I saved a dog today.

[hamsterjill]

I'm sure some of you are aware that I have a cat sanctuary in South Texas. "Sanctuary" because we have a finite number of residents who are here to live out their lives. We no longer do intake because I'm getting older, and I need to (hopefully) outlive these kiddos. The vast majority of the cats are quite elderly, and I lose one regularly. But it never gets easy.

In that vein, I currently have a 15-year old kitty who is reaching the end. So, I've been quite sad.

Today, I was taking a Christmas present to drop off at a friend's house, and saw a small black dog in the middle of a busy road. The dog was trying to eat something that was in the middle of the road. I panicked. I parked on one side of the road, and the dog ran to the opposite side - safely, at least. I quickly drove over to the other side and parked. The dog was back out (again) in the middle of the road at the object in the middle. I waited until there was a clear path of cars and called her. She immediately ran to me and jumped in my arms. I was so relieved when I had her.

Luckily, she had tags and I called the first number and got an answer. I was able to easily return her to her family. She'd gotten out of the back yard that backs up to the busy highway. I didn't give them the usual lecture of "you need to make sure she doesn't get out" because I could tell that they were horrified that she'd been in danger. And hey, it is Christmas, after all.

So, it felt really good to save this precious little soul and to return her to where she is loved. I'm grateful that I was in the right place at the right time. That sort of thing seems to happen to me (and other animal lovers) a lot.

Then I got home...

I sure do wish that just ONCE, someone could save one of mine. Sorry to be a downer. I know that they all - just like us - have a limited number of years. But it is, after all, Christmas.

Hug your kiddos for me tonight and be grateful that you have another day with them. They are such a precious part of our lives.

[SheltieLover]

1. Ty for saving her!

You are an Earth Angel!

Good vibes on the way to you & your 15 yr old kitty.

[hamsterjill]

27. Thank you, Sheltie.

n/t

[Karadeniz]

2. Yay !!!!

[Nigrum Cattus]

3. Damn good job !

May you, and I, both live long enough to be the
ones to care for our feline friends
Peace, Love, Strength

[hamsterjill]

28. Exactly!

I worry about that. It's something that is very important to me - to see this through and take care of them all until their time on earth ends.

Thank you - and Merry Christmas!

[UpInArms]

4. You are a good strong soul, dear hamsterjill

❤️❤️❤️

[StarryNite]

5. Thank you for saving that little pup.

You made a difference because you cared and took action. May you and yours have a safe and blessed Christmas.

[2naSalit]

6. Because that's who you are...

A kind soul who cares about and for others and you recognize the preciousness of souls including those not of our species.

[Grim Chieftain]

7. Thank you for saving that precious dog

You are a true hero, hamsterjill.

[red dog 1]

8. K&R

You probably saved that dog's life...Bless you for your act of kindness.

[Evolve Dammit]

9. Nice job!

[Bayard]

10. You kept that pupster's family from having a very bad xmas

[TBF]

11. Aw sorry about your latest kitty -

it never gets easier, that's for sure.

We've had various dogs over the years - rescues, dogs returned to their breeders with "problems" etc. My daughter is the "dog whisperer" - she found one in our neighborhood one day without a collar so we drove it to our vet and thankfully it was chipped. He lived over in the next subdivision and made it across a smaller but sometimes busy suburban road after digging out of his yard. The family was so happy to have him back! Things happen sometimes (and the no collar did annoy me!), but ultimately, I was just glad we got him safely back to his home.

[hamsterjill]

29. Thank you - and thank you for your part in saving the ones who have crossed your path.

You raised a great daughter!!

No, losing one absolutely, unequivocally NEVER gets easier because each on is unique and holds a piece of my heart. They are my babies. This particular kitty is named after my dad because I took him from a feral cat colony as a baby when my dad passed in September, 2010.

I was SO grateful when someone answered the phone number that was on the dog's collar yesterday. I've been through so many where either there is no collar, no tags, nothing, OR where the owners won't call you back or have dumped the dog. So it was a real blessing for me to see her home with her family.

[mwmisses4289]

12. 🫂

[MichMan]

13. Thank you for saving her

I have three rescue dogs and they are my world

[Trueblue Texan]

14. Someone rescued one of my precious babies recently...

I had a gathering at my house for Dems. The dogs were locked in my office at the beginning of the event, but my little drama queen decided to start howling in the middle of speeches and I let them come out. Not long after the event wound down, people started leaving. In all the chaos, I didn't realize my youngest girl got out. People were still leaving when my phone rang and it was my husband saying someone had called and they had our little Cayenne and were headed to our house.

I was sooooooo grateful to that lady! I've got two older dogs that I know won't be with us much longer and I so need that young baby girl to help me mend my broken heart, plus, I just love her so much and don't want anything to happen to her. We are pretty responsible with our babies, but things happen sometimes, especially with little escape artists. So thank you for rescuing that dog. You probably saved some broken hearts!

[hamsterjill]

30. It happens. Thank you.

When I first moved out here to build the cat sanctuary about two years ago, my one and only dog found every escape hole she could. I had to be very vigilant, and even still, found her on the road in front of my house at least twice. She hasn't gotten out in well over a year and I hope I've patched up all of her escape routes. But it can happen when you least expect it.

I would hope that someone would try to help my dog if she ever gets out again - so it was my honor and privilege to try to help the one yesterday.

Merry Christmas!!!!

[FakeNoose]

15. You have such a good heart Hamsterjill

Thanks for sharing this story ....

[littlemissmartypants]

16. ❤️

[CommonHumanity]

17. Same thing happened to me

Same thing happened to me with the sweetest little back lab. I had driven about 250 miles to pick up my own new dog, June, when I saw this sweet little black lab in the middle of a busy road. She was RIGHT in the road. Unbearable to drive by. I pulled over to get her and she came right to me. Like you, I was filled with relief.

I continued on my voyage to get June now with a second dog on board. The woman who gave June to me wa surprised that I'd brought a doggie friend along for the pickup. I explained she was a very recently acquired friend. I walked the recently acquired friend to where June was and the recently acquired friend was absolutely terrified of June (BTW, June is the gentlest most submissive dog imaginable, but who knows the mind of a dog). Anyway there was no way I was getting those two precious dogs in the car together so I told the woman who was giving June to me that I'd try to find the owner of the stray and be back tomorrow for June.

The hitch was that since I driven 250 miles to get June, I was staying overnight in an AirBNB that DIDN'T allow pets. I called the AirBNB host and begged him to let me keep the lab overnight despite the no pets rule. He resisted and I pleaded and finally he relented saying his own dog was a stray so he had a bit of a soft spot for them. Thank God. I swore up and down that I'd clean the AirBNB meticulously, which I did. The bummer was he gave me a bad write up on AirBNB saying there was dog hair all over. Hah I re,moved every hair in sight and even washed the sheets. Oh well...That was the least of my concerns given the two dogs were unlikely to coexist in the back seat of my Prius.

My night with the stray dog was memorable. She was one of the dearest and best behaved dogs I've ever met and had eyes that could melt a million hearts. She followed me everywhere and cuddled up with me in bed. I was determined to somehow come home with both dogs if I didn't find the owner. Luckily, I found the owner in the morning. It was so hard to say good bye and let her go, but I did and then returned to pick up June and drive the 250 miles back home.

Because of the time spent finding the owner, June and I didn't get back to well after dark. I brought her to my farm where she was to be my new livestock guardian dog. Despite having previously lived with a goat, June was terrified of my goats. I sat with June until about 2am while she cowered behind me. I wanted to bring June to my house and get her away from the scary monster goats, but she was NOT getting in the car again so I made her her own little house where she could hide. She hid in there for a few days. Over the next few days, each time I checked on her, I'd only see her little pointy ears poking out. Finally she emerged and over time everything worked out. Now she spends her days running through the fields, completely at ease with the goats. Not a Christmas story, but still a happy ending. I still think fondly of the little black lab. I told the owners that if they ever ever needed to re home her to come straight to me.

[hamsterjill]

18. See? Like I said in my post - it happens to us, doesn't it?

I think we are put where we are supposed to be. Thank you for your sweet, sweet heart that cared for both doggies!!!

[MIButterfly]

19. Thank you for saving that dog, hammerjill.

And thank you for the work you do. You have the biggest heart. You are truly doing God's work.

Have a wonderful holiday. Hugs to you and your cats from my cats, Martini and Holly, and me.

[hamsterjill]

31. Thank you.

As a Christian, I believe we are charged with caring for them. So, your comment means a lot to me.

Merry Christmas!!!

[Polly Hennessey]

20. Hamsterjill, you made Christmas better for one family.

That makes you an angel 😇 I know about aging kitties. My Millie is nineteen, which means each day is a gift for us.

[Envirogal]

21. Having tags and a microchip is so important!

I have four “foster fail” dogs and am taking a break from rescue myself. So thank you for all you have done and your commitment to these animals. It’s so sad that society doesn’t provide more help when it is am irresponsible society that creates the problem of pet overpopulation.

I can’t tell you how frustrating it is finding a dog or a cat and then not having any identification. What it does to the Rescuer is have to jump through a lot of hoops and effort to post and put the word out when a simple name tag with a phone number, makes it a two minute effort to reunite the Pet with their family.

And as Bob Barker famously said over and over, “make sure to spay and neuter your pet”! I would add “adopt don’t shop”. We have to drastically curtail the breeding industry.

[hamsterjill]

32. You are spot on!!!

Tags AND a microchip! And updated information with the microchip company.

I was so grateful that someone actually answered the phone yesterday when I dialed the number on the tag. I don't know how many times I've found one and the number is no longer valid, or else no one will answer because they dumped the dog.

I was so grateful to be able to return her to her family. Did this old heart good!

[MustLoveBeagles]

22. Thanks for saving the pupper

You just made a lucky family's Christmas ⛄🎁

Merry Christmas to you and yours

[LetMyPeopleVote]

23. Thank you for saving this puppy

[wendyb-NC]

24. Thank you, for saving her life

You are an awesome hero for pets.

[samnsara]

25. What a hero you are!! I rescued my vets Golden Retriever once...

..beautiful dog digging in the garbage can at 7-11. I checked her tags and it was my vet!!!! 'Umm Dr Schmidt I have your dog here'...kinda embarrassing.

[Duncanpup]

26. So kind of you.