however, I knew that I could love another dog just as much as my sweet angel girls, Jolie and Carmen.
When we read to him, he laid down with his back to us and fell sound asleep.
Not ready for a new dog yet? Or, have a houseful of puppers? You can still make a difference!
- Reading Programs - Consider going to your shelter and spending time with the sweet souls there. Read to them.
- Play Time - Walk them. Play with them
- Day Out Programs - If your shelter has a program where you can take a dog out for a day, take advantage of this! (Increasing the visibility of an adoptable dog can greatly increase his or her chances of being adopted!)
- Foster a Dog - Can you foster a dog in your home and open a little more room at the shelter for another dog?
- Donate – Shelters and rescues are always in need of funds, and/or item specific donations. Call your favorite rescue and find out how you can help.
Whatever you can do for your local shelters and rescues will be good for your soul and make a dog’s day. And if you choose to adopt, you will both be happier for it.
P.S. Sully is adopted and is going to his new home soon. Probably a good thing as otherwise we would have been a “three pack.”
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