December 24, 2002 -Christmas Eve 2002

Hum, Christmas Eve. So much to reflect on. So much to consider. This is one of the days that make me realize that I am still so much the child that was. As I drove between Project Hope and my friends’, Gay and Larry’s house I assessed my feelings, what I feel, why I feel so, and even if I feel what I think I do. It amazes me that with 53 Christmas's behind me that this one, although not trumped up, could have a fresh feeling of blissful nostalgia. I would savor it for the simplicity of joy that I get with the seasonally approved displays of caring and affection. I love it when we have a bonafide excuse for taking time from genuine duties and disciplines to exercise the delight of doing for, calling, and seeing folks that we delight in.

I was thankful that Rick and I had been spared a! downpour. Though it was cold and ranged from drizzle to light rain, the day went smoothly for the most part. Nelson acted up a bit. For an older dog he sure is a mess. He is lab all the way. When someone shares how their dog is trying their patience, I am never surprised to learn that their rowdy sidekick is a lab. Rick had let Nelson lose to ware off some energy, and then put him in the office while he tended to a chore that he didn’t need Nelson’s help with. When he got back to the office Nelson had indulged in the Christmas goodies Diane brought Rick yesterday. His antics hadn’t stopped there.

Rick did have an unpleasant experience with Natalie. She overshot the banana he was giving her, and caught him by two of his fingers. I felt sorry for him. I too, only once, experienced her mighty jaws clamping down on my thumb. It’s an experience none of us revisit. His thum! b bleed just above the nail, and another finger had a slight ! puncture. Pigs have few teeth, but they meet with a force.

Puffy and Richie (hen & rooster buds) had gotten used to the new pig palace that we had placed in their enclosure. We had planned for Susie, and Emma (pot bellied pigs) to reside in the spacious area, but Emma would not cross from one side of the gate to the other. We decided to let them move entirely. They came out into the open range and so did their house. Ha! They sleep under the office porch more than in their house. Anyway, I moved a dogloo over for Puffy and Richie, and spread a flake of hay in it for their comfort.

BJ and Penelope greeted me outside their enclosure. Because we moved Natalie, and the other girls, BJ and Pen can roam the area we used to keep our other hoofed friends in. BJ is so sweet. He would love to associate with Natalie, but she would bash the grits out of him.

I had a few calls to make. A man called Frid! ay to tell us that two Garbage men had witnessed an act of cruelty. They had stopped at a vets office to pick up his garbage, and had become suspicious of the manner in which they saw him place some papers into the trash. There was a live puppy in the papers. I have tried contacting one of the men. The young woman who answers the phone has been really sweet, but I think the man has lost his spirit for seeing the vet exposed. If I have to I will file charges and subpoena the men. I sure hope they do the right thing. 

My friend Sharon Kelly is worried sick about the dog that lives next door to her. She has called many times this week. I have gone out, the Grenada ACOs have been out, but until we can prove her neglect we can’t seize the dog. I wish Sharon had called one of us before she started feeding the dog, and enraging her neighbor. The feud between them has overshadowed the plight of the dog.

I was sadde! ned when I talked to Mom today. She didn’t feel up to ta! lking. It’s awful knowing how she spent her life for us, and now here I am, so far from her. The comfort of knowing my brother lives with her doesn’t really take my guilt away. The choices we make are never simple, never baggage free.

I called Judy, Ginger, Christine, and Sally, my South Bay (San Jose, CA.) pals to tell them I love and miss them. They are true IDA family. I have to send them some of my awesome vegan fudge. I was too busy to get it to them before the holidays. The home office wants some too.

Yesterday I finished an intro letter for a grant request to the Dodge Foundation. I was, in one page, to support the need for a grant towards our education efforts here. The best I could do was cut it down to two pages. Our ten years of multi-facet educational efforts couldn’t fit into a page, not with examples. I had to give a case story that exemplified the dire need for, and effectiveness of making ce! rtain that the tragedy of a cruelty case moves society to wanting, and making changes. There are so many ways in which a case can bring about lasting changes.

Rick and I are racking our brains trying to explore new means to match our adoption hopefuls with worthy guardians. I love the PetsMart Adoption Center, and PetsMart has been wonderful to us, but with so many dogs with special adoption needs we need to step up our efforts to find homes. Rescued dogs are often shy, or fearful. Some have special care needs due to age, breeding, or maladies they have suffered. Most of the dogs we have are medium to large, many are black, and at this time all have some reason why they are typically difficult to place. We are feeling stressed. Without guardians for our rescued friends they will never experience their very own home, their exclusive love. And we cannot give haven to the many dogs that so desperately need rescuing.

With that pressing thought I think I’ll hug my Cindy-“booboo” and call it a night.



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