Yours.
It resonates far more intensely than anything else. Positive images, notes, and discussions about what you do to help dispel abuse in your area will make people want to help and do what they can far more than a horrific picture with a no name organization you're supposed to donate to.
If you wish to help, local is always better. Even local shelters under the larger names of ASPCA and Humane Society do not receive all that they need from the parent organization. Call or visit to find out how you can lift up your local shelter best. Our local shelter has an amazing staff and the animals that are brought in there thrive both in the shelter and when they leave it. We adopted Monty last March and have been nothing but impressed with the staff and shelter. They're tiny, but take in all they can and the animals fly out of there so fast they can almost always take more in. We support them when we can, and they will be our first stop when next we decide it's time for another animal.
When we adopted Montgomery, they had very little information about his past. All we knew is he was a little dog with a big personality. Soon we discovered our pom mix, full of salt and vinegar, was actually abused before he found himself in the shelter. He didn't bear any marks. Most abused and rescued animals do not, but physical scars are only found in the worst treated animals.
Nothing scares this dog. He loves being 'thrown' into the air during playtime. He attacks the vacuum cleaner. He tried to tear an American bulldog mix to pieces the first time they met. He's fearless. He can face any challenge in his way and laugh in its face.
Except a broom.
The first time I pulled it out of the closet, he was nowhere to be seen for over half an hour. Nine months later, he still hides when it's first pulled out. When I sweep, he now wanders to the edge of the room I'm working in, cocks his head, and watches with the most intrigued look on his face. A cross of, "You're doing it wrong." and, "Is that really what that's for?" He will not come into the house when one is in view. When Charlie goes near the broom- an act he's liable to do, I think he likes being nudged out of the way- Monty either runs for cover, or pulls on ears and tail on side opposite the sweeper to try to keep his brother from being beaten.
We still know little of his past, and we most likely never will understand exactly what happened to him for the first year and a half of his life, but we do have hope. Hope that he will one day, not only be safe from being hit, learn that being nudged out of the way while sweeping isn't such a terrible thing after all.
So, please, show your side of abuse. Prevent it. Not for all animals, this is an impossible task to take on your shoulders, but for the ones in your own home. It might not seem like much, but they'll think it's everything.
God bless and see you soon,
Joelle
great post, jo. i've adopted three retired racing greyhounds. tbh, the resilience of these dogs always amazes me. i've always heard that greyhounds don't have the greatest life at the track, and they have their quirks (but, sighthounds are quirky in general). all three of my dogs haven't taken long to adjust to living as 45 mph couch potatoes.
ReplyDeletewe have fostered greyhounds from our local greyhound rescue, in addition to our own. a lot of greyhound rescue groups don't have kennel facilities, so they rely on foster families. it has been our way of helping out from time-to-time. :)
Thank you for this post. I had no idea your little fur baby was abused in the past. It's just so crazy when you find out what they're scared of. My dog is scared to death of the vacuum cleaner... but we've had her her whole life. So I'm not sure what that could be from.
ReplyDeleteJules, I know you adore your animals, and it does always astound me how quickly animals adapt. Charlie was an outdoor dog most of his life, but grew to prefer indoors about... five seconds after we got him in the apartment? I love hearing stories about your greys, btw.
ReplyDeleteSarah, vacuums scare a lot of dogs. It's a big, noisy machine that really should be avoided. No fault of your own. xxxx
i grew up in australia, where keeping dogs outside was "the norm". over here, at least in the climate that a lot of us are in, i just can't imagine keeping dogs outdoors (at least, as their primary residence), tbh.
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