Man's Best Friend

This is dedicated today to a wonderful friend, her family and the dog they love so.....

Today when my friend picked up the phone I knew there was something wrong....I could tell she was crying. There are no words that lessen the pain and heartache of being told one of your furbabies is on limited time. The kind of pain you feel at that moment is something so strong and it leaves you feeling empty, overwhelmed with sadness, scared and lonely.

This sweet dog is to this family, a family member. He is loved and cherished. He is a child, a buddy, a companion. He has had an amazing life and really knows what love is all about. He could not have found a better family...a family that loves their pets as this family does.

This is something new to them. Something I wish would never happen to anyone. We should be able to keep our furbabies forever!

I have been in their situation and my heart is breaking for them. Where do you find the words to try and ease their pain?

Just know that he had an amazing life and he knows what love and kindness are because of you. Love him, love him, love him! Let him be the king for his remaining time and reassure him that you are there. And should that horrible day come when it is not a matter of falling asleep and not waking up - know that your gut will tell you when the time has come - it will tell you that he needs help. That is the hardest decision a person ever has to make - to help their pet pass- but know you are doing it out of love. Please don't feel guilty or second guess yourself. Letting them go is the final act of love. Be there, hard as it may be, holding him and telling him you love him and what a good boy he is. Yes there will be lots of tears and such a sadness and heartache but he will need you to be there...... He has loved you for as long as you have loved him. He will always be in your heart and bring you smiles in your memories of him.

I know that he will be spoiled and loved for his remaining time. I know how much you love him and I know that all I have said you already feel and know.....

Please know that I am thinking of you and my heart is breaking for what you are going through. My wish is for good days until his peaceful passing...
Hugs to you my friends.

A Whirl Wind Of Emotions...

The only way to describe the last few weeks of my life is to say that it has been a "whirlwind of emotion"...

About 8 months ago I came across the picture of a horse, a fairytale - unicorn type horse, on the internet. It was such a beautiful creature and I was intrigued to find out what kind of horse it was and all I could learn about the breed. I became obsessed and mesmerized by the Gypsy Vanner ;).  

My love for the horse began as a young girl. A girlfriend and I rode our bikes over to a nearby stable almost daily to watch the horses out in the paddocks and occasionally we were brave enough to actually venture into the barn. One day we were approached by the barn manager and asked if we would be interested in helping out with chores in return for some riding lessons. Now need I tell you what that meant to us!!! Thus shoveling horse manure entered our lives and we created some of the best memories I have. I still have this thing where I will hear an 80's song and it takes me back to those days =). Such good memories.

That lasted for a couple of years and then I was left with the yearning to own a horse but no means in which to do so. So my life moved away from horses. Then about a year and half ago I met up with an old high school acquaintance through an animal rescue group. Sara and her family have 4 beautiful horses and they started that yearning once again to stir.

Now both Sara and myself have started on the journey of the life with a Gypsy Vanner horse. We saw our first live Gypsies at the Midwest Horse Fair in April and fell even more in love with the breed. We attended a breed demo given by a wonderful lady, Denise, of Feathered Gold Stables. Denise was very sweet, knowledgeable, willing to share, and has her life graced by these beautiful animals. We made plans to visit her in Ogdensburg, Wisconsin and ended up making that journey about 4 weeks ago.

The result of that visit is where the whirlwind of emotions comes in to play. Jodi fell in love =) and Jodi found out the caliber of friends that she has in Sara, her husband Nick, and Denise. I am humbled by such people and have been restored in my faith that there are still good people out there doing nice things for others. That kindness just does not happen. I cannot even begin to find the words in order to let them know what it means to me that they are playing such key parts in my dream coming true. No words. If it were not for the 3 of them, my ownership of cutest colt ever would not be a reality.....

Enter into my life one Feathered Gold Novel Idea, aka Shamus. I have never been so happy, excited, nervous and scared to death!!! To think of the fun times, the buddy I am going to have, and the years and  monetary commitment has had me reeling. When I make a commitment to the life of a living and breathing animal - it is for the life of the animal and Shamus will be with me for many years and should something happen to me, knowing that he has a wonderful home with Sara and Nick or back with Denise is the most important thing to me. I do not want his life to ever become an uncertainty. He is my heart horse.....forever!

Even better is that Sara is searching for her Gypsy heart horse.....together we will learn and experience the love like no other - the love of a Gypsy horse =).

"All horses deserve, 

at least once in their lives,

to be loved by a little girl.  - Anonymous

(or in my case, a big girl =). )