Merry Christmas Friends and Family,
I'm looking forward to seeing some of you in a few days! We'll be bringing our 4 of our 5 dogs along for the adventure. I know, having so many dogs seems a bit crazy to many of you, so I wanted to share some of the life lessons that have been taught to me by our dogs and the relationships with people that I've established because of them.
Some of you may know that I have suffered from depression in the past. There were times when I couldn’t get out of bed in the morning. Two years ago we moved to Birmingham, and it was here that I found a small pug rescue group who has taught me that in giving, you get back double. It was through this rescue, it’s amazing volunteers, and the many dogs they care for that I learned you don’t have to be perfect to be loved. I didn’t realize when I first joined Alabama Pug Rescue that they rescued humans as well - they certainly rescued me.
I have learned patience and courage by watching our blind dog slowly, one step at a time, learn his way through our house. I’ve seen the wonder and delight on his face when he finally realized what a toy was and picked one up for the first time to play.
Anytime those old feelings of hopelessness start to creep up, I look at our second rescue, who had been beaten by her owner, hit by a car, and denied vet care for her injuries for several months before coming to rescue. After all that, I expected her to be fearful, untrusting, or at least, scared. What I found instead was a creature whose love for life could not be beaten out of her. Walking around on a broken leg and two busted up hips, she was a perfect picture of what true determination looked like. I like to watch her now as she runs through our yard, her whole body wagging along with her tail, and she smiles up at me as her eyes look into my soul. She has taught me to never give up.
I never understood the concept of forgiveness until now. I’ve seen the callousness of man in the many faces of abandoned dogs that have come into the rescue, thrown out like trash, and am slowly learning forgiveness as I watch these dogs forget the cruelty that mankind had bestowed on them and live to love again.
I used to think I knew everything - now I realize there is so much left to learn and I couldn’t ask for better teachers. Below is a link to an article written by Alabama Pug Rescue’s founder about the dog that taught her that anything is possible if you do it with your heart.
May the wonder and joy of Christmas be with you this holiday season and always.
- DG
A Legacy of Hope
Written by Alabama Pug Rescue and Adoptionm Inc.
President Pam Mayes
