Progress and contentment!

Ah yeah.... I think that I fall more in love with my fur kids everyday. Everyday they bring me so much joy, laughter and contentment. And the strides that my boy Brody is making in coming out of his shell is amazing!

However, I had to post this pic, this is a typical evening at home, all cuddled up and snoozing on the sofa with me while we watch TV. Brody has become quite the snuggler.

And Bedtime is his favorite time. He's getting good at crashing and taking up space on the other side of the bed! Well unless it's a very cold night, then he wants to snuggle next to me under the covers with his head on the pillow like mom.

And those cold nights gets everyone into the bed, I do believe that for me, king-sized is a necessity!

But onto other things. Brody was very fearful of everything when he first came home. And has always been fearful of new people and men especially. It usually takes him a month or more to warm up to someone new. However, recently I had a new roommate move in with her dog on the first of the month. The animals all loved her right off. And within two days of her moving in, Brody was greeting her with a smile and tail wagging, or butt wiggling like Corgis do.

Last week though she had to be gone for a few days for surgery then stay with her mom over the weekend. The morning of that day, we were both up getting ready, and the dogs knew she was anxious. So they both trotted back to the bathroom to wiggle their butts, smile and say good morning to her. All I saw was the hind ends outside the door as they stood there patiently, wiggling, for her to say good morning and smile. Once they accomplished that mission, they themselves were so happy!

She came back home with her doggie last night, Brody and Abby were thrilled to see her and talked and wiggled. Made my evening. As they did this morning, when she came out to let Rico outside, Brody just trotted as quick as he could over to her to greet her with a smile and wiggle.

These are big, no huge steps, for him! It's wonderful to see him accept someone new and know when they need a smile or loving. Then holding his head up high with a swagger to his trot, come back to me as if to say, "Mission Accomplished!" Then he'll make us laugh by going in search of his two bestest buddies, kittens Binx and Punkin to start a game of tag. And yes, he and those two kittens are the best of friends and really do play so well together.

Everyday I believe these fur kids teach me more about forgiving and unbridled love. To see the love reflected back in their eyes to me, to finally be giving me a kiss on the nose, or purr when I pick them up, to reaching up for a hug (as Jasmine does), warms my heart and totally makes my days brighter and happier.

I have to say a huge THANK YOU to National Mill Dog Rescue for rescuing these two wonderful dogs, and allowing me to share my life with them. They mean so very much to me!

My tribe, or if you'd rather, my pack.

My house isn't perfect and spotless, it's mostly furry, even within 5 minutes of cleaning the floors and surfaces. Some folks might cringe over that, but it's impossible to keep a spotless home, or rather less dust bunnies everywhere if you share your home and life with animal companions. And personally, I wouldn't have it any other way.

It's moments like this one that makes my life content, my home a loving and happy place, and makes it my sanctuary. And it happens to make it a sanctuary for the rescued adopted fur kids my home, despite what changes happen around us.

This was Abby last evening, on the sofa while I enjoyed a bit of mindless downtime watching TV. She was softly snoring, and smiling while she sleeps. It's moments of realization like this that keeps my heart full of happiness, bursting with love and compassion.

It's watching her greet everyone with a smile and pure joy to be meeting someone and getting loving! It's seeing my other boy, Brody come out of his shell and accept my new roommate after two days with wags and a tentative kiss on the hand, wanting a pet and kind words from her. It's seeing him ecstatically happy like this and playing with the kittens or his toys.

It is so rewarding, and I love them to pieces. I'm so proud of the progress he's made since I got him a little over a year ago. He was so frightened when he came home, scared of anyone new, any noise, didn't know how to bark or talk or wag his little bitty tail or play. He's learned now, though he's still wary of strangers and still scared of men, and it usually takes up to a month for him to warm up enough to say hello or sniff a new person, this time he accepted my new roomie in two days, and to watch him this morning as he greeted her when she got up with wags and a little talk as if to say "Good Morning! We're here to share a smile!", confirmed that these two rescued me too. Very much made my morning and a great start to the day.

See these two have time to make up, to love, play and be doggies, and to especially accept love and care. They both were rescued from an illegal breeder in the Midwest, which is another word for puppy mill. Abby spent 7 years of her life in a crate, doing nothing but giving birth, not knowing kindness or proper care or love. But she never let go of her sunny outlook, she's learned to walk and get around again, dance and get up a step, be cuddled and love it, snuggle with me on the sofa, and play. She really does love everyone she meets, and tells them so. Brody spent the first two years of his life in the same mill, and I have no idea what was done to him, but the fear is taking time to overcome, and it's a testament of what love, tenderness and care can do to help change this. He's such a happy boy now, and loves to play with the kittens, (they're his best buddies), race me up the stairs to snuggle with me at bedtime, or push his way in to being the center of my lap or attention on the sofa.

Think about it though, these two like so many other dogs, didn't know what a bed was, much less a dog bed, what living inside is, what it is to be petted with loving words and a soft hand, to be encouraged to talk back with you, to play or run in a yard with grass and leaves. They know what it's like now, and they love it. Brody loves the brisk mornings and loves to run for the sheer joy of running around the yard, then comes up for loving words and a pet to run around again. Brings a smile to my face every time. And to see Abby dance and talk to me when I come home from work, or be so happy at supper time or knowing I'm giving them a treat. To see her get to momma the kittens and love on them and play, or just sleep with a smile all the time keeps me content and very loved and happy.

Please, always adopt, you won't be sorry, they'll give so much back to you if you'll let them, they'll truly change your life. Doesn't matter the age, if they want to share their heart, soul, and life with you, let them in. Kitty, doggy, rabbit or horse or other unwanted animal, they'll tell you when they have picked you. Let's put the evil puppy mills out of business!