I feel privileged that I was there to see this moment. Jake, a recently rescued black Lab mix, partially blind and skittish, is learning to trust his new owner. Little is known of his history, except that he was found wandering in the woods, injured and starving. It was obvious his experiences with humans were not pleasant. Yet over the past few months, Jake has learned that he is safe, again or at last. When I witnessed this scene, he was slowly allowing himself to be vulnerable, good eye hidden and head nuzzled into his owner’s shoulder. No reward was promised, other than a kiss, and someone to lean on.
The resilience of dogs continues to amaze me. A being with such willingness to trust, despite a history that would cement fear into a human heart, must truly be physical proof of unconditional love. The interactions between animals and their loving owners melts my heart. And it breaks my heart to learn of an animal being deliberately hurt, or cast away, at the whim of a human.
Jake was adopted through a local Lab rescue. Our own pup came through Akita rescue. There are probably lonely dogs and cats in shelters close to you, full of love and kisses and looking for someone to share them with. Please consider opening your home and your heart to an animal in need.
Is there an animal rescue that you support? Please feel free to post it in the Comments below!
I’m wishing everyone at least one moment of unconditional love today.
This post was inspired both by a wonderful encounter I had with a fellow Free-cycler and by the WordPress Weekly photo challenge. More interpretations to the assignment “Kiss” can be found below.
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
- weekly photo challenge : kiss | Time To Be Inspired
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss « MaanKind
- Weekly Photo Challenge – Kiss « The Urge To Wander
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss « Lagottocattleya
- Weekly Photo Challlenge: KISS « The Adventures of Iñigo Boy
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss | En snögummas tankar om livet
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss | rfljenksy – Practicing Simplicity
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss | Pilot Fish
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss | The Blog Farm – A Growing Blog Community
- The sun kissed the earth | breathofgreenair
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss | mothergrogan
- Celebrity News & Alerts | Google Alert – KISS
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss « Last Train to QVille
- kiss « yi-ching lin photography
- Weekly Photo Challenge: KISS « Life&Ink
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss | Notes from Africa
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss | Mike Hardisty Photography
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss | My Thoughts like Balloons
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss | My Sardinian Life
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss | My Caymanian Life
- Kiss Me! A WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge! « Life in the Foothills
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss | Drama Queen Under the Sun
- Penguin Pecks (Pic de Jour) | piran café
- Weekly Photo Challenge : Kissing clouds | SABAS LOG
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss back in Time « What’s (in) the picture?
10 Like This
Good morning, Melanie! Love this post. I continue to enjoy your blog … and am looking forward to planting.
~ Deb in Mago Vista
Deb, good morning! Did you realize you were part of the inspiration for this post? Feel free to share your rescue org here. (And don’t forget to share pictures of that backsplash when you are done
)
This is an awesome take on the theme.
thanks! can’t get much better than a happy dog
Thank you for visting my blog – and this post is great. I agree on everything you say, and I’m happy for the little one who was rescued and finally loved!
there can never be too much love in the world!
Animals can be so resilient! Glad Jake is getting his “kiss” and a loving home!
He has really lucked out!
this is so precious. he is one lucky dog to be surrounded by so much love
He couldn’t have landed in a better home. His owner is so kind to him.
Thanks for sharing the story behind the pic
He’s a handsome dog
Inigo, I think he’s handsome, too. And his white eye just adds a look of mystery.
I adore labs they are so full of love and wonderful companions for children. It amazes me how badly humans can treat animals in general and their own pets specifically. Your story reminded me of the dogs rescued from fighting (Michael Vick’s dogs) one in particular was deemed to be un-adoptable due to its experiences fighting, today that dog is used to visit elderly and is so full of love, if only people could heal like animals.
Our last dog had been badly neglected, abused, and tortured. There was no reason he should have survived, but he did…and he bonded with my husband. I think that’s what helped him through. He also,had no reason to care about humans, but decided that he would spend his last days snuggled in Mike’s lap. The photos I have of him are all old-style paper prints. I should figure out how to,share them here.
We have a wonderful humane society and shelter here that works dilligently to place pets throughout the county. Here is their website:
http://hsvb.org/default3.htm
Even just a quick glance at their web presence gives insight into the dedication and love these people feel toward animals. I’ve visited several times and have attended several three guest lectures there re: cats.
When we first moved here, my dear Clarisse (11yo at the time) wandered off and was gone for 5 days. I was sick with fear! On the second day, I called the shelter and then sent them a pic via email so they might keep an eye out for her. Do you know that on day 5 of her absence, the Humane Society called to ask if she’d come back (she hadn’t) and then told me it was a longshot but if I had some of her used kitty litter still around (i did) to spread it around my house and perhaps it would guide my lost cat home. With my right hand to God, I tell you Clarisse showed up 6hrs after I put out her used cat litter!!!! Whether her return was coincidence or a direct result of the advice they gave me, I’ll never be certain…but one thing i AM certain of: our local humane society is an AMAZING, caring group! I can never say enough good things about them! (sorry if this got a little bit over-long!)
A great story, and an amazing tip! I will have to remember that and share it when others’ cats go missing. Thank you so much for sharing it, and also for the info of your local rescue. You just can’t say enough about a good shelter!
Enjoying your blog. I volunteer foster for 2 rescues here in MD, Mutts Matter Rescue and Tails of Hope Sanctuary.
Gail, thank you so much for that!