Resilience and Renewal – August Sanctuary Update
Hi Everyone!
As many of you know, we’ve had two very special arrivals this month. There was the arrival of Gifford, a very sweet pit bull with extensive health challenges, and there was the arrival of Noodles’s five kittens. Both of these bring to mind ideas of renewal and resilience, which all mean so much during these difficult times. Life is complicated and hard right now, but sometimes our furry friends are the perfect teachers for how to get through it all. I’d like to take a look at these two special moments and what they mean for us here.
Our Companions has a long list of dogs that have come through our doors in pretty rough shape, but Gifford is something special. He was found running loose, and when he was finally wrangled, he was a mess. His fur was thin all over, his skin red and irritated. His back legs were wobbly, but most of all, his ears were nearly shut due to scarring from untreated ear infections. The outlook wasn’t great. He was likely going to lose all of his hearing, and face a long road to a healthy skin and coat. But in spite of it all, he kept his winning smile, and that special spark that said “if you love me and take care of me, I’ll make sure you get far more back than you put in.”
The staff and volunteers get lots of credit when it comes to turning around these cases, helping dogs heal, and finding them great homes. But the dogs should get their fair share of the credit as well. Caretakers, whether for dogs, or cats, or people, can only do so much to heal the wounds that so many unfortunately experience in life. It takes a resilient spirit in the one being cared for to make the job complete. Gifford has such a spirit. His capacity to trust and his joy for life, despite his obvious discomfort and all he has experienced, is inspirational. The good news is that, in his short time here, he’s already made huge progress inhis health and recovery. If Gifford can get through all of this with a shining pity smile, than we can get through anything.
The cat staff and volunteers at the Our Companions Sanctuary are no strangers to caring for young kitty mothers. They come to us shy, hungry, scared, sometimes not totally healthy. But the only thing more formidable than our dedication to seeing them through, is their dedication to their kittens. For any of you who have similarly helped momma kitties in distress, you know all too well that very little of the outcome is in your hands. We can provide them food and a safe, warm place, but nature runs its course as it will, sometimes not in a way we would like. With a mom like Noodles, though, you can feel that odds are going in your favor.
Noodles was very pregnant when she arrived. We didn’t know exactly how long she had, but we could tell those babies were coming soon. And Noodles was full of spirit. She took over her new home, the kitchen of Sebastian House, and, though she was scared and disoriented, she had a strength and feisty-ness. The kittens came a few days later, before she had a chance to really settle in, get comfortable, and learn that we were here to help her and care for her. But even finding herself in a strange place with strange people, she had a mission. To be the best kitty mom she could be. The first couple of days were unsure and rough, but she dedicated herself to those babies, and now they are all growing healthy and strong. It goes to show that, when you have something meaningful to guide you, there’s no obstacle that can get in your way.
We here at Our Companions definitely take inspiration from the cats and dogs we care for. Whether it’s what’s happening in the world or the nation, or what we need to face in our work, or even in our own personal lives. Having Gifford’s spirit to find the upside no matter what, and Noddles’s dedication to a mission, is what is going to get us through to the other side. We wish all the best for you all in whatever you are experiencing, and remind you to always seek the guidance of your furry friends and family.
And of Course…Adoptions!!
August has been an unusual month for adoptions, with all of the action on the dog side of things. We’ve had no cats go home in August, just the arrival of handsome man, Tux.
Everyone’s favorite big dog in a little body, Waffles went home this month. Moving in and making themselves at home were Gifford and Missy.
Thank you all so much for whatever way you support us and our mission. We couldn’t do it without you.