Christmas in Rescue Land

I'm in an email group with some others who are involved in collie rescue. I see information shared about specific dogs or people who apply to adopt them. There's a lot going on behind the scenes and at least 50% of dogs are matched with new homes without ever being posted on the rescue web site. Others are taken into foster care until medical or behavioral issues are dealt with and some seniors or dogs with serious health problems are supported by a sanctuary program that pays their bills for life, long or short, and they often stay with their original foster parents. This means that some people in our group have up to nine or ten collies at one time. Mostly it stays at three or four, but we do get to hear from each other about special characters. 

There's a young and naughty collie named Brooke who was found, cold, wet and scared in a huge thunderstorm, in the Spring of this year. She's white with a sable head, very sought after markings, but she had one of the worst cases of mange anyone has ever seen. Brooke's treatment has required daily doses of a medication that is hugely expensive and, once again, someone stepped in to help. A drug rep from the company that makes the product went to her bosses and they agreed to help by supplying six months' worth of the medication. Not your usual story about pharmaceutical companies. If I knew the name I'd share it here. 

Brooke has taken over the home in which she's been living. She is bossy and rude to the home pack and gets into all kinds of trouble. Her foster mother's email this morning described her living room, festively decorated and with ex-pens arranged around the perimeter to keep Brooke from the tree and the gifts. Why don't those home decor shows ever include this kind of thing? 

Another email was not about a collie at all. A friend of a friend in poodle rescue was reaching out to ask if anyone was driving up to Lake Tahoe for the holidays and was willing to transport an old dog who had been saved from euthanasia at the pound and matched with an elderly couple who couldn't make the drive.  In less than an hour, someone had volunteered to pick him up and deliver him. 

I've re-posted the Starfish story below. I think it is inspiring. We all have opportunities to make a difference somewhere, in some small way. That's my Christmas Wish, for those in need and those who can help. Small things add up and you have to start somewhere.

Starfish-Making a Difference (writer unknown)

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore and as he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean". "I suppose I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" "The sun is up, and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die." "But, young man don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach, and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."