A new Adopted fur kid....

Well, just a little over a week ago, on Friday the 13th of June, I had a change and a call to help come my way. You see I follow a few shelters and humane societies on Facebook. One of them is Multnomah County Animal Services up in Troutdale, Oregon. They posted a picture (this one in fact...)

What I saw when I looked at this picture was a very frightened little girl who abruptly lost her home due to the death of her guardian. And that she just wasn't thriving well at the shelter. They hadn't been able to find her a foster or adopter and were posting her in the hopes of one more chance to find one for her.

What I actually saw was a little soul who called to me, that she needed to be with me. So, me and my big sappy heart replied. I was the only one who replied and it went from there. I drove up and took her home the next day.

Now to note here, despite having so many furkids already, I actually have a very calm and well adjusted household, and my furry family all are a single unit. This could be an ideal environment for her to heal in.

Early the next day I set off to make the almost 2 hr trek up to Troutdale and the shelter along the Columbia River Gorge. I arrived at the shelter and she was in the back in an area that was not available to the public. She was pretty much closed off from the world. I had been warned she could be crabby and bite, and I knew she was declawed on the front feet. I didn't want to push things into her perceived space so I sat on the floor with her for the better part of 15 or so minutes, talking quietly and making eye contact without invading her space overly much. I do realize she perceived the cage though as if she were cornered, so I can fully understand her defensiveness. Despite that she gave me a few signs and hope that she was more than ready to be out of there and willing to be with me. However, by this point, there was no way I could even contemplate not adopting her. So I did required paperwork, talked with the adoption counselor to get a bit more history and they chipped her and we started home.

Maybe a mile down the road, she became talkative, and willing to sniff my fingers. About another 10 miles or so, she wanted to rub my fingers and have me rub her face and chin. This talk and rub system went on off and on over the 2hr drive home.

We arrived home and I set the carrier down and everyone came to check her out and say hello. I imagine that might have been a bit overwhelming.

So I took her into the laundry room to show her the litterbox and where to eat. She came out and wanted to be held for a minute. Then she went and hid under the china cabinet for most of the evening and night. It's ok, new space, new sounds, everything new to adjust to. So I just fed her supper under the cabinet. And off and on that evening I laid on the floor and just talked to her for a few minutes at a time.

By Tuesday, she was out exploring the house in the night and early morning and I caught this shot of her worriedly watching Miss Jeszabella racing about squeaking her toy like an idiot. she seemed genuinely perplexed by this silly drooler. I had to chuckle watching the play of emotions she displayed.

She still isn't quite sure about the puppy and her exuberance.

As she starts to heal from all  the trauma in her life and become settled in the house; it really is one step at a time. I don't push her, she talks to me and lets me know she wants a little attention. She only wants small times of attention as she's still very much aware of protecting her space. So, when she says enough by a growl, I stop and just tell her I love her and leave her be.

She is becoming more adventuresome and has two spots she likes to nap from or watch from. One is the kitty condo and the other is the box of lp records on the hearth. I get the feeling she likes to be a part of things from a watchful distance. As she's doing right now, peacefully resting with her front paws tucked under her keeping me company in the living room.

Today was a very good day for her and a big step forward for her. I am very proud of her. She has made a point to get down to go use the main litterbox in the laundry room several times today and bypass the little one here in the living room. Today she also for the first time seemed to pay attention to and enjoy watching the world outside through the living room picture window. She watched the neighbors for a good hour.

I am so happy to see her coming out of her shell bit by bit. Each little step seems like a giant leap for me. She'll soon learn no fear here and I am in hopes that one day soon she'll feel confident to come to me when she wants petting and ttouch.

You never know when or from where an animal will come who needs you. But you will always know it when it happens. I am grateful that she is part of my life now. And part of the collective furry family. She'll heal, it will take time, and I know these were big steps for her and help bolster her self confidence. She is also the tiniest member of the family, a very petite little old girl. I look forward to the day she feels comfortable enough and part of the family to play with the others, sleep with us at night, and walk through the house confidently.

I am also grateful to Multnomah Co Animal Services for caring enough to try to give her that second chance to have her forever home. And now my home is fuller and even more loving. :)

Reflections on the last year.....

Wow, it is hard to believe that it was one year ago today that I and my furry family set out for a new life and many changes. It has been quite the adventure, full of much happiness and sadness along the way.

We loaded up in my RV and left Santa Fe, New Mexico with no regrets, headed for a new life and looking forward to all the new things to experience and explore. The 7 members of myself and furbabies traveled in our small home for the next few months. I had decided on living in an RV until a house could be found and bought, figuring it would be less stressful on the fur kids and myself, and while it was a tiny living space for 5 months, it worked and we really were pretty happy in it.

We arrived almost 3 days later at our destination in Albany, Oregon at the KOA, this was to be our "home" for a bit. There was grass and trees, and so much green. Many birds and wildlife at the campground also. The dogs, Brody and Abby hadn't ever experienced grass or the ocean and sand before moving here. They loved it. Abby loved all the things happening at the campground and meeting new people. The dogs and kitties loved to watch from the RV all the birds and things going on.

My fur kids were my rocks and sanity keepers during those first couple of months. I dealt with many ups and downs and stressful situations along with learning a new job. I honestly don't think I would have held it all together if it hadn't been for them.

Then in June, as  you all know, I met with such a heartbreaking loss. I lost my rescuer, my heart-mate, Brody to cancer. We all loved him so much, and he was so much a part of us all. The grief was hard on us all. So, I decided to find another corgi to help us heal, Punkin needed a playmate, Abby missed her buddy, and I had a hole that needed some healing.

Well, I spent a good deal of time searching all over for another one to welcome into the family. And sadly, as much as I dearly wanted to adopt one who needed us as much as we needed him or her, there just wasn't one to be found at that time. So, I actually found a small breeder who raises corgis and bought a little girl who was born on July 5th. It wasn't an easy decision to buy one, knowing that I preferred to adopt.

Jeszabella came into our lives 7 weeks later. At that time we weren't due to move into the house until September. It was quite the adventure living with and learning with a very active puppy in a 27 foot RV. But she did bring much needed laughter and joy back into all our lives.

It didn't take long for Punkin to make her his new playmate and buddy. She has even brought out more of Abby's inner puppy and Abby plays a lot more than she used to. I have to wonder about what she thinks about these new things and all the changes since her first 7 yrs in a puppy mill.

In fact there is nothing more entertaining I've decided, than watching them all play tag wildly around the house. Jeszabella is just such a joyful little soul, quick to learn and loves everyone and everything she meets. Watching her experience snow and play with abandon brings about an inner happiness and reminders to live in the moment and live with joy. As the spring flowers come out and bloom, she loves to go smell the different flowers, check out all the insects and her latest thing is to eat the seed fluff off the dandelions. She loves to race around the yard, roll in the grass and encourages Abby to join her every chance she gets.

Yes, we are all a happy family again, and as this first year mark of the start of the journey, I remember my boy, our bond, and how excited I was for him to experience the lusher side of life out here. I am happy he got to do some of that, sad he didn't get to stay with me long enough to love his new home and have the grass to play in every day. I've struggled with missing him every day. But then I look at all the other souls who share their life and hearts with me, and I am truly lucky to share this adventure with them. I love them all dearly. And nothing brings more contentment and joy for me than watching them, interacting with them and loving them.

Like right now, as I write this on my laptop on the sofa, I have both dogs and my old man, Yummy, all snoring gently, together, and next to me. What a wonderful blessing and life. I am grateful I took the leap to make the change, to keep fighting forward to achieve where I am today, and for their lessons to live in the moment, love and be joyful.