I’ve been so preoccupied fixing up and opening the new gallery that I’ve been remiss in doing another update about Finn (see previous posts Rescue Dog: Meet Finn (Survivor), Rescue Dog’s Happy Success Story: Finn Thrives and Rescue Dog Finn: A Love Story). Some of you have been asking about him so it’s high time I told you how he’s doing. The truth is, I’ve been enjoying LIVING with him so much that I haven’t been DOCUMENTING him very well. It’s an entirely different energy to just hang out with him and not always be thinking of getting some photo or video. Plus he freezes when I pull out the camera. I kid you not—Finn’s version of stop action. So there are fewer pictures and less video to draw from. I want to tell you I’ve missed some prize action! There have been times when I’ve even had the camera in my pocket but I’ve been too mesmerized watching him (and sometimes laughing at him) to pull it out and shoot video.
Before I show you how good he is looking now, here is a reminder of what Finn looked like soon after I first found him living on the streets:
Here’s what Finn looks like today:
Finn has so much energy and muscle mass now that he is often nothing but a yellow blur, dashing and dancing, clowning across the property. And he is a total clown—a trickster. He has these little games he sets up to play with me (and recently even with Kelee). I recognize them now and when I accept his silly invitations, when I step into one of his set-ups, I can almost hear him laughing with glee, so delighted he is with the joke he’s played on me! He’s a little like my father in this. Dad always laughed at his own jokes. His eyes would crinkle up and almost disappear and he would laugh out loud. Finn does exactly that.
He and Kelee have a morning tradition: I open the front door and they are like two race horses out of the shoot — they are racing each other to see who will make it to the land grant first. Then they are off together, patrolling the property. In fact they have bonded surrounding this, which is so good because it was a real challenge for them in those first couple of months. I think they are even becoming friends. I know they respect each other.
And Skye is better at sharing herself between them, so Kelee isn’t as jealous of her affections anymore.
Finn walks with Kelee and me every day now, which means we can no longer go all the way out to the horses. There are some very aggressive dogs on that route and, while Kelee is a diplomat, Finn will fight when provoked. I think he’s had to to protect himself, and he still has all those old defenses. Yet he is so gentle that even my scardiest cat will come right up to him, sniff his mouth and nose, and then curl up next to him.
Finn has lost a lot of his fur and it’s coming back in patches so he looks pretty scruffy. The vet says it’ll be about 8 months to a year before we’ll know what his coat is going to be. I guess it was such unhealthy growth from his time of starvation that he shed all of that and is growing something healthier back.
I know what those old injuries are now, the ones I’ve mentioned before. He has a hip fracture that was never set. Dr. Ramsay says when he’s stronger we can x-ray it and see what kind of surgical options are available, but she’s inclined to leave it be. He’s suffered so much already and he gets along okay on that leg. The worse injury is his right front leg. Sometimes he can put no weight on it at all. Turns out that’s a result of what I thought were bee bees in his chest. In fact, those are shotgun pellets and he’s filled with them. Ramsay says she’s learned over the years that it’s cruel to try to surgically remove them. You dig and dig and there are always more. The wounds are slow to heal and, even when you think you’ve removed them all, more surface. She says Finn would likely light up the film if we did an x-ray, he’s packing so much metal in him. The trouble is that the pellets move around. Sometimes they’ll be perfectly comfortable and other times they’ll touch a nerve. So I give him aspirin on the bad days, as directed.
I also know his story now, at least part of it and, right up until time to post it, I was going to tell you. But then I decided we hear about too much suffering in this world. Finn seems willing and able to let the past go, to forgive the wrongs done to him. So I will follow his lead and forgive. I will let what’s done be done and I will heal my own heart. He is happy. And that makes me happy.
I, just this minute, learned something new about Finn: he does NOT like the rain!
For those of you who aren’t aware of this blog already, I highly recommend it. It’s one of my favorites and Neil has been terrific about publishing Finn’s story:
LifeWithDogs.tv
and here’s the facebook page:
LifeWithDogs Facebook Page
Some photos in this post were shot by my friend, Kathy Kessler.
Love to you all,
Jeane
Ah, such a beautiful and fortunate dog. I’m so glad you found one another. Your decision to not post his
story before he met you is much appreciated and understood. It’s sad enough to hear about his physical
challenges now. But he looks so very happy and content now that it is apparent he has moved on. Jeane, you are a Saint for the animals!!!
He IS beautiful, isn’t he? I so wish I had some of the video of him clowning around but he doesn’t seem willing to share much of that with the camera. He is truly happy and it just seems appropriate to focus on that, his new reality. He has such a zest for life, we all can learn something from him. I think HE is the saint here!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing this update! You have done such a good thing for Finn! 🙂 Much love to all of you!
Thank you Rhopple. He is a joy and a blessing every day. He has, indeed, brought much love to us–from him and from the community of all of you out there who have been wishing him well. All that love has made a big difference.
This update made my heart sing… thanks for taking Finn in, and for sharing this happy ending, or should I say happy ‘in progess’?!
Yes, I think that’s perfect: happy in progress! I like it. So glad Finn’s story has made your heart sing. He does that to me every day.
Thanks for this much anticipated update re Finn! I’ve written before to you that I think he is a handsome dog and time (actually regular meals and a loving home) have only resulted in him becoming even more handsome. Like others have written here, I do appreciate your decision not to tell the whole sad story. There is so much we can learn from our beloved pets and, as you say, he’s moved on and lives contentedly in the moment so we will all follow his lead.
Thank you, Kim. He does just get better lookin’ every day! He’s such a total charmer. Everyone who meets him falls in love. Actually, a friend suggested late last night that it might be better not to dwell in the past but to, instead, celebrate his present circumstances. I agreed with her immediately and I think we’ve all benefitted from her insight.
Just shows what food love and affection does,he looks so happy with his new family,god bless you all :0)
Thank you Corinne. He finally has what he’s always deserved and we have HIM! Blessings all around…
Well those guys sure seem to know what the deal is. Wow.
http://www.real-privacy.no.tc
He is looking so good and so content. He found his safe, forever home. Bless you. My rescue dog is deathly afraid of cameras. Will go out with me when I photograph horses and is just fine, but if I turn it to him, he cowers away! I think he was probably shot at in his former life too. Onward and Upward Finn. Actually, let me rephrase that…Just be…
I hadn’t thought of the shotgun/camera link. Insensitive of me! Now that we’re back to just being and not trying to document again, he can be free of cameras–maybe forever, huh? Bless YOU for taking your guy in. They are such special blessings.
Finn looks just fantastic and soooooo happy! I love how he shoots out the door and gives that happy romp, stopping with front legs to the ground and his butt up in the air! (Happy stance I call it). I also laughed when I saw him get in that little river pond and just lay in it and drink the water! Hylarious! Great to hear about how he is doing, except sorry to hear about his injuries…hope all goes well in the long run. Great post update. Thanks, Take Care, Cindy =)
Thanks Cindy! I think more of his “imp” showed up in this post. He does that happy stance all the time and I love it too. I have to admit, I’m deeply in love.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
I love the update…what a wonderful uplifting true life story we can all be healed by reading:)
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XOXOX
Grace
Thanks Grace. I’m glad you found it uplifting. He’s doing even better now. He makes me laugh and smile every single day. He is such a blessing!