Transformation

Animal foster parents can make a world of difference. Here is a photo illustration of Maple, rescued on 9/25/09, fostered until she was adopted on 7/24/10. Without rescue, she would either have died from neglect (she was left tied outside to a jump rope) or been taken to the pound and euthanized for lack of space and her (treatable!!) health problems. She is now 100% healthy and living with her forever family.

This is how she came to us:






And, this is how she left us:

Maple Blossoms

It's been a long time in coming, but sometimes, good news makes you wait. After several false starts (applicants who backed out for personal reasons, landlord reasons, etc.), Maple was adopted by a couple in Chicago on Saturday, July 24th, 2010. Her initial rescuer, K., my young son, and I drove Maple into the city to meet her new family. They also have a male pit bull, now Maple's brother.

This picture was taken the day after I brought Maple to them. She looks so happy. :)

Her adoptive family changed her name to Mabel, got her a new pink collar, and enrolled her in training classes, all in under 24 hours of me dropping her off. I'm impressed with them and think that they are well-qualified to be Maple's new parents. They are into exercise, which Maple LOVES, are firm/assertive in giving commands, yet also snuggly and loving toward their dogs. I think Maple will thrive under this combination.

It's been almost three weeks now and things continue to go well. I don't know if I'll ever feel for sure/for sure, but I certainly hope this will remain Maple's forever loving home. She has been through a lot in her three short years on earth and deserves an easy road from here on out. I do miss her, but I know she's where she's supposed to be.

Maple is back w/us. Her adoption fell through b/c she & her new dog brother had a personality clash. :( She's here w/my dogs awaiting a second 2nd chance.

In time, people forget.

"And, as they always do, in time people forgot, though forgetting is an elective process." -Josephine Hart, 'The Truth About Love'

I am struck by the meaning of this sentence. "In - time - people - forgot." The weight behind these words is especially apparent when I think about loss and grief. No matter how earth-shattering, how cataclysmic an event in one's life, eventually, and quite often too soon, everyone surrounding us seems to forget. People move on, go about their normal lives, while we - the afflicted (and, we all are the afflicted at some point in our lives) - are stopped in time.

"Cataclysm" is defined as "a momentous and violent event marked by overwhelming upheaval and demolition," or more broadly, "an event that brings great changes." Overwhelming upheaval and demolition...I'm left feeling like we ("the afflicted") are razed buildings, torn down and forced to attempt to rebuild ourselves from the ground up. This is exhausting. Sometimes, we don't have the right tools. Sometimes, we don't have enough workers for the job. So, we are left broken down, half constructed, insulation poking through the cracks.

Sometimes, it's tempting to think that maybe forgetting IS an elective process, though I'm not sure I agree with this. I try to distract myself from certain things, go on living my life, occupy myself with other thoughts, activities, concerns, but still, underneath, I can't forget. There is a raw part that rises up, sometimes when I least expect it...a sneak attack of longing and grief. Things should have been so different. That's the part I wish I could electively forget.

Going Home

In the morning, my son & I will take Maple for what will hopefully be her last transport to anywhere. This time, I want to assure her, you are going to your forever home. This time, your family will love you, treat you well, never leave you shivering and crying in the cold rain, never abandon you to hunger, fleas, and misery. This time, Maple, humans will not let you down.

It stings to know that tomorrow, I will let Maple go, no longer her caretaker. I'll miss her. She has a wonderful new family waiting for her, which brings joy to my heart, though still, the bittersweet pang remains. I hope I have touched Maple's life half as much as she has touched mine.

Tomorrow, I'll take Maple on a 3-hour car ride to meet her potential adoptive family. I think they'll love her. I hope she won't feel abandoned when we leave.

Taking Root

As promised, an update on Maple... :)

Maple is doing wonderfully! She is great with kids, other dogs, and doesn't pay much attention to our cat. I've been feeding her Organix puppy food, even though she's approximately 2.5 years old, to help her recover from being malnourished and overbred at too young an age. Her fur is growing in nicely and her coat is shiny and gleaming! She has also put on some weight, so her ribs are no longer as pronounced. Her spay site has healed perfectly, and her ear (the site of hematoma surgery) is slowly, but surely, getting there.

Two prospective families have sent in adoption applications to the rescue agency. Both families sound great, so we'll see where the meet-and-greets take us. Maple is a playful, affectionate, sweet girl who would make a great addition to any lucky family. :) I am glad she's doing so well. She has been a joy to foster.