Flying the Dogs

InkindnessToAnimals

Peace

Flying the Dogs

This month, I have been lucky enough to combine activities that involve two of my loves in life - a dog and an airplane.  The airplane belongs to a company my husband and I formed and named after our old dog Joppa (RIP).  

Until, her February flight to better times up north, the dog belonged to no one.

The Diamond Dog was a pregnant female of indeterminate origin, though she most certainly had some hound ancestors. She was left overnight at the Person County Pound in NC, tied to the railing out front.  The Person County Pound is one of the 17 county pounds in NC that still uses gas to euthanize unwanted animals - 72 hours on death row and then into a room with several other animals into which poison gas is pumped -- at least 20 torturous minutes pass until death comes.

Rhonda Beach, an angel, has dedicated her life to trying to get as many dogs as she can out of the Pound and into foster or forever homes.



Often, this involves making those southern mutts into Yankee mutts -- moving them by hook and crook  to shelters in PA or NY, or in Diamond's case, Delaware.  That is where I am able to do a little bit to help - by putting one or more of them into crates in the back of Joppa's airplane and whisking them away to better places and times.





When I met Diamond she was very noticeably in the family way.  Rhonda had managed to hook up with Marleen Oetzel in Delaware, another angel, who was able to find yet another angel who agreed to take Diamond in and keep her until the puppies are whelped and weaned.   The pups are due any day now!  When they are old enough, Marleen will make sure they and their mother each will have wonderful homes.

I so admire people like Rhonda and Marleen because for each animal they are able to save, there is at least one more that they have to leave behind.  Oh, if I only had that kind of heart inside me - 


Wish me luck.

Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely it will mean the world to that one dog. unknown author.

Back at Work

The other day, the young dogs and I went for a walk in the woods and hills over near Crozet.  The trees stood patiently in the cold undistracted by leaf and fern or flying insect or  chirping bird (Willa Cather).  The dogs ran happily through the leaves and up the hills chasing each other and one lone deer that they stood no chance (though much hope) of catching. 

I love Winter - the solitude, the quiet, the stark shapes - it suits me to walk around in hat and gloves.  My love for Winter is not exclusive and in no way diminishes my love for the other seasons - it is akin to having several friends whom you love the same but for entirely different reasons. 

Namaste