Trisa's Story - A Beekeeper Shares Her Profound Connection With Her Honeybees

Reuben

Reuben arrived more than 2 years ago, on a snowy Valentine’s Day. He came as a foster dog, and, at first, it was difficult to recognize him: white instead of grey, as he appeared in his profile picture, shy and disoriented after a long truck journey from Arkansas where he had been rescued from a high kill shelter by an eccentric lady who kept 20 small dogs in her house. I took him to the vet where he was vaccinated and treated for several small chronic problems due to his tough past life. It was clear that he was sick and needed some love and attention . One day our eyes locked and that moment I knew he was going to stay. But it has become increasingly clear that, at the end, he’s been the one who has rescued me and not the other way around! Reuben has brought lots of happiness into my life. Since he arrived I have been able to make very important changes in my life.

He really brings the best out of me. We have been able to develop a wonderful non verbal relationship that is the perfect counterpoint to my stressful job in a hospital. Most importantly, I have been able to appreciate again the small things in life, the little daily routines in a household that often times go unnoticed. Think of it, I have been able to reclaim and live the present.

Fergus

Fergus came to live with us when he was one and a half years old. He had been well taken care of by his original owner, but she fell ill and needed to return him to the breeder. I was thrilled when the breeder informed me that she had a “toddler” terrier who was “perfectly trained” and jumped at the opportunity to bring Fergus home.

Fergus is a typical terrier: he lives to bark at squirrels and mail carriers, thinks he owns the couch, and is capable of jumping to extreme heights when no one is around to retrieve a tin of cookies. He hates being left alone (sorry, I have to go to work), is gentle with children, and does crazy dive bombing onto freshly mowed grass, doing a perfect imitation of a ballplayer sliding into base. He has perfected the “Who, me?” look of complete innocence that makes it almost impossible to discipline him, thereby, of course, teaching him that it’s okay to misbehave. He is adored.

Eddie - Rescue Goes Both Ways

I went to the MSPCA-Angell adoption center to drop off two old comforters. Although I had been looking for a large dog to adopt, I had decided to take a break from my search; still, it is against the laws of nature to go to a dog shelter and not check out the available dogs. The sight of Eddie stopped me in my tracks; I stared and blinked and stared again: he appeared to be Max, my first dog, who had died tragically thirty years ago. I came back to visit him two more times, and on our walks he seemed forlorn, exhausted, spent, and yet so sweet, maybe hopeful—rolling on his back for a tummy rub. Upon returning him reluctantly to his pen, I gently pushed his rump inside to close the gate—and he pushed back, unmistakably. We have been communicating ever since through a nudge, a look, a stretch, a wag. On Eddie’s intake papers, was noted “lost”. We found each other. His papers concluded: “A peach of a dog.” Yes, maybe even a peach dropped from heaven.

Abby and Henry - Overcoming Obstacles

Painter Julie Hedrick describes how her daughter convinced her to rescue a neglected dog in Brooklyn called Abby, and how Abby learned what it means to be a dog and be loved when she met Henry. Video by Miranda Loud 2013.

Our daughter was living in Williamsburg with two roommates from California. One of them had brought this tiny little puppy that was as big as the palm of your hand in a little bag on the airplane when she flew to New York. She named her Abby. They all moved in together and started school. It all fell apart very quickly. Jill didn’t train Abby, didn’t walk her. She was off at school all day so little Abigail had to fend for herself. She had no idea what it meant to go outside, walk and be a dog. She didn’t know how to be a dog.

And right around that time, we asked our daughter if she’d take care of our dog Henry while we were away for a couple of weeks. Henry came to New York and Henry got walked every day at the dog park and played and played. He would get so tired that Ari would have to carry him home in her arms, and Henry really bonded with little Abby. She kind of got a sense of what it means to be a dog. You walk, you explore, you play with other dogs.

We came home and everyone was happy, took Henry home, but after that, things went from bad to worse for Abigail after that. Soon, we received an email from our daughter with a photo of Abby with a bow in her hair and all brushed saying “Please will you adopt me?” So, we picked her up one night. It was very stealth, coming into Williamsburg. We opened the door of the car and came upstate with this little dog. We got Abby here and she didn’t know how to be housetrained, but after the first night, Henry showed her and she learned. Henry also taught her how to go up and down the stairs. 

Freeway, Rescued on the Los Angeles Freeway

When we lost our first dog Hedda, a beautiful black lab, to cancer in 2010, our friends urged us to get another dog - immediately! But we hesitated and then we bought a new home in Los Angeles. Life became busy and complicated, and though we missed having a dog, we didn't actively look for one.

Freeway   photo: © Miranda Loud 2013

 

But one day in April 2012, as fate would have it, we chanced upon freeway running around loose on the up ramp to the Hollywood Freeway. He was in imminent danger of being hit by a car so we picked him up and brought him home. He had a collar but no ID tag or chip. A search for his owner came up blank. It is a shocking fact that many people in L.A. abandon their dogs next to highways expecting others to rescue them. We named him Freeway and he joined our family which also includes a cat (Sahdow) and rabbit (Dominic).

Freeway is an extremely friendly and curious dog. He is happiest when he is with people, although when he is not sitting next to us we often catch him cuddled up with our cat or rabbit. Everyone wants to know what kind of dog he is. We did a DNA test and the results were surprising. Freeway is half Toy Poodle, quarter Welsh terrier, and quarter Lhasa Apso. This is not an officially recognized dog breed, but Freeway may change this!

Henry the Llama With a Lot of Sheep on His Mind

Henry is a male Llama who hails from a farm in New Hampshire. The sheep are Henry’s family. He checks on the lambs when they are born and is protective of his flock every minute of the day. He’s perfect for this job and adores his co-llama partner in protection, Julia. Llamas are known for their strength of character and for their stalwart ability to provide protection from predators to other animals.

Ellen R.

Acacia (aka Catie), A True Gypsy Vanner

Catie was born and bred in Pennsylvania. She is a 9-year-old Gypsy Vanner, a breed developed in the mid-1800’s in Great Britain to pull the wagons of the Romanichal gypsies. Like others of her breed, she is strong, intelligent, docile and of excellent endurance. Catie has the distinguishable markings of the breed including feathery fluff around her feet. She loves to snuggle, play and is very sweet. She has definite preferences about who she likes to have in the stall next to her and she doesn’t like other horses to watch her eat her hay, but takes things in stride and goes with the flow.  The barn staff noticed that the marking on Catie’s left shoulder looks like North America. She’s an all-American Irish girl!

Acacia lives and works at a wonderful organization, Friends for Tomorrow, where she helps kids with various disabilities become more confident. I'm grateful to Kelly for sharing her thoughts on Acacia.

Morgan and Scottish Hospitality

So Morgan turns out to be the world’s friendliest dog. He runs up to everybody in the street whether they are drunks or traffic wardens. He tries to get into taxis, he runs into open doors including restaurants. Luckily nearly everybody thinks this is funny. and known up and down Stockbridge here in Edinburgh. I’ve made new friends through Morgan - the dog park people. It’s like a mother and toddler group “He’s not eating his food!” And people always often tell you about their dogs or golden retrievers. He’s a great conversation starter.  I also like to introduce him to children. If some parents are walking along and the child appears interested, I introduce him and tell the child that he likes to get stroked and when he wags his tail, that means he likes it. Some parents make the children  nervous about large dogs unnecessarily so I try to break that down if possible. He’s just a great joy to have as a friend.

Jeb, A Rescue with a Lot of Love Left to Give

Jeb is ten years old, welcomed recently into our home from a rescue shelter. We have learned that he loves to walk, eat, sleep on the couch, sniff, explore, have his tummy rubbed, cuddle, and be hugged and kissed. Jeb also enjoys chasing squirrels, although we think he is just trying to say “Hello” and perhaps give them a little exercise. He also likes to say “Hello” to every person he passes on the street, and is good at breaking the ice. Jeb likes sleeping as close as possible to one of his human companions, and we know that he thinks humans would be much happier if they worried less and spent more time running across fields with a stick in their mouths and their tails wagging. He reminds us always to be cheerful and to take pleasure in everyday things like taking a walk to the park and eating dinner. 

Milu the Cat From Milan

Milu was a cat I befriended on a visit to Milan, Italy. He was used to many strangers coming to stay and was very cautious at first until he realized that I wanted to play with him. His days seemed to be full of gazing out the rooftop apartment at the many swallows that would sweep along the rooftops. According to his owner, he actually caught one of them, which was a high point for him, and not so much for the swallow. He loved the toy I gave him while I stayed there and slept on my bed after the first night. His owner had to leave Italy and returned him to his original family where he could be with his siblings and his mother and live life in the country. I’ll never forget his elegance and his curiosity, and the sound of his purr.