Henry here.  Pondering the meaning of life.  One year ago today, I had no idea about the adventure that was about to begin.  I was a homeless dog wandering around, scavenging for food and, little did I know it at the time, one way or another my life was about to change.  When you are out there on your own, hungry, with terrible insect bites and skin infections, you learn to be afraid of the world.  Everything hurts.  Everything scares you.  You haven't learned yet, that somehow, somewhere, someone cares that you are in trouble, and they are trying to find you too!

Today is the one year anniversary of my last day being alone.

(Mom, close your eyes, I know you hate this part).  After I was found wandering, I was brought to a vet in Tennessee, who took one look at me and decided I was a candidate for the shot gun.  So you see, my life was about to change.  I knew what they were talking about.  I am very, very smart.

But my angel Ingrid worked there.  Ingrid is one of those saints who believes in you, no matter how scared, or mangy, or awful you may seem.  She sees beyond that and wants to help.  I have since learned there is an entire flock of angels like Ingrid, but she will always be my special one.  I "dodged the bullet" so to speak, and Ingrid brought me to her very own home.  Her husband shaved off what was left of my decayed fur, and she held me, and soothed me, and she bathed me with oatmeal shampoo.  Now, I'm not saying that I like baths (even to this day)... but there was something about this lady that made me think I could trust her.  She gave me food, and was so kind, and she let me play with her sheepies who were so beautiful!  Her sheepies were called "pets", that is an animal who is loved by a human and doesn't have to be afraid.

Next thing you know, I am on a GIANT truck with Don Bradley, on a very long road trip.  Don is like Ingrid, he has this kindness about him.  We rode for days in his awesome truck.  It had a bedroom in it and a tv.   We ate hamburgers together.  Ooops.  I'm not supposed to tell anyone that.  We ate kibbles together.  Yeah, that sounds better....  I wasn't really sure what was happening to me, but ANYTHING was safer than that vet...

One early Friday morning (I mean EARLY) at 5:30am we pulled into another truck stop.  Don was having leaky eyes.  Is that why we were pulling over? Nope.  There was a woman there, and a miniature person,  sort of a human puppy.  They were there for ME!

Well, no matter how dark and gloomy those early days were, I had been spirited up to Boston and to a family, and I have become a PET... I have learned to trust, and to play and to hardly ever be afraid!  My skin is all better, and I have beautiful long fur that dances in the wind when I run.   I never forget my rescue angels.  Ingrid sends me presents and I can smell that they are from her!  I have a respectable job writing for Tale's End, and I have earned a RED RIBBON at the NEOESR Picnic for rescuing my family. I was even a feature story in a Tennesee newspaper, "Animal Tracks".   I have a wonderful pack to belong to, and you can see my sense of PRIDE now!  It has been quite a year.  I am FILLED with gratitude.

Never forget, in your darkest moments, it  only takes a day for things to change.  If you need someone, keep believing that they are coming.  If you have everything you need, please consider sharing your good fortune by helping with Rescue! 
This is Henry Holland, Investigative Reporter,  Red Ribbon Excellence.  Signing Off.
 

BEFORE

AFTER