Another Christmas Story

As December winds away and the new, fresh year begins, Haven of Hope Rescue would like to share one more Christmas story. A few days before Christmas, we received a $100 donation to our program from a person from Rhode Island. While donations from other states do happen, they happen so infrequently that I was truly touched by this thoughtful giving from so far away, to our small rescue here in the middle of Oklahoma and wondered how in the world they had heard about us.

I sent a quick thank you note via e-mail to let these nice folks know how very much we appreciated their wonderful gift to help us take care of our current rescue kids, and those that will come to us likely in the very near future. I was surprised a few days later by another kind note from our new friend that explained that his five year old nephew and his Mom had adopted one of our puppies earlier in the year. I learned that conversations between this young boy, his Mom and his aunt and uncle went to a level that most of us believe can only happen among adults. While most small children ask their uncles, aunts, and Mom and Dad for toys, or puzzles, video games or electronics, this young man, through thought provoking discussions with his family, decided that instead of getting toys for Christmas, he would like to give a gift to an organization that works to do good things in this world. He decided that he would like to give the money that would have been used to buy him Christmas gifts, to us, where his dog Reggie came from, to help us take care of the dogs and puppies in our care.

As I read this uncle’s explanation of how this donation came about to my husband Richard, we both felt a deep sense of good, and a feeling of utter amazement at this young child’s open heart and generous nature. Reggie was just a puppy when he was adopted by this wonderful family in early 2012. We knew then he would be loved and was in a wonderful home. We watched as Reggie almost immediately connected with Preston when he first came to visit the four puppies he would choose from. But to now know that he belonged with a family that thought to reach out to a small rescue organization and touch them with their kindness and generous hearts during a season of giving, when it meant less presents for this young man, is a gift in itself that is priceless and will always be cherished and remembered as we begin the New Year with a renewed sense of Faith, and Hope, not just in what we do, but in knowing there are lots of wonderful, kind and generous adults, and children, in our world who care about us and our rescue kids past, present and future. We are humbled and grateful.

From our family (including all of the four footed ones!) to Yours,

Have a Blessed and Marvelous 2013.

Lori and Richard, Haven of Hope Rescue Foundation - a 501c3 canine rescue organization.

The Heart of a Rescuer

The Heart of a Rescuer must be strong, yet soft. It must be able to tolerate great pain and loss because that is the nature of rescue, and expand exponentially with joy when a life is salvaged and then connected with loving people who she knows will honor them, keep them safe from harm, and ensure that the traumas they have endured thus far in their lives will never happen to them again. This Heart must be soft enough to carry as much compassion as possible, even when there is nothing she can do. It must be able to shed the despair it too often feels for what people are capable of doing to small and innocent creatures, and go on to help those that she can.

The Heart of a Rescuer must be able to handle many types of people, saying no with grace, and yes with care. It must be able to work with others in rescue work who are as passionate and committed to saving these lives as she is, yet be able to understand those who have long since given up Hope – those that are required by their vocation to end beautiful lives every week or every day and are sick at heart themselves over this very thing. It must be able to recognize people who are not Good as well as those who are.

The Heart of a Rescuer must take great risks, and carry great burdens. This Heart knows that when the phone is hung up after she’s had to say no, that saying a prayer and wishing it weren’t so will likely not change the outcome of that particular rescue kid. It must be powerful enough to say yes when the risk is great and the need greater, even though saying yes means going out on a limb and trusting in the Universe that this decision is right and a way will be provided to make another Life right.

If one were to look inside the Heart of a Rescuer, one would see the countless bright eyes of the lives that came through safely to another life, another chance, another place in the Universe. You would see dogs and puppies coming and going, arriving damaged, afraid, ragged and emaciated, injured and sick at heart, and leaving with trust, healthy bodies and minds, tails and heads high and confident, HAPPY. You would see rescue kids looking at you through the glass with a big bushy tail wagging as you leave them in their new home, with their new, good and kind family. You would see fearful eyes gradually become clear with the understanding that you will not hurt them and that you care for them, very much, the understanding that you will protect them and help them be whole again.

You would see through the Rescuer’s eyes that every decision made on their behalf is considered with great care, because you see, they don’t have a voice to say what place is good or bad. They go where you tell them to go, staying there because they trust that you made the right decision for them. Bringing them back from the edge and spending sometimes months rehabilitating them and helping them trust again, demands that each placement is the best placement possible, for their sake. This Heart can’t make mistakes.

You would see tears of great happiness shed because another one has gone on, and while you ache inside some to see them go, you feel great joy for their shining future, and you know that you did a Good Thing. And then, you are in a position to help another. The circle of rescue is like a Heart. The goodness you give to a creature other than Human, the soft touch you make in their lives, the curves of the journey from their arrival to your care many times in desperation and fear, to their recovery and their ability to trust again, then on to their new life and brand new family, circles back around to meet at the juncture where it all began, and you start over with a new life in need.

Please consider a rescue dog or puppy before you buy from a back yard breeder, from the newspaper or from Craig’s list. Rescue organizations and shelters statewide have thousands of beautiful, viable rescues waiting inside their walls for not only a new life, but in so many instances, simply, to Live.

Millions of dogs and puppies are euthanized in shelters throughout the U.S. every year, many of them not humanely. Please spay or neuter your pet, and refuse to buy puppies or dogs online, through the newspaper, outside of the flea market or at the corner stop light, or by signs on the side of the road. More times than not, these animals are not only not healthy, but have been bred in horrible conditions with the parent dogs receiving no love or touch, no health care, and many times, no soft or comfortable place to even sleep or stand, making their owners tax free profit while millions die in shelters because there are simply not enough homes for them all. Reputable breeders have good reputations and sell quality puppies through their reputation alone – not through shady maneuvers such as Craig’s List and meeting buyers in parking lots that ensure their breeding animals are never seen by the public. If you choose to buy a puppy, and can’t meet the parent dogs and can see for yourself that they are healthy and treated well, don’t buy. Share this with people you know. Spread the word about the great need of so many.

Please adopt from a local shelter or rescue organization if you are looking for a new family pet. Unlike unethical breeders and other puppy pushers who create more life for their own profit, we work to save the lives of as many as we can who are at high risk to be euthanized or who are in trouble through no fault of their own. We are in this from the Heart, for all the right reasons. Creating more life is contributing to the already massive problem of pet over-population. Saving those that are already here, well, that’s another story.

Thank you.

Lori  Jones – Haven of Hope Rescue Foundation