Tuesday, November 25, 2014

DARK AT FIVE P.M.

A cold front moves in. The rain pours. More rain than we've had in months. Will Lake Junebug fill up?

Franklin and I are alone. What's the song--every night when the sun goes down, there's not another living soul around?

I miss Harper's large, furry presence.

It's as lonely as marriage. I always wished X would spend time with me on holidays, but he wanted to play games. First, it was board games that had to do with wars. He got rid of all the games, said it was a "problem" that he played them. (It was. He spent more time with the games than with his family.) He didn't give up games. He played at war on the computer.

The phone rings. The voice of the Wooters man raises my spirits: I called to check on you.

We are okay, I assure him. No leaks so far.

The delivery man brought the final items needed for Thanksgiving dinner. He played with Franklin, and asked where the other dogs are.

They died, I said.

Did I tell you I adopted a dog? he asked.

No.

Someone saw this guy throw a puppy through a plate glass window. The dog was all cut up and had burns on his stomach. The guy went to jail for a week. The puppy went to the humane society.

The guy got out of jail. They gave the puppy back to him. Our friend saw the puppy outside on a big choke chain. He could move around some, but his food and water were just out of reach.

Our friend called the humane society. They said they had done all they could do unless they had evidence of abuse. (My thought: Not being able to reach food and water isn't abuse?)

So our friend took the puppy. Went over there and took him. She called me and said, Come get this dog.

We love him, and he's a friend to our older dog.

He dashes into the rain to finish his deliveries.

Ah, the interconnectedness of dog kind. Faulkner trained Harper. Harper trained Franklin. I look at a couple of Web sites with collies to adopt, but don't see the dog who needs us--yet.





48 comments:

  1. My mouth dropped open when I read that they gave the dog back to the man who threw him through a window! I just can't believe that. Thank God those people saved him. Thank God.

    It's hard to get another dog once one has died. You want another dog, but on the other hand, you really just want you old dog back. But you'll know when it's the right one!

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  2. Hello, dear Janie! I'm on my way! I can't wait to get to Jacksonville and do the breast stroke on Lake Junebug. It's storming in my vicinity again after a very dark and gloomy day and my back yard has also turned into a lake. It wouldn't surprise me to see another rash of sinkholes develop after all this rain.

    Thou shalt not steal, but doggone it, it's justified to save an innocent animal from cruelty. People like that abusive owner don't deserve to keep custody and I'm very happy to know the pup has found a forever home with somebody who will treat it well.

    If you and Franklin have started searching for a new canine companion to replace Harper I hope you find one that's a good fit for both of you. Keep us posted. Hugs and smooches, dear friend Janie!

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    Replies
    1. No one can replace Harper. I adopted Franklin after Faulkner died. I love Franklin, but he didn't replace Faulkner. That can't happen.

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  3. I completely agree with that quote!

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  4. One of my favorite stories to tell is, when I was 15, there was a drug bust in the trailer park my mom managed. She went over to see what the sirens were about but with only one phone (I had it) I couldn't call her and when she didn't return after fifteen minutes, I got worried. I ran over to the scene. Cops, firetrucks, and I think an ambulance.

    "Get behind the car!"
    "I'm trying to find my mother!"
    "You're gonna get shot!"
    "Let me find my MOTHER!"

    Then out comes my 5'3" weighs-as-much-as-a-feather mother, just casually walking along with The Big Dog (who was then, only a 30 pound puppy) on her hip like a toddler.

    "Alright, now I'll get behind your cop car."

    My mom had given Rod (crackhead) the dog, not knowing he was into drugs and not listening when I had warned her. When she saw what house it was, the only thing she cared about was getting the dog back. He told her, "I'm sorry I let you down Miss Shelli." I don't think he was a bad person, just got taken into a bad life.

    The Big Dog had a crack pipe burn, which healed, and grew up to gain a hundred pounds and be beyond protective of my mom and I...and be scared of mopped floors.

    The end. =)

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    Replies
    1. Are mopped floors slippery or was he opposed to cleanliness?

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  5. I don't understand. How can people be so cruel? And why would the HS give that puppy back? But I'm glad he has a good home now.

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  6. I agree completely with the quote on your picture.

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  7. I volunteered for the M. H. Humane Society in Ft. Lauderdale when I lived there. They would have NEVER given that dog back to him. EVER. As in, staff would have formed a barricade, ever. Crazy.

    I am sorry you were feeling lonely. The storm's heading our way tonight into tomorrow. People are leaving today to escape the storm... causing a 57 mile back up on the Turnpike. So glad my total necessary commute tomorrow is 15 miles. By noon, the kids and I will be tucked in tight, baking Pastels de Nata for Tony's Mom on Thursday and peeling potatoes for my Mom's. Maybe making some cookies.

    And even with all that... I will be lonely too until Tony gets home from work. Luckily the snow is supposed to miss us.

    Feel free to email me if you like... if the power holds, I'll be popping off and on. :)

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    Replies
    1. I'm lonely most of the time, but I don't want people around. I'm paradoxical.

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  8. It's so sad that they gave that innocent dog back to its evil owner. Glad the other man was kind enough to take him in. I hope you and Franklin find another dog who "needs" you soon. I'm sorry that it must be especially hard for you over the holidays. Take care, and try to have a happy Thanksgiving, Janie!

    Julie

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    Replies
    1. It's not especially hard for me over the holiday. They're just days. But thank you for your concern.

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  9. I am shocked they gave that dog back to him in the first place!! I am so glad the lady stole the dog and he went to such a good home. Wow!

    You have plenty enough love for another dog...or two--LOL! You will know him/her when it's the right one. :)

    Have a great Thanksgiving and I hope you don't have any water issues and the rain lets up.

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    Replies
    1. No leaks, and Lake Junebug is fairly low. Franklin and I went for a walk this afternoon.

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  10. I love animals and get really upset when people abuse them. I also agree with the quote. I hope you and Franklin stay safe during the rainy weather. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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  11. Hi Janie - an extraordinarily awful story ... just dreadful ... I'm just glad he's got a good home now ... and now I hope you find a new dog soon ... company for you and Franklin - but am glad WDW called to check in ... the wind seems to be everywhere ...

    Have a happy Thanksgiving ... Hilary

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    Replies
    1. It's chilly now. Down to 46 degrees. Not as cold as many places in the U.S., but cold for us.

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  12. Fleetwood Mac - great tunes for stormy days & nights. "As lonely as marriage," now there's a picture I can relate to.
    I often wonder if people who hurt animals have an empty soul.
    Thanks for your comment to me on Blue's post. I appreciate that!
    I know you'll heal - there's no rush.
    Love, Dixie

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    Replies
    1. Abusing animals is one of the signs that a person is a sociopath.

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  13. That was like a poem. The story of that poor dog. Why do some people take in an animal just to abuse it? It's sick. Instead of just arresting him, it would have been great to commit him to a mental asylum to undergo psychiatric treatment.

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    Replies
    1. A lot of people need psychiatric treatment. I'm glad you thought it was like a poem. I haven't written a poem in quite some time. I tried out a new style. I wanted to convey meaning without using too many words, which is what I strive for in a poem. Poems just come to me, though. I don't think about them.

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  14. Caillou, our throw-a-way collie had a sister that ran through the neighborhood. She chose to avoid our house and I'm not sure why.
    She hung around a neighbor's house a few days and vanished.
    She would have been perfect for you.

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    Replies
    1. If the sister comes back and she'll stay with you, please try to keep her until I can arrive. It sounds as if she needs me. I realize you probably won't see her again and won't be able to hold onto her if you do see her.

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  15. Animals have much to teach us about how to love.

    Happy Thanksgiving, Janie!

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    Replies
    1. I learned to love from my children and my dogs. The dogs never stop loving me, nor I them.

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  16. Stay away, FAR away, from anyone who doesn't treat animals well. It says something about their inner self isn't quite right.

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    1. X was strange about the dogs. He wanted me to promise we wouldn't get anymore, but when one died, he insisted that we adopt another. I don't think he abused them, but he could have been nicer.

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  17. I don't understand why someone would own an animal, if they can't be nice to it. That's just stupid! I'm glad your friend saved him.

    Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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    Replies
    1. It was a great act of bravery to take that dog.

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  18. All our dogs trained dogs. I love a good dog. I love how dogs love to be good.

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    Replies
    1. Franklin looks so happy and proud when he's supposed to sit, and he sits.

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  19. How could they give the puppy back to HIM?

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  20. Replies
    1. Must be right puppy for us. I will know when I see the one who needs us.

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  21. How on earth do they give a person back the dog they so badly mistreated what is with some people...........we are dog free here and will not get any more I don't feel like having dogs with all the work that goes in too caring for them

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    1. A lot of people don't understand how much work it is to have a dog. That's why so many end up abandoned or abused.

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    2. Jo-Anne, you are compassionate and wise. People who do not want animals (or children, for that matter!) should not have them! They *are* a lot of work, and if you don't want to do it, it can lead to resentment and frustration instead of the joy (and occasional frustration) that you feel when you recognize the work involved but undertake it willingly. They can be great companions, but they are not for everyone. I wish more people would recognize that, and not try to have animals when they don't want to do the work it takes to own them and/or when they lack the patience and persistence necessary to properly train them. Kudos to you for choosing wisely!
      --LegalMist

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  22. I do not have any animals :( Maybe some day.

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    Replies
    1. Animals will come to you when it is the right time, my dear.

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  23. I'm so glad the little dog ended up with a good home. What is wrong with people, giving that puppy back to the man who abused him? Aargh.

    --LegalMist

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