Do you have, or have you had a dog or a cat in your life? Did you get them when they were puppies or kittens? If so then you know how much fun they can be to watch and enjoy.
As you may know from my last quote of the week from before the holiday, my husband and I agreed to foster 3 puppies for the Asheville Humane Society. Their Mom was killed by a car and they, along with their other 6 siblings, were much too little to be adopted. In the beginning I would laugh when someone suggested we might adopt them, “Oh no!” I would exclaim, “We are just looking after them for 4 weeks until they are old enough to be able to be adopted.” At the time I was actively trying to talk them up to everyone I met or knew. I felt good about this nice thing we were doing both for the puppies and the Humane Society and felt a responsibility to be the one to find their “forever homes.”
My husband meanwhile was falling in love with them. And if truth be told, I was too, though back then I didn’t know it.
Puppies are just so darn cute, it is hard not to. I realize now that for an animal lover like myself, it would be pretty difficult to care that intimately for something for 4 weeks without forming a bond. It is impossible NOT to smile when I see them. Their joy is contagious. They run and tumble and wag their tails a million miles a minute. They are thrilled every time they see me, even if I was only in the basement for 5 minutes. Taking them outside and watching them run and explore and play together is a kind of therapy–free joy that feeds my soul.
And so I must admit, we are foster failures. We cannot give them back.
Instead we will give two their “forever homes” and the third will be adopted by a friend of a friend–someone who I know will provide a wealth of love and attention.
And so this week’s quotes:
“The most powerful antidepressant has 4 paws, fur and a wagging tail.”
and
“Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” –Anatole France
What other quotes do you have to add? How has your dog or cat enriched your life? …as always, I would love to hear from you about your tales (or tails) and experiences!