I've decided there's no better time than the present to document what's going on in my life. I don't have a lot of time for blogging, reading, cleaning, going to the bathroom, remembering to eat with all the smaller 2 and 4-legged children that need my attention (especially since school is out) but I need to take to make some sense of all the digital pics still on my camera and words in my head that compile the most recent happenings in our lives.
As some of you know, we have a crazy house (zoo) over here. The girls are getting tall and unfortunately not any wider so finding pants to fit them is like finding a needle in a haystack - almost impossible! And we have 3 dogs (53 lb greyhound, 30 lb mutt, 5 lb poodle) and a guinea pig. That was up until 2 days ago. Now we are the proud foster family of a 9.6 lb rat terrier/chi mix who just happens to have no eyeballs. No joke! I know, I am a nutbag.
My passion is animals of all kinds but mostly dogs. So much that I spend way more time than I should over at Brazoria County Humane Society. It's my pleasure and my therapy helping out over there. The dogs and the people are amazing! Why would cleaning dog poo, washing nasty food and water bowls and sweeping/mopping cement floors interest me so much? Because mixed in all that dirtiness is a chance to love on some dogs who, well - don't get much lovin most of the time.
So I tell you all that to lead up to how Eli came to join our household. I was there last Monday with Elaine. I'm cleaning kennels and she's talking to the dogs waiting on me to get to them. And she asks, "Mom, what's wrong with this dog?" I walk over not thinking much about it. We often have dogs needing medical attention. I walk up to the cage door and start talking to him and when he turns around, my jaw dropped. He only has one eye or I should say "had" one eye. It's still there but it's hanging out of his head and it's all ripped up and basically destroyed. He keeps trying to talk to me but when he opens his mouth, nothing comes out. I immediately start asking why he hasn't been euthanized yet. He has to be in pain. I'm told he was brought in by the Manvel Police Dept. on Saturday and there wasn't a vet open to take him. Not an affordable one anyway and the shelter runs on donations.
I wrap him up in a towel and give him to Elaine to hold while I clean his kennel and he instantly melts in her lap. He didn't wince or jump when I picked him up and he's just as calm while Lain is petting his head. I'm blown away by the gentleness of this poor pup. I knew right away, that he deserves another chance. Some human did this to him with their abusive hand or they did it indirectly by not being a responsible pet owner. He had been wandering around in the middle of Iowa Colony for days, no doubt, and eating whatever he could find - all with no sight.
So I begin to tug on Shirley's heart strings (she runs the shelter) and give her the sad Puss-n-Boots eyes - you know the ones. And she agrees to get him the surgery he needs if we get enough donations to cover it. Oh and I had to agree to foster him. Poor Russ, he never knew what hit him. I honestly tried to call him twice before I said "yes"- ask Lain. But he just didn't answer his phone, thank God. Shirley immediately posts on FB and sends out emails urging people to give our of their pockets to help this sweet guy. She also finds a vet, Dr. Pickle in Friendswood, who agrees to see him right away. Now I'm going to skip ahead or this blog could easily become the length of a Stephen King novel in no time.
Dr. Pickle (our angel) got Eli all fixed up. Turns out his jaw was also broken and she wired it back closed for us. Cha-ching, right? Can you believe that within 36 hours, we had all but $220 raised from our loyal FB fans? People really came through for Eli. People that had fallen in love with him just like we all did at the shelter, even though they hadn't met him. His sad story really touched people.
So now we have 9 total beings living in our small house. But you know what, I wouldn't want it any other way. Eli is destined for something big. I know b/c God told me one night while I was lying in bed, unable to sleep. I knew he was going to feel a helluva lot better the next day and my heart yearned for it.
You would never know that someone betrayed and hurt this dog so badly. He's gentle, sweet, unafraid and completely unaware of how amazing his story is. I really think he is going to reach people we don't even know yet, haven't met yet, and maybe with similar stories to his.
