A lot of emotions today while at the shelter. I can't help but be surprised (again) at the amount of lovely animals sitting there; some surrendered by their families, others found as strays and never claimed. For each of the dogs there, it is more than a kennel number or id code, more than a newly assigned name or description, and it is the empty space that comes after their new name or number that hits the hardest.
Today, this little man "Watkins" was my first to walk and so I doubled back to pull him again just before leaving so he could potty a final time. As I went to leash him, he picked up a little biscuit in his mouth and carried it outside, proceeding to look for a safe place to eat. I took him over into the shade under the trees where no one else was around, hoping he'd relax and enjoy his treat, but he kept looking around nervously and was unsure about settling down to eat. After a minute or two of looking around, he began to dig a hole in the dirt and pine needles covering the ground, making a safe space to bury his biscuit, then carefully covering it back up and nosing leaves and dirt back into the hole. My eyes almost filled up watching him, so unsure of himself and his surroundings that he had to leave his prize buried.🥺
I want Watkins to have a home where he doesn't have to worry where his bones go, and where he can bury things if he wants to, not because he's uncertain or worried. I want him to not be just a number in a database, timidly peering out of his run; i want that little face to never crinkle with worry again; but as a shelter volunteer we control nothing and have so little to do with the outcome for each dog we handle. All we can do.... is to speak kindly to each animal, pet, reassure, hug, encourage, build confidence, love, value, appreciate, and care about them (and flood your newsfeed with pictures). That's all we can do. The rest is up to you, the ones who also care as much about the forgotten and discarded creatures; the potential adopters, kind humans, and beautiful people who open their hearts to a new kind of love. Please consider a friend, because every dog deserves a special family and life.