I don’t know how many of you have had the experience of sharing an extra-special bond with one of your animals. There have been three such instances in my lifetime: my first dog, as an adult, Meghann, a rescue with a fractured back and broken leg, a feral cat a friend and I brought in from the woods, Arroyo, and most recently, Finn.
Any of you who have felt these deep connections know that it doesn’t mean you don’t love your other animals. I dearly love all my guys. There is just something different with Finn. I feel a little guilty about it and do everything I can to share my attentions equally. But, still, the feelings are there. They are real. I look at him and my heart squeezes. Perhaps it’s because he was in such trouble when I brought him in–see previous posts Rescue Dog: Meet Finn (Survivor) and Rescue Dog’s Happy Success Story: Finn Thrives.
Finn was more starved than I realized back then. I should have understood. The vet told me his blood work showed him to be in the final stage of starvation. But he was alive. He was moving. He wagged his tail. I naively didn’t grasp the depth of his suffering and that makes me sad. Although, perhaps if I had understood, it might have been scarier to take him on and I needed to be confident back then, not scared. I had to offer him something strong to count on—a reason for him to continue despite his odds.
He’s getting huge. His head and neck and chest have grown so much that he looks like a completely different dog. The collar that needed extra holes punched into it and still hung loosely on him has now been expanded an entire hole and is snug.
His coat is getting wooly. The wounds from bone rubbing against skin on the hard surfaces he had to lie on are healed. But other wounds are starting to show. He has what I think is a bone spur, possibly a fracture, on his left hind foot and he doesn’t put his full weight on it. I’ll need to have that looked at.
He continues to require a lot of rest, partly making up for lost time and partly because his body is regenerating itself. But he sleeps deeply now. When he first came in he was restless, uncomfortable and, I think, fearful. He now snuffles and snores and dreams. I truly can’t get enough of seeing him sleep like this.
In today’s snowstorm, I’m just so grateful he has a warm, dry, soft and safe place to be.
I think he’s starting to know this will be his forever. Oh, and he finally sleeps by my bed. In the beginning when I put his bed by mine, along with the other dogs, I think he felt confined and, thus, unsafe, and he would sleep on the hard floor in the living room. So I started leaving his bed there for him. But he has since requested a spot in my bedroom. He thumps his tail gaily every morning with my first movements–a lovely way to wake up.
The other day he came in from outside with our New Mexico “sticky mud” squished all up in his paws. He seemed totally perplexed at being toweled off, a sort of, “Well, will you look at that!” kind of expression on his face as he watched the grooming from paw to paw. He seems to be taking to the pampering though. He loves neck and back rubs and being washed with warm, damp washcloths.
All is not sweetness and light, however. Both Finn and Kelee are alpha males and, although Finn defers to Kelee in many ways, allowing him to climb the stairs ahead of him and letting me give Kelee’s bowl to him first at feeding time, there have been fights—mostly surrounding food. One was serious. So I’m working with them and am hopeful they will figure it out. Happily they seem to be bonding in some ways. Both greet me at the door when I arrive home and they seem to enjoy patrolling the property together.
Finn is getting more and more comfortable both physically and mentally. It’s a wonderful thing to witness. He does an adorable full body wiggle-wag now instead of just wagging his tail. He grins. He chews on chew toys. He lifts his ears when he’s curious about something, making sweet little furrows on his brow. Oh, and although he, himself, is uneasy being kissed, sometimes he kisses me—very shyly still, but it’s a start.
Love to you all,
Jeane
Oh what a joy to see how well he is recovering. Kudos to you and to Finn!
Thanks Debra. Yes, it is such a pleasure to see him come around. Glad you’re along for the ride.
what a wonderful story of love compassion and healing: u are blessed to have him and of course HE is blessed to have you! amen to a beautiful story! soooo sweet!!!
Thanks Camille. It is a blessing all the way around!
Finn is turning into such a handsome guy…partly nutrition, partly love I would say. I know exactly what you mean about making that special connection…and then feeling guilty. I lost my “Buddy” a couple of years ago and life will never be the same….although a little guy named Cooper is trying pretty hard. Anyway, wishing you and Finn a long journey together.
My heart kind of swells when you say he’s turning into such a handsome guy–a mother’s pride I guess 🙂 His look is changing so much. The grinning and brow-furrowing are what tickle me the most I think. I’m sorry about Buddy. And I also understand that no matter how hard Cooper tries, we don’t get to choose that kind of connection. It chooses us.
Finn looks FANTASTIC! I too have to say he is looking to be a very handsome hearty dog! I laughed with joy at watching the vedio’s of him running around with such zuberance (I think that is how you spell it, couldn’t find it in my dictionary? Hope it is a word :p). He looks like a very very very HAPPY DOG!!! You have taken very well care of him. Loved hearing about him and seeing the wonderful vedio of his update! Hope the shin splint isn’t too bad. Keep up the love you share with him and your other dogs! Just a great story all around; it brings happiness to my heart and a smile on my face from ear to ear! Thank you again for the update. Take care, Cin =)
P.S. On the vedio when you were petting him and he was reaching out with his paw, I wanted to just reach into the vedio and give him a pet of my own to him! So give him a pet from a pet lover herself to let him know he is thought of from a lot of people out there who has followed his wonderful triumph! =)
Hi Cindy. Thanks for all your good thoughts and wishes. He’s here at my feet, so I’m giving him a pet for you RIGHT NOW and he’s smiling at you 🙂
That’s GREAT!!!!!! BIG SMILES BACK!!!!! =) =) =)
🙂
He looks sooooooooooo happy and content. ??? Such a beautiful dog. He knows this is where he belongs, as do you. Everything happens for a reason.
Yes, everything happens for a reason. We found each other and our circumstances changed. I still haven’t caught still or moving pictures that show how BIG he is now and how much energy he has. Maybe in the next video…
Absolutely amazing! Your a true angel. He is so handsome!
Not sure about me being an angel–thanks, though–but he is DEFINITELY handsome! You should see him smile in person. He lights up the room!
I know how your connection to Finn feels. Last Semptember I took in a kitten. I was at work taking out a bag of trash and there was this little white and orange kitten scrambled and ran into a nearby building. I left work and stopped at a nearby grocery store and picked up a couple of cans of kitten food. I returned to the building and left an open can in the small hole in the side of the building. I left for 30 minutes and when I returned the ENTIRE can was gone. I had seen the kitten was skinny but I didn’t realize how skinny. I left another can of food because he would not come out and then I left for the night. The next day I returned to another empty can and a second kitten who was dead. The kitten had obviously starved to death and I knew I couldn’t leave that day without the kitten. I spend two hours slowly getting the kitten to come closer and closer. I even got him to come close enough that I grabbed him and he turned around a bit me and got away. I decided to take a break and have lunch then return for another round. When I returned I found another dead kitten outside and decided no matter how much he bit or scratched me I would not let go of him again if I got another chance. I sat out there for another hour before I got the opportunity I was looking for. He slowly crept up to me and I grabbed him by the scruff and he fought me with every ounce of strength he had left in his body. I pulled him out of the hole in the side of the building and put him into a pet carrier. It was only after the door was secure I looked at my arm. I have several wounds and was bleeding but I knew I felt better than if I would have left without him even if I was unharmed. I put some more kitten food in the carrier with the kitten and brought him home. It was only when I got him there I realized what a bad state he was in. For the first day he was camped out in our livingroom using the carrier as his personal bedroom. We already had 2 dogs, a boston terrier and an australian shepherd and we also have two cats. Fortunately for us our Aussie Nollie quickly became convinced the kitten was her child and took to grooming, protecting, even trying to feed him. This meant the other cats and dog and strangers were not allowed around him. Once he was in our (The Aussie and myself) care I was finally able to get a closer inspection of him, I quickly realized how EXTREMELY underweight he was. Because of his size we began feeding him kitten milk as well as canned kitten food to help him gain weight. The next few days we found the owners of the building he had been hiding in and had them open up the building to look for any more kittens and unfortunately did find the rest of the litter, dead, and all appeared to have starved to death. We never found a mother and burried the other kittens. We then focused on the little kitten in my home. He was still very sick and very week but we did all we could to keep him on the road to recovery, or at least keep him comfortable if he suddenly worsened and died. After a week he became more alert, he was still incredibly shy and scared but he was beginning to trust me and our Aussie. Then around 3 weeks old I woke up one moring to find him on the sofa. He had never gotten up there on his own before and I knew he was starting to definately improve. In that time we gave him a name, Benny, and he had visited the vet who had to determined he was older than we had thought. Because of how small he was we had estimated ourselves he was roughly 8 weeks old, at the vets office though they determined he was was closer to 12 weeks. He had been so malnutritioned that his bones had fully formed but not to the size that they were supposed to. He now is fully grown and about half the size of a regular cat. We had originally planned on finding him a new home but in the time we were looking the only real person who took an interest in him decided not to take him because he was “not very cute”. At that point we decided to say forget it, after all of the hard work my fiance and I had put into caring for him, showing him people were ok to be around, and giving him all of the unconditional love we could we decided no one would love and care for him quite the same way we could. This is because no one would fully grasp the way in which we knew this cute little guy. So from then on we we’ve cared for him and loved him and once a day he climbs on to my lap for me to love on him. Unlike most cats he never tries to run out the back door while we let the dogs out, and at night he sleeps on my feet. I could have never known the kind of love I could feel for one animal if it hadn’t been for this kitty. Now it’s May and we’ve had him for 8 months, he is smaller than our other kitties but he definately has a jiggly belly and we couldn’t love him any more.
~Kelly
What a wonderful story, Kelly. Thank you for sharing it. I’m so sorry for Benny’s litter mates and his mom, but I’m deeply grateful he found love, safety and protection with you. Bless you for taking the time and energy needed to save his life.
I can’t begin to express how glad I am that I stumbled upon your blog today and I have ended up spending most of the morning reading many of your entries. 🙂
You have a true gift and I find myself wanted to read on and on….
We have four dogs and I can completely relate to your love for Finn. My heart dog is my 12 1/2 year old collie Tanner. We have been together since the day he was born and have helped each other thru many of lifes hiccups. It is a bond that I cannot begin to explain. His body is fading now, but his eyes are still bright and he still has command of his pack. He does get extra lovings these days because we know that his time with us may be short, but I am careful to make sure everyone gets all the attention they want.
We just rescued a princess 3 weeks ago. Our Kailey is a 2 year old beautiful little golden retriever who was badly neglected by her previous family and was on home # 3 in just two short weeks. I decided to take her after just looking at a picture of her. Her eyes had a story to tell and I was eager to hear it. This soul is full of life and happiness. She crawled onto my lap on her first night with us, laid her head on my chest and let out the most peaceful sigh. She knew that she was home and we are thrilled to have her.
I look forward to reading on….The beautiful pictures on here have inspired me to dust off my camera. It has been far too long. 🙂
Thank You!~J
Hi Jennifer–
Thank you so much for such a beautiful compliment! The blog form is relatively new to me but I am loving the chance to express myself that it offers. I’m deeply pleased that you’re finding something of interest in it and I’m THRILLED it has inspired you to dust off your camera!
I wish our beloved pets could go on forever. The fact that we all know they can’t, but we take them into our homes and our hearts anyway, knowing that if life unfolds naturally, they’re going to go before we do, I think is a beautiful act of courage. They need us so we continue to step up and offer them what we have to give. And, of course, we need them. What they give over the course of their lifetimes more than makes up for the grief we feel at their loss.
I’m so very happy for Kailey and for you. I know that particular sigh. Finn does it whenever I settle in for long pets and ear rubs. There’s nothing better than giving these precious, neglected animals a place of certainty–what each and every one of them deserves. Bless you for taking her in.
Welcome to the blog! I’m so happy to have you along on the journey. Let me hear from you again.
Glad Finn and I could “share the love.” You might want to check out the other stories in the Rescue Dog category of the blog. Lots more warm and fuzziess awaiting you there. Wishing you well in your transition.