Our home is not pristine but…
It’s a home that’s lovingly lived in!
Our furniture has been chewed on but…
The next dog may chew on it some more so why replace it?
A few of our walls have scratch marks but…
Eventually they’ll get repaired and repainted!
Our windows get covered in doggy goo right after being cleaned but…
What’s a few nose prints here or there?
Our baseboard trim needs a good wipe down but…
We’ll take care of that when we repaint the walls!
Our people refrigerator is chucked full of Bil-Jac filled dog bowls but…
Look how clever we are at making it all fit!
We have to replace the dog blankets that just got destroyed…again…but…
Look how cute they are all snuggled up in their sherpas!
Another poop or pee accident on the tile floor (I lost count today) but…
We certainly excel at quick cleanups!
Our king comforter is made from 100% polyester fill plus an additional 5% dog fur but…
Nothing compares to hearing the soft and steady breathing of a sleeping pup.
The dogs are ridiculously howling as we head out the door…to our backyard but…
Look how much they miss us!
The dogs are wildly barking at a delivery truck two doors away but…
Wow! They sure have great hearing!
The dogs are screaming because it’s meal time but…
I get a little excited around mealtime myself…doesn’t everyone?
We have 3 Vet appointments scheduled over the next 2 weeks which is a bit chaotic but…
Checkups give us peace of mind!
We haven’t taken a get-away vacation in YEARS cuz, well, the pups, but…
Look how much money we’re saving!
We rarely take a night off to attend a concert or a play but…
Our favorite time of the day is snuggling with the pups in the evening!
Taking care of a crew of dogs is a lot of work but…
Look at how many lives we’re saving!
My point…
Caring for 12 dogs is certainly not for everyone, but it’s right for us. We try, as best as we can, to turn what some (many?) would consider to be negatives, into positives, by looking at the bright side! And there are certainly more bright sides than what we’ve noted above. “More bright sides”, you ask? Sure! Here’s just a few…
Every night when we go to bed we know, with 100% certainty, that our pups:
- Know that they’re safe, loved and respected.
- Are a “good tired” from their multiple-per-day group play sessions.
- Have tummies full of good, nutritional food and fresh, cool water.
- Have soft clean blankets and cozy beds that are snuggle perfect.
- Can dream whatever happy pups dream. Maybe they’re running through fields, playing with furry friends, eating yummy meals, laying by a toasty fireplace or just simply hanging out with us.
- Are up to date with all of their medical care and taking whatever meds are needed to keep them as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
And the ultimate bright side…
Each passing day is a gift with these beautiful souls who we will sadly outlive and who will break our hearts, yet again, as Nature eventually leads them to the Rainbow Bridge. As devastating as that has been and will continue to be for us, we know in our heart of hearts, that we will have done everything reasonably possible to have given each and every pup an opportunity to have lived the amazing family life that they so deserved. What could be brighter than that?
This post is dedicated to our beloved Trapper (pictured) who suddenly and unexpectedly passed away from a ruptured tumor in 2024. While our time with Trapper was short, a mere 6 years after having adopted him at age 6, the memories of his incredible spirit and resilience, after having suffered at the hands of abuse and neglect, will forever live on in our hearts. We miss you, Buddy! 💔