I don’t know if it’s the moon phase or what, but the last two posts and this one are kind of deep (sappy).

When I was a kid I’d go with my mother to the Butcher Shop.  Every time I went, the butcher was happy to see me and he would give me a slice of bologna.  It wasn’t my favorite but my mother would always tell me to say “Thank You”, because it was a nice gesture, and he didn’t have to do it.

Have you ever noticed that rescued animals, after they realize you’re not going to hurt them, are the most grateful in the world.  Well most of them.  Some do get bitter and can’t move beyond the hurt and the abuse (can’t say that I blame them.)  But most are the happiest, loving animals you could ever have.  They celebrate everyday, and love unconditionally.

You see on Facebook, and sometimes meet in person, animals that have been injured so bad you can’t believe that they are still alive.  Someone said to me the other day, “Can you believe that someone could pour gas on a dog and set it on fire?”  My reply was, “Can you believe a mother can kill her newborn baby and discard it in the trash?”  We are living in a very sick world.

But the good news is that there are still people out there that do care, and will go out of their way to save an animal.  Whether it be a horse, dog, cat, squirrel, or whatever.

I just had an experience this afternoon that made me cry.  I think I mentioned that I was pet sitting my neighbors two horses and two dogs.  One of the dogs had gotten hit by a car the night before she left.  Now this dog didn’t know me from Adam, and I was planning on handing them both a biscuit when I arrived there to care for them.  It’s harder to bite a leg when you are busy chewing on a big dog biscuit.  But the accident had broken his pelvis, and now he was to be kept in a crate.  I was going to have to reach in and pick up this hurting dog and carry him out.  Okay the first time he growled at me.  I didn’t blame him at all.  I don’t think I would have been nice if I were in his position.  But for four days, four times a day, I did exactly that.  I apologized to him every time, and spent time loving on him both before taking him out and put him back in.  I hand fed him his meals, and pushed pills down his throat.  Figured we’d never be friends, but I still had all my fingers at the end of our time together.  Well it’s been a week since his family came home, and even though I called to check and see how he was doing, I stopped by today to return the key.  Neither dog came through the doggie door when I got there.  They looked out the window and agreed that I was okay and could be in their yard.  When my friend came out, sat and talked to me and my husband, the Golden mix came out first, got his cookie and a few pets and scratches and went on his way.  I really didn’t expect the one with the broken pelvis to venture that far out of the house, but lo and behold he came through the doggie door and came right to me.  I stroked his head, looked in his eyes, and asked how he was doing and he snuggled and sat up against me.  I was amazed that he not only didn’t hate me for all I had done to him, but he actually loved on me.

I can’t begin to tell you how much that meant to me.  It touched me so much that as I thought about it hours later, it made me cry.  He really did understand that I was trying to help him, and it was his way of saying Thank You.

My rescue horse Shadow celebrated every morning.  After breakfast she would come out of the barn squealing, leap in the air, buck and pounce around with happiness.

Their mothers never taught them to say please and thank you, but if you really look, listen to the nickers of your horse, and look in the soulful eyes of your dog, you are fully aware that they are so thankful to you for the love and food that you give them.

If I were very wealthy I would rescue every animal.  There would be no more shelters.  No more starving abused horses.  But I can only do good for the ones that come into my life.

Spay, neuter, and don’t hesitate to call when you see something wrong going on.  We can make a difference in animals lives, no matter how small the effort is.  Even if you only save one animal,  that’s one less to suffer and one more that will be waiting to great you when you cross the Rainbow Bridge.

If you listen very closely, you will hear them say Thank You for loving us enough to care.   It will touch your heart, it did mine.