How It All Began. ...

It began with an abandoned puppy, left in a large Toronto park, in 1971, found by life guards. My brother was one. As though in a race, I was next to catch her. The three-month-old beauty became ours - forever!

I was not familiar with the retriever breed, back then, but didn't care. A baby dog needed a home. (Who dumps dogs - old or new – just like that?) We caught our beauty - for richer or for poorer, forever. My first teaching assignment, north of Toronto, became our first home together. My 'daughter' would be ours in the country. For a period of time the three of us were homeless. She was with us for nearly ten years, dying unexpectedly, one Friday evening. The loss was like nothing I had ever experienced nor was the love she gave us. I was changed forever.

Dogs became my life. Teaching was an afterthought. I considered myself part dog, part female and part male. How could I not? I had 2 brothers, taught all male classes for those first two years, married into a family of sons, had three of my own. I was surrounded by dogs and our chronically ill 16 year old cat, adopted in 2003 as an abandoned kitten, who died 2 years ago. Her death changed me yet again. My DNA seemed to be altering. I wanted her back! Please! She was my greatest teacher. Whenever I looked at Sheba's 9 year old son, Swiller, I was reminded of his mom's love, intelligence and beauty. She had given me another life I had never expected. (She was neutered after her first and only litter of 9.) The memories began. 

We had lived in a motel room for two weeks during my first teaching assignment while my partner finalized our move north. Each day, I'd come home to find my Sheba waiting for me. Then we found the log cabin that would house us for one year. Another move in year two officially made us a family of four. Earlier in the saga we were a family of 15 whose presence was felt deeply one afternoon when the appliance box we had split releasing all 9 puppies into a mass of scurrying little critters. All was placed in good homes. As time passed four more dogs entered our hearts and minds. We are currently at number 7 and 8.

My current vehicle, a Volvo wagon, is 16 years old. Will it survive another 4 years? Hope so! Sally, our current love, is 13 years yet has forgotten her double hind leg surgeries, her cancerous tumor removal and necrotic surgeries of the past. She has no time to waste and gives me hope for my future. She is cantankerous, at times, giving me pause that her will to survive will take her well into her teens. She is a happy girl who keeps me on my toes.

Money is a limited commodity so needs to be spent wisely - on them! I'm open to new foods and ideas where she and her brother, Mr. Wiggles, are concerned. No treats just apples, pears, frozen berries, carrot and celery sticks and liver-loving cukes. ... Are we living with Mensa dogs? They remind us daily of their exercise and food routines. Their wagging tails, persistent stares and stance remind us of their stories. I cannot escape. Choosing healthy foods in our journey with our pets has made me very selective when it comes to new foods. Early commercial dog foods were abysmal. Why was glucose-fructose in there, anyway? Today, choice is mind boggling with a heightened awareness of long term health for them called longevity.

Our dogs and our Tia have made me ever so grateful, for the senior ' healthy' vehicle in our driveway and my antique phone in my purse. Both are fine.. My phone, at 26 years old, still functions as a phone. Who knew? A new one puts me closer to living on the edge, with total shopping ease, delivery and eating, out of touch. No thanks. My pets need me. They have limited resources. We don't!

Being bounced around, abused, and returned to shelters is their commonplace narrative, time and time again. It sickens me. But I do what I can. Others do so much more, however. Thank you! The Farley Foundation extends our reach so others and their pets get help during critical medical crises. Shelters are no answer. Farley is and always will be. Please donate!

The pandemic made many more of us pet owners. But do not engage in the 'return' policy that exists anywhere - on the road, in a ditch, near a river or rusty truck. Remember, these precious animals deserve better. We should be honoured 'cause animals are the real human beings!