I lost my princess today… Had to say goodbye to Bounce. She was the catalyst for Haven 12:10 Animal Sanctuary. Trying to catch this dog and finally linking up with her – injured, emaciated etc – such a beautiful sweet perfect temperament was the incident that really got me – I don’t know – I guess angry enough – to incorporate into an actual 501c3 non-profit. Her cloud-like presence, gentle spirit, and nurturing ways have been extraordinary these past several years. She has raised all of Haven’s puppies. She has drawn traumatized dogs out of their shells, and disciplined ones that were over the top with rowdy energy in her firm, but somehow still gentle way. She’s cuddled sick cats, allowing them to use her fluffy coat and warmth for comfort. Within the first year she came to recognize my heart arrhythmias and would come and sit on my feet so I would know that I was in danger of passing out… She was a caretaker. It’s barely been 90 minutes and I’m already lost without her. Sitting on the front porch crying because I can’t bear to go into that house without her. I can’t even grieve in peace. It’s early Sunday morning… The phones keep ringing and messenger & email keep going off about strays and rehoming and supposedly a dumped dog pack at the North end of the county… I’m a mostly one person operation day to day …’m not animal control – our funding is extremely stretched- and my heart is in pieces. Bounce never quit on me although her body did. I will never live up to this gentle giant dog’s legacy or the impact she had on me and the hundreds of animals we’ve helped. Hug your fur babies a little tighter today y’all.
