Friday, February 25, 2011

A tribute to the tiny white doggy...

The life you save may be your best friend's...
We rescued this little dog almost two years ago now... she came to us just as my best girl left us. It felt too soon, but we had to do it. She was being mistreated by some neighbor children and we intervened... with compassion. The family ended up seeing how we loved her and would take care of her when she was covered with nasty stickers and mats and eventually they realized that they were not being fair or kind to her and they were ready to let her go to the pound. They let us take her off of their hands.

She wasn't in a shelter, but she is the product of a puppy mill and a very sad beginning. The previous owners had had her spayed, but never had the stainless steels stitches removed so we had a trip to the vet where he also found a sticker that was making its way towards her heart and lungs. We had her shaved down to get the constricting mats off of her and then had a few little surgeries done to get her cleaned up. She was terrified of her own shadow for months and she had some bad habits in the beginning and we've helped her to mostly overcome those.

I have what some people would call Mama Bear type instincts and I have to protect when I see injustice. I can't even look at those neighbors knowing what they put her through, but Jazzmine is our little buddy now... she comes with us everywhere... she's tiny and easy enough to tuck into the car and she's a great traveller! She has gone camping with us, made a road trip to Idaho and Montana and LOVES to get in the car. She loves the kids and has helped some children to overcome their fear of dogs. She barks WAY too much, but you gotta take the good with the bad right?

What am I on about today? Well here we are on Family Friday, I just wanted to say... if you're thinking of adding a family member consider adoption of a shelter animal... maybe an older dog... take a chance on them and they will love you unconditionally... forever! I'm sharing the link of A Place to Bark because I would like to support my fellow mixed media artist, Bernie Berlin in her quest to help these animals. Suzi Blu and Claudine Hellmuth are among other mixed media artists that are working to protect our fur babies by creating workshops whose proceeds go to support different shelters. But I'd also like to say that if you really want to adopt from a shelter do a little research via the internet and find a shelter/pound in your area and give those animals a chance to make their way into your heart... you'll be glad you did... we are. :)

Now, go Get YOUR craft ON!!!
xoxo
jul

3 comments:

  1. Oh my, this story brought tears of saddness of how jazzmine and many,many other pets are treated so poorly by thier owners.. And TEARS of Joy, of how you came into Jazzmines life and gave her the love she deserves.
    Look at her sweetness :)
    I have a wonderful dog that my husband and I rescued 11 years ago. She is a true blessing in our life. Then, two years ago we welcomed a little Chihuahua into our home.. What a barker and so full of love, lol.. The two are best friends and our babies.

    ~Diane

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  2. Oh the barking makes me so crazy sometimes, but LOOK at her... how can you do anything but laugh! And look at how Simon loves her... who doesn't want that kind of love in their life? Our fur babies bring out the best in us!

    Thanks for your comment, Diane... you're always so supportive. Thank you!
    xoxo
    jul

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  3. You know...we adopted a poodle from the pound about 24 years ago. (WOW) I was 4 and our two springer spaniels turned up missing. (We think that some one helped themselves to them) At four years old, a little girl can be quite convincing to her parents that she NEEDS to have a puppy. So off we went. Now I remember looking at ALL the dogs numerous times and I had my heart set on this funny lookin weiner dog and the lady at the pound said that we could not take it because it did not like little kiddos. So the runner up was this shaggy little poodle. He jumped and barked and wiggled and I thought he was funny. So my mother said that as long as I could convince my father to get this dog, I could have him. She said this knowing that there would be no way on earth that I could convince the strong burly cowboy to have a tiny little yappy toy poodle. But remember, a four year old daddies little girl has a LOT of power. I convinced him that unless I got this puppy, I would DIE! And he caved. Tuffy was two when we got him, and he ended up living 17 more years. He lived a very long and happy life. And even though most of my family members did not like the idea of a poodle, he won their hearts. Slowly for some, but he was a persistant little bugger. I too, am a full supporter of the shelters...you are saving a life. A life who more than likely will save yours time and time again with their love!

    Nice post Julee!

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Oooooh BLoGgEE love!
xoxo
jul