The change in season is a reminder that everything changes, nothing ever stays the same, life moves on. In business, I work with this every day, helping people overcome a fear of change. Practicing what I teach, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and change something in my life. I am an animal lover. People say, if it has a broken something, Michelle will take it home and nurse it back. My childhood was filled with ducks, rabbits, kittens, and lots of puppies. By the way, any dog, no matter the age or size was a puppy to me as a child, ok it still is referenced that way. We bred St Bernard's and Irish Setters, not at the same time. One Christmas we had 20 little St Bernard Pups, six weeks old, ready to go as well as the 2 adult females and the male. No I didn't live on a farm, yet it felt that way. These were not the only breeds in our house. We had Collies, Poodles and Mutts (AKA in my house as Heinz 57's). My last dog, Brandy, was put down 12 years ago due to cancer. Brandy was a challenging pup who suffered with horrible separation anxiety from birth on. Brandy was with me during a challenging relationship back in college, several deaths of close family, a back injury, marriage, children and a rocky divorce. He was my best friend.
After Brandy passed, we wanted to get another dog and due to a move our new landlord didn't allow pets. We were heart broken and tried to moved on. Each passing year the kids would say, Mom can we get a dog now? It really felt like something was missing in our lives. This past summer change again came upon us. The landlord said YES, you can have a dog. It was with mixed emotion as it has been so many years since Brandy passed, it was still emotional for me. I didn't know if I could bring another dog in my home without missing Brandy tremendously.
We have been advocates for is our local shelters. Last month my oldest daughter, Anna, left for the Navy and the youngest daughter, 18 yr old Samantha said, we NEED to get a dog!! So off to our local Humane Society. Samantha, shared with the Humane Society that we wanted the hardest to place dog as we had LOTS of love and attention to give. Easy for her to say as she is leaving for the Air Force in December. We took a tour of the dogs they had and many needed homes badly. None grabbed my heart in that "special way". I wasn't sure if it was my apprehension. The following week Samantha persisted that we needed a dog. While she was out one day I ventured to the Humane Society to look. As much as I want to take them all home and care for them I need to be realistic and find one that I connect with. Crowding was getting the better of the Humane Society, they had to double up some of the dogs and use some of the viewing rooms to house the dogs, my heart was breaking. As I came in one of the workers approached me, recognizing me from the week before. We talked for a moment and she said they have a few new dogs, returns. I didn't understand. Ann, the lady at the Humane Society explained they had a few pets that once home the new owners just couldn't handle them. Tears welled up in my eyes as I tried to image the poor pet that had to go back to the Humane Society. Ann then opened up a door slightly to have two noses peeking out. A golden one and a brown one. They belonged to an older Chocolate Lab, Cookie and a Golden colored Lab named Sky. I sat on the bench in the room and Sky came and sat on my feet while Cookie brought me her tennis ball repeatedly. It was love at first sight! I spent the next hour and half in the tiny room playing with the girls. Dragging myself out of the room, I found Ann who shared their records and history. Both girls are challenging, Cookie, likes to run and run away and Sky has separation anxiety. I asked if it would be possible to take both as I just couldn't make up my mind or leave one or the other behind. Ann said they would see what they could do as she put the adoption paperwork in front of me. Later that night Samantha and I returned so I could introduce her to Sky and Cookie. We played and walked the girls, talking about how well they get along as well as the pros and cons. Samantha couldn't decide either which one of the girls and asked if we could take them both. WOW going from no dogs to two! What am I getting into? After talking with the Humane Society they wanted us to look at Sky as she needed more one and one attention and if once she was comfortable then we could look at foster to adopt Cookie. A meet and great with another family later that week was set up for Cookie also, so with kept our fingers crossed. With mix reaction we took Sky home. We were thrilled to have her yet sad we needed to leave Cookie behind. A few week earlier I wasn't sure I wanted another dog and now I was sad because I wasn't taking two home!
A few weeks later I stopped into the Humane Society to say hi to Cookie and give them an update on Sky. I walked all over and couldn't find Cookie anywhere. When I found Ann she shared with me Cookie had just left with her family about 5 minutes before I got there. They LOVE her! She found a perfect home with lots of room to run and kids to play fetch with her. The Humane Society was happy to hear how well Sky is doing and said when we are ready for a playmate to let them know!
It has been 6 weeks since we adopted Sky, photo above, and we are looking at a sister/brother for her. She has taken over our lives. My life had just started to become mine where I was coming and going as I wanted. Now, we plan what we do and where we go around trips to the Dog Park, walks and cuddle time. I wouldn't do anything different!
Change comes in strange packages. Don't forget to open and enjoy them! How are you changing?
