animals – Jacksonville Blogger

The Story of Two Dogs

On Sunday, August 28th, while traveling from Augusta to Jacksonville, I decided to go “the scenic route”. The GPS took me through the little towns in Georgia and down the back roads where there were loads of flora, fauna, farms, and such. Upon stopping at a forever-field of pecan trees, I got out of my car to take a photo because it was so impressive. There were trees as far as the eye could see.

While heading back to my car, I noticed in the not-too-far distance a rather big dog; a blonde lab type. It startled me, being so far out and seeing it by the ditch. Not knowing if he was friendly, I walked straight to the car and just after closing the door found the dog looking in the window at me; paws on the glass! His tail was wagging and that long wet tongue lapping so obviously, he was friendly. Up close, he looked skinny too, so someone had apparently let him out and driven off. How horrible!

My car was a load full of wagon wheels to decorate this fall, 3 very huge ligustrum trees, luggage from my trip and items from shopping with my sister over the weekend. I wondered right then and there where he was going to sit.

Immediately, I got my glass of water and opened the door giving him water to drink. He savoured every lick. Then I thought, about what to do. How would I take him? Where would he fit? What would I do with him once I got him home? I already have a dog and cats galore! The very dog I have was rescued. I have cats galore because when tenants walk away from their homes leaving them there, they end up in my home. Oh my!

It wasn’t long when a lady turned the corner. She rolled her window down and said, “Are you going to rescue that dog?” I said, “Well, I’m from Jacksonville. I just saw him and didn’t know what to do”. She said, “If you help me get him in my car, i’ll take him”, and she did!

Reaching down, he was picked up and put in her front seat. She had already laid down her jacket for him. She said, “People can be awful”. I totally agree but I was totally grateful she wasn’t awful but kind-hearted instead. She must have known he was there and headed to get him.

What would I have done with another animal? For sure, something! There is no way I could have driven off leaving that dog on that lonely road but was so thankful for this woman who took in that stray.

Traveling along further, I saw on a hill a pretty home. On the front lawn was a black, healthy looking dog laying on the lawn looking as if he was waiting on someone. I slowed and passing by noticed he watched me carefully. I turned my car around so as to get a photo. When I did, he ran at me barking as if to say, “Don’t bother my home”.

The story of two dogs…. One dog skinny and hungry for attention; lost and in need of help. The other, waiting on his master, full, happy and protecting the land.

What kind of person would leave an animal out on a lonely road? God Bless the lady who took him. There are good people out there too. 8-28-22

Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely. Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways. Proverbs 28: 5-6.

See you tomorrow,

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August 8

Today is”International Cat Day”

If you have a cat, you know they can be “just something else.” Sometimes they are doting, weaving in and through your legs, and within your reach, but other times…not-so-much. Cats definitely have a mind of their own! God intended it that way! What a creator.

Jacksonville is a no-kill city so very often if people have ferrel cats in their neighbourhood, the city sends someone to get them, fix them and return them to that same area. I do not know from where the kittens we found came. Two just appeared one day, skinny and hungry. We immediately went to the store and bought cat food and soon they will have happy homes with full tummies all of the time.

On this International Cat Day, our family actually rescued one of those kittens. We called her “Callie” because she’s a calico breed. If you’ve been following, you know that kittens came out of our pool area about the time we were in demolitioin mode. They were rescued from “an untimely death”. (Charlotte’s Web fame). Today we brought this one home who will go to a nice family.

Happy International Cat Day!

See you tomorrow.

8-8-22

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August 6

Kitties in the Pool

In 2005, the Jacksonville Humane Society became a no kill organization. In 2014, the city of Jacksonville joined in with that same decision and now works in cooperation with other groups in the city to save animals.

If you’ve been following along, you know that we are going to tear down our childhood pool to make way for other things. Today, while preparing the 20 x 40 olympic size pool for demolition, two kittens moseyed out onto the floor (no water) of the swimming pool into the open surprising all of us, especially Daniel who was driving the excavator.

Everything stopped and we tried to catch the young kittens but to no avail. We thought they could not get out of the pool area but as we prepared to “go in”, out jumped both of them.

Daniel went to the store and bought soft cat food and in short time, they were full and happy. They stayed around to watch the pool come down.

We do not know the future of these young kittens but you can be sure they are visiting with a no-kill family. (Oh, BTW, we’ve already named the black one with white paws, “Socks”. Also, food is already on the counter for tomorrow.)

See you tomorrow,

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July 30

“Dog of 9 Lives”.

Dog Gone it! The Puppy has lost her way again!

After my Father passed away, we were at the home place cleaning and straightening when a wild looking schnauzer-type dog ran up. She was dirty, matted and frightened. We could not catch her, yet she wanted to be caught. There was no petting her, though she wanted to be stroked. It took a couple of days to lure her to us. We fed her and when I left the first day, gave food to a neighbor to keep her fed until we could figure out what to do with her. I had 3 cats. I did not need another animal.

For the next few visits I determined to wash her and offer her to someone on Facebook. I felt that someone had dropped her off on the long, Crystal Springs Road so giving her a new family would be great. After I listed her photo on Facebook, a woman claimed her and gave me a tongue lashing about offering her to a general audience without trying to find her owner. That actually never crossed my mind as It was obvious (in my mind) she had been dumped.

This woman contacted the police and told them that I had her dog and would not release her. Through a turn of events, a police woman called and we met at a vet on St. Augustine Road in my city where the dog could be checked for a chip. There was no chip thus the puppy did not belong to her as she indicated her puppy had a chip. The police officer released the dog to me and I’ve had her since 2015. It is believed she was about 6 then making her about 13 now. She’s beginning to show signs of age, plus she’s blind and deaf. Her life is often a bit challenging.

I have an outdoor Russian Blue male cat who cannot be trusted around Puppy. Just last week, after cutting Puppy’s hair , she stepped off of the front porch to shake and stretch. Hardly before she got down the walkway, the large and very strong cat rolled her before I could get to her causing wounds and hurt feelings. Poor Puppy.

She has been lost twice and thankfully, both times she made way to the safe arms of a good Samaritan. The first time was about a year ago when she went out to piddle. Somehow, she got turned around and ended up through a long patch of woods to the neighborhood next door. A family kept her a week and finally turned her into the animals shelter where they posted her photo and I found her and quickly got her home. At that time, I realized she cannot go outside alone at all.

The most recent loss was when I went to Augusta to spend time with family and left her with a caregiver. She somehow got out and ended up a quarter of a mile from home where at 7 AM she was found in the middle of a busy road, lost and confused.

Even being out of town, I took to the internet posting her photo on multiple sites. When that happens, animal lovers unite and if an animal can be found, it is… Such was the case. By midnight, when I received a call from the vet in Mandarin, I learned she had been found and was sleeping “curled up” and safe. She is now in her own bed…happy and safe.

See you tomorrow,

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