Declaring My Love For My "Girls"

I enjoy reading blogs written by other pet-loving individuals.  On a rare occasion, I might not fully agree with everything the blogger says, but mostly I can relate.  Recently, I read a blog wherein the author (a friend of mine) wrote about her experience caring for her aging dog that she raised since puppyhood.  She shared how responsible pet owners will not give up on their beloved companions, even while their legs may occasionally give out and we may have to clean up after them
more frequently.  The article touched me deeply and gave me pause to think about the ways my dogs light up my life. 

Both of my “girls” are 13-years-old.  My husband and I adopted them from two separate shelters, about a month apart, when they were about 1-year-old.  Thankfully, they are still in good health and rather playful, yet I find myself often contemplating what life might be like without them.  It is difficult for me to fathom.

I have several photos of my girls, taken throughout the years, but lately I keep my camera nearby so as not to regret later that I missed capturing every adorable nuance of their personalities.  Unfortunately, Harmony, our Shepherd-mix, has always been camera shy and manages to run off when she realizes I am about to snap a picture.  When I am able to get her stay in one place, her body language dictates that she is being punished.  Harmony has never been very social, and she would rather be left alone, except that each morning she comes storming into the bedroom to awaken me and get my attention, and once she is satisfied that I am up, she returns to some private corner of the house.  When my husband or I walk into a room where Harmony is hanging out, she gets up and leaves.  Had we known when we adopted her that she preferred independence, we probably would have named her Greta, as in Greta Garbo (“I never said, ‘I want to be alone.’  I only said, ‘I want to be left alone.’…”) [Greta Garbo]  Harmony is regal looking, even while on daily squirrel patrol at our patio door.  Despite some of her quirky behaviors, Harmony has brought harmony into my life.

Gracie, our North American Street Dog, is totally opposite of Harmony.  She is my shadow, and if I even appear to be getting out of a chair, Gracie stands up so as not to miss a beat.  She is inquisitive about everything, whether the dishwasher is being loaded or the plants are being watered.  I do not recall how old she was when she began watching TV, and when she first started barking at the set, we did not realize that she was catching sight of any animals, whether they were in the form of cartoon characters or herds of cattle.  Dogs, especially, drive Gracie to madness and we often watch her to see if she sleeps with one eye open so as not to miss any program that features an animal.  During the last few months, Gracie has added redecorating to her repertoire.  We have dog beds/pillows in the rooms where the girls enjoy lounging, but Gracie has to have them placed just so.  The one in front of the fireplace will be moved to the center of the room or over to the door, blocking anyone from trespassing.  The pillows in our bedroom, placed at the foot of our bed, are constantly rearranged.  I cannot say that Gracie is particularly graceful, but she brings a warmth and presence from the moment you meet her.

A friend of mine once said of the girls that, if they were human, Harmony would end up with a rich man, and Gracie would go home with any guy in a bar.  Each day spent with them is a joy and gives me cause to sing and make up silly words.  I believe that every pet has those qualities, if their guardians would love them and treat them kind.  I will never understand how anyone could abandon a loyal pet, especially a senior one.  Maybe I will see a day when pets are treated as family and not as a possession.  That will be a day!

By the way, some one, somewhere, declared November to be “adopt-a-senior-pet” month.  You still have a few days left this month, but, really, any time is a good time to open your heart and home to a senior pet in its golden years.  Did you hear, too, that the animal shelters are hoping people will go in and sign up to foster a pet for the holidays?

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The few senior pets, whose pictures I've attached, are at the East Valley Animal Shelter, 14409 Vanowen, Van Nuys, CA.  They would love to meet you!

To see all adoptable pets, click the following link:  http://www.laanimalservices.com/Adoption/FindLove.htm