An End to Our Story - A Bright Beginning for You

SARAH'S RAINBOW

SARAH, BRADY & GABBY

SARAH RELAXING IN HER NEW HOME

SARAH & HER NEW BROTHER BRADY

SARAH'S SMALLER BROTHER GABBY

SARAH & BRADY CHEWING ON THEIR BONES

As I drove away I was excited for your new beginning. I hoped that all would go well when you got to your new house. I cried for you on the way home, missing you. It was a rainy drive home and it fit my mood after I let you go. Although I knew you were in good hands; I worried about you. As I drove home in the rain, crying, and missing you, I knew you were in the place you belonged. You had a forever family that would love you and give you a new beginning. As I drove in the rain, it suddenly got very sunny, and when I looked out the window of the car, I saw the most beautiful rainbow. I stopped for gas, and took a photo of the rainbow. I knew right then that this was a good sign, you had found your proverbial "pot of gold". You were going to be all right! This was the end of our story, but a bright new beginning for you.

As a part of a rescue group, we take in dogs who are abused, uncared for, or maybe just in a situation that the owners can no longer care for thier dogs. We take them into our homes and heart. We try to fix broken spirits, broken bodies and broken hearts. We do all this and more, but it is the homes that adopt these dogs that deserve the praise. Without them, we would not have the happy endings that these dogs deserve. I would like to take this time to thank Sarah's new family. This thanks is not for an ending, but for a beginning.

I would like to, with permission from Sarah's new family, give you an update from her family.

"Sarah, Brady and Gabby are getting along fabulously. Brady and Sarah romp and play all the time. Sarah's tail has been wagging more and more. They all eat in their crates right in front of us which was a big step for Sarah. Sarah has come such a long way in the short time we have had her. She runs up and down the stairs, plays with toys, takes naps, puts her front paws forward in a playful puppy stance. I can not wait to see how she is by summertime. We all love her so much. She gives everyone lots of kisses, which is so sweet and endearing. She just makes our household a better place and we are lucky to have her. I will keep you posted as things come along. We are so glad we found her.
She is making great strides everyday. I can't wait for the day when she runs up to us happy to see us, sure that we will not hurt her. We love her so much already. She has this sweet, vulnerability about her. We will give kisses from you to her (she gets a lot but more can never hurt). She would want you to know she is happy and on her way to becoming the dog we all know is living inside her now. "

If you would like to adopt a dog like Sarah, you can go to the following website. http://www.bullmastiff.us/rescue/index.html

Farewell My Beautiful Girl

Life is like a novel. As each chapter unfolds we learn a little bit more of the main character and read of the people who enter and exit in that character's life. Your novel started out as a sad tale but, like any good novel, with a kind, beautiful heroine, you captivated our imagination with your life's journey. You started on your journey as a broken spirit and along the way you had the stamina, forgiveness and fortitude to change your situation. I am happy that I was invited to play a role in your life. I loved watchng as the pages of your life unfolded in front of me. I was able to watch you as you went from the cowering dog in the corner to a dog that loved life, and playing. I marveled at your strength and your ability to forgive. I felt inferior to you in your capacity to give so much love to the species that had caused you so much pain. I will always be thankful to you for letting me be a part of your journey, and I wish you joy and the stars and moon. As you continue on with your new family I hope you remember this chapter with a smile. Good bye my beautiful girl. I will miss you more than you will know and I thank you for the chance to be a small part of your life. I look forward to closing the last page and savoring the happy ending you enjoy with your forever family.

Donna

February 6, 2008 - Meeting the Kids

The weather here has not changed much, so we have had no news to share. We did not want to bore you with our sitting in the house watching TV LOL. We finally got a chance to do something new for Sarah, so I will share her day with you.

Sarah had her first chance at having a few kids in the house this week. My nieces and nephew were over and Sarah was at first leary of them, not wanting anything to do with these toronadoes on feet. She decided to sit things out for the first couple of hours. I told the kids to leave her alone so that she could watch things and figure out for herself that nothing was going to happen to her. She sat in the kitchen on her bed and just watched the kids. After a while she decided to come into the family room so that she could get a better view of what was happening. After she got a little more comfortable with the kids, I decided to let them pet her and she was unsure at first, but decided that the petting was worth the effort. Besides, it never hurts to have a few pieces of the roast we had for dinner. This always helps with making a friend of a dog. I have attached a few photos of the kids (Mackenzie, Aodhan & Keiran) on Sarah's bed and a photo of Keiran feeding her some roast.

After a few hours Keiran and Sarah became good friends and Keiran decided that Sarah would benefit from her hugs and some songs. Here is a video of Keiran singing her version of You Are My Sunshine

Jauary 29, 2008 - Healing Hearts Together

(The photos above show Sarah, with the bone, and my Princess - as you read the post, you will see why I am showing you my Princess' photo.)

Sarah is getting stronger, and more confident daily. She is quite a funny dog now that she is more sure of herself and of her surroundings. She tears around the yard chasing the small dogs and will come inside and roll around on her blanket to dry herself off after she is out in the rain. She has gotten to looking out the window now with the smaller dogs. The 2 little ones perch themselves on the back of the couch to look out the window at the outdoor cats. Sarah has started to get up there with them. I had to immediately put a halt to that. Personally, my dogs are allowed on the couch but Sarah is not going to be my dog so I have to teach her good manners that will follow to her new forever home.
Sarah listens well and now when we are in the family room and I am going out, or to bed, all I have to do is say "Sarah, kitchen" and she will go to the kitchen and get on her bed while I close the dog gate behind her.
On a personal note. When Sarah came to me she already had the name of Sarah. Today I found out that Sarah means Princess. I thought this fitting, and ironic, that a beautiful dark brindle girl should make her way to me to "fix". I had my own bullmastiff, another beautiful dark brindle. Her name was Princess. My Princess, to my utter despair fell ill a few months back, and after many specialists and the best vet care, it was decided by all that she could not be cured and would have to go to the Rainbow Bridge. I have had, and still have a hole in my heart. Perhaps this is my second chance to help a Princess. Maybe, Karma, God, or whatever you believe in has stepped in and sent me Sarah so this time I can save a "Princess". I do know that since she has entered my home, I have not had the chance to dwell on the past, but work on this new Princess' future. Maybe I am not the one healing Sarah, but her healing me. I do know this time the parting will be a joyous one, when Sarah goes to her new forever home to be loved and cared for.

Sharing a Little Poem

This was shared by a friend of mine, and with her permission, I decided to share it with you. I thought it appropriate for Sarah's Blog. This is the home I hope she finds. She deserves it.

HERE IN THIS HOUSE

I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs 'out there.

I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have changed.

I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.

I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat. I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness, and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.

My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.

Here in this house...

There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level. I will be talked to and, even if I don't understand, I can enjoy the warmth of the words.

I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many. My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!

Here in this house...

I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.

I will never be used to improve peoples' images of themselves.

I will be loved because I am who I am, not someones idea of who I should be.

I will never suffer for someones anger, impatience, or stupidity.

I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.

If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.

Here in this house...

I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch...knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.

If I am ill, I will be doctored. If scared, I will be calmed. If sad, I will be cheered.

No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and thought to be of value.
I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or not cute enough.

My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought.

I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.

Here in this house...I will belong.I will be home.
*(author unknown)*

January 27, 2008

It has been a few days since I have posted. The weather here has been terribly cold (-20 with the wind chill) and we have not really gone anywhere. Our days have been spent just staying in the house and cleaning. Sarah has turned out to be a wonderful addition to the family. She now comes, happily, when you call her name. She follows you around the house and likes to be petted. Her housebreaking has been accomplished. She is on a regular schedule and I for one, am relieved. I used to have to bring her outside every couple of hours and stand with her in the yard for quite some time before she did anything. She now goes out half as many times and she knows what she is there for. With the cold front that moved in I am glad that she goes much quicker now :)

Today I noticed that Sarah is getting quite a bit of stubble on her back, so I know her hair is starting to come back in. Her coat, is starting to gleam on her head and now that she is on good food, you can tell what a beautiful girl she is going to be. She is quite the character now, and I am amazed at how gentle and good natured she is with the smaller dogs. She loves to wrestle with them, but will gladly share anything she has with them. I am attaching some pictures of her and penny laying around sharing bones. Penny decided she wanted the big bone, so Sarah obliged and she took Penny's smaller bone.
Sarah is now ready to find her new forever family. I believe she is ready to bond with someone who has the time to give her attention, love and structure in her life. She is a very intelligent, dog who, I believe, will learn quickly. She has now also begun to show some interest in guarding her house. When someone comes to the door she will bark. She is much more confident in herself and loves exploring and playing with her toys.
I am hoping to get her out and bring her to the place where I take my dogs for obedience training. We will not start formal training, but I would like her to attend and just get a feel for the other dogs and people and maybe learn a few commands also. We will be working on sit and down this week in the house.

I have attached a photo of Sarah from today, along with her best friend Penny.
Donna

Going to the Door Now - January 22, 2008

Today was again a day of play and easy learning. Sarah went to the door today to let me know that she had to go outside. This is the first time she initiated the potty break. I was glad to see that her housebreaking lessons are starting to sink in. She is doing very well with her housebreaking, only having 1 accident in the house in quite a few days. The one accident was my own fault though. She went by the door, but I did not realize she was letting me know that she wanted out. She just walked up to the door and then turned around. She then proceeded to pee when I did not let her out. I know now that when she walks up to the door she wants out. She does not scratch or whine, just quietly stands there for a minute and I know she wants to go outside. Seeing how this is the first time she has shown this behaviour, I did not catch it the first time; hence her first accident in days. I am overall pleased with the progress she is still making.