Member of the Pack

My daughter decided that she is going to give me away. She hates to do it, because I have been in the family for so many years, but she has run into some difficulties with my long winded lectures and refusal to let her eat apple fritters at every meal.

So much as she really feels bad, she will be listing me on the well-known site "mother-finders." She has taken a nice picture, along with proof of all my shots and rabies vaccination. She will also accentuate my good qualities to entice potential new families. She is careful to say that she really loves this mother, but simply is unable to keep her due to difficult circumstances at this time, and will only give her up to a loving family, as she truly wants what is best for me.

I am not sure, not having the brain of a dog, but I suspect the dog that is being kicked out of a family feels a similar gut wrenching despair as I would feel if that first part of my post were true. I am not trying to be unkind to anyone, but since becoming involved with Hollow Creek Farm, I am seeing far too many letters like the one above, where some loving family can no longer keep the dog and are therefore seeking a new home. Of course, I know there are times some families have no choice, but those are not the letters I am receiving. Dogs can be a pain in the neck. Believe me, I know.... our rescued dog tried to kill my other dog. They are expensive too. Again, our rescue dog cost us more in vet bills than braces would have cost our daughter (and may still cost as we hit those troublesome years when orthodontists are looking for work....)

But I would urge all you dog owners to study up on pack mentality. Removing a dog from his pack, and that is his human pack I am talking about, is like cutting off his nose. I know sometimes it is easy to think of a dog as expendable.... but honestly, I think God rewards us when we take even these little responsibilities with great seriousness. If you get a letter urging you to help find a home for a "beloved" canine member, first maybe send them this post. You may help prevent the breaking of a dog's heart, and sometimes in saving the dog, unexpected blessings come barking at your door.

Hosea 2:18
In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety.