WHAT A FREAKIN WEEK!!!

I will start from the beginning.  About five weeks ago I told Sally I was filling out an adoption application, but I couldn’t finish, because I would start crying.  Wise Sally said “Nancy you are always going to miss Brownie, so you should just jump in and do it.  I think Brownie wants you to have a puppy”.   I thought, a puppy? Well, Sassy would probably do better with a puppy, but do I have the energy for a puppy?  So I was looking at dogs at shelters and found the sweetest choc lab mix.  He was seven, and had a smile that would light up any room.  His name is Pappy.  So I completed the application, and set up for a meet and greet.  He was so sweet, and full of energy.  I was ready to take him home.  But now it was Max and Sassy’s turn.  Max could care less, “whatever you want mom”.  Then it was Sassy’s turn, and she said no way!  I am not sharing my mom, my house, my food, and definitely not my cookies!  She lunged at Pappy twice.  Poor Pappy just jumped back and looked at Sassy, “What did you do that for”?  So I was pretty upset, but couldn’t be mad at Sassy.  Since Sassy was a stray, I do not know what she went through on the streets.  So I was very upset, thinking as long as Sassy is here I will not be able to have another dog.  Jackie told me, “don’t worry Nancy it will happen”.

A few weeks later I was bored, and thought I would see what’s happening on Facebook.  I am not a big Facebook fan and seldom sign in.  I saw a post that just brought me to tears.    Here is a photo of where the puppies sleep.  Under the house away from the Texas heat.

So I contacted the girl who made the post.  Her name is Mackenzie.  She said she uses any extra money she has to feed these dogs, and she is overwhelmed, because of their medical condition.  So she made this post trying to find them homes.  She said she has contacted animal rescues, but nobody will take her seriously.  She said everyone thinks I’m just a kid, and I’m 18.  Had to chuckle a little.  So I told her I would try.  I emailed and called several rescues.  Some did respond, and I got the same answer.  We don’t go pick up animals, we save them from shelters.  So I copied the post, and filed an animal cruelty report with the Houston SPCA.  I can’t explain it, but something drew me to Mackenzie and the animals she posted.  So the next morning at 6:00 am I hopped in my car, and drove the 95 miles to Shepherd Texas.  It was heartbreaking.  All I could think about is what can I do?  I can’t take them all, but I can take one.  But how do you pick?  There are five puppies, and two adults, how do you pick when they all need someone.  It turns out I didn’t have to choose. Mackenzie pointed at the mixed choc lab puppy, and said “I call her Cookie”.  Cookie?  You call her Cookie?  My heart sunk!  Those of you who knew Brownie knew that Cookie was his favorite word and would go nuts when he heard it. I knew she needed me, and to tell you the truth, I needed her to need me.  So I picked up Cookie, and we started our trip back home.  I renamed her after Mackenzie and she is now Kenzie.  I could not keep the name “cookie” because everytime I will call her, Max and Sassy would think it was treat time.  I had tears rolling down my face on the way home thinking about all the other dogs that were left behind. It also got me thinking, about when we know our pet is going to become a tripawd how we worry.  Will they adjust?  Will they still be happy?  I honestly believe any of those dogs I saw would trade lives with one of our tripawds in a heartbeat.  To have a meal everyday, a warm bed, and most of all someone to love them!  I can’t imagine how an animal goes through life with nobody to love them, or care for them, or to even think about them. But what can we do to help?  But for now I decided I needed to concentrate on Kenzie.  She had mange from head to toe.  She was walking a little funny, and had several open sores that I assumed was from scratching at the mange.  I called three different vets, but all were booked.  I finally got her an appointment for Tuesday.  I also received an email from the lead investigator with the SPCA,  she wrote that she would be back in the office on Monday, and was going to check out the report, and assigned a case number.  I felt some sort of relief that those dogs may get some help.  So I brought Kenzie home, and put her in quarantine in a room away from Max and Sassy.  Even though she was miserable from the mange, she was eating like a little piglet.  I also noticed when she eats, she wags her tail, just like Brownie.  I went to several pet stores to find some kind of shampoo for mange, but had no luck.  A special thank you to Lana (Tyson’s Mom) for overnighting me with some shampoo that helped Kenzie so much,  after her bath she fell asleep, and for the first time felt rested without all that scratching.  So Monday morning.  News of Hurricane Laura heading toward Houston.  Category four and may be a five by the time it hits.  Just Great!  The hurricane was heading toward South Houston, and I live West of  Houston along one of the evacuation routes.  When this happens the traffic is so bad, you can’t even go to the corner store. My first thought was am I going to be able to get Kenzie to the vet?   I knew since we were  West of  Houston we would be ok, but could get high winds, and maybe a power outage. So I began to prepare our closet where we go in bad storms, hurricanes and tornadoes.  Water, pet food, flashlights, blankets, pillows, and bananas and canned weenies for me. I also have an emergency bag packed in case we do need to evacuate with the pups shot records and photos.  Tuesday morning comes.  Hurricane due to hit Wednesday evening. Category five!  Email received.  All vet appointments cancelled. Crap, now what do I do.  Since Kenzie did not have a fever, and was eating I figured we would be ok.  Wednesday morning Hurricane still on route to Houston.  When I went to let Kenzie out, her leg was swollen three times its size, and she couldn’t walk.  I was panicking, what happened?  What do I do? I thought she was going to lose this leg.  Her left front leg, just like Brownie.  To tell you the truth I had a little break down.  I am so tired of this freakin Shit, of people not taking care of their animals, and dumping the responsibility onto someone else.  Then Kenzie looked at me with those little beautiful eyes, and I pulled it together.  She wasn’t in pain when she was laying down, but when I would pick her up she would yelp.  I was planning on taking her to the ER, but the problem was I would be driving toward the Hurricane.  And on the way home it would be bumper to bumper traffic in 100 degrees weather.  So I called the ER, and they told me if she didn’t have a fever, and was eating it would be best to stay put to see what happens tonight with the Hurricane.  I checked her temperature every two hours through the night, and watched the news for updates on the Hurricane.  Hurricanes are very unpredictable, and can change route in a moment, as this one did.  Hurricane Laura changed route and hit Louisiana.  Even though Houston does feel a sense of relief, our hearts go out to our neighbors in Louisiana.  Houston is gathering supplies and food to take to our neighbors.

Thursday morning, and Kenzie finally gets to go to the vet!  I had to leave her at the door, because of the COVID being bad in Texas.  It  turns out that Kenzie had a dog bite that had abscess.  When they lanced the wound, it was a little painful and Kenzie yelped.  Then they told me that she stood right  up and barked at them.  I thought I am going to have my hands full, and to tell you the truth I wouldn’t want  it any other way!  So other than the mange, Kenzie will be fine, and she has eight more days of quarantine.  I do believe I have caught the mange, but it’s ok.  It’s not the first time.  They estimate Kenzie to be about 12 weeks.  I assume she got the dog bite from fighting for food.  What a tough life for a 12 week old pup, or for any age.  But Kenzie will never have to worry about where her next meal is coming from again!  Sassy and Max have met Kenzie through the doggie gate, and Sassy actually wags her tail!  I am hoping her motherly instincts will kick in. Kenzie will learn all about her big brother, Angel Brownie.  But for some reason I have a feeling they have already met.

So all stories deserve a happy ending, just like this one.  Pappy went to a lab rescue in Colorado.  I received another voicemail from the Houston SPCA.  The investigator said “the animals are no longer in that environment, and they are receiving medical care”.  After hearing that message, I thanked God, my mom, and of course my Beloved Brownie.  And Kenzie has found her forever home, and Max, Sassy, Kenzie and I are ready to begin our new journey together.

So here she is.  Little Miss Thing, Kenzie.  Even though she is missing fur, and has several sores, I think she is just beautiful!

Also, a special thank you to Rene, Sally, Jackie, Bev, Lana (Tyson's Mom) and Jan (Ginger's Mom) for checking on me.  I Can't explain how much all of your friendships mean.

My Dear Beloved Brownie, I miss you everyday, and sometimes still cry.  But when I think about the bond we will always have it makes me smile!  I know you are still watching over us, and letting me know you are here in some very special ways.

I loved you yesterday, I love you today, and I will love you always, 

Your very proud and grateful mom!

Thank you all, but I'm not a saint!  I just love animals!  I was unable to have kids, so I think God's plan was for me to be a dog mom which is fine with me.

The true saints are the people that work and volunteer at the animals shelters rescues, and foster.  The people that face animal cruelty everyday.  A special shot out to the Houston SPCA for reacting so quickly, during a Hurricane warning, while they were evacuating animals to another state.

A special thank to those that adopt from shelters and rescues.  When you adopt you are saving two lives.  The one you adopted, and you are making room for one more.  God knows the shelters are always full.

Jackie, yes you told me so.  lol.  I am a little confused on the mange thing.  The vet did a skin scrape, but was not sure which one it is.  She treated with an injection, because she said Kenzie was too young for chemicals.  She goes back in two weeks, and hopefully will be able to get her shots.  I do know the mange is contagious, because I have it.  LOL.  I haven't had a puppy in 25 years!  The last puppy I had I found when she was six weeks, in a paper bag on the road.  She gave me mange.  Daisy was with me for 13 years.

I can't wait to ready more on Ms. Lana!  Going to do that after I take a nap.  lol 

Here is a video of some of the pups, before I knew about them.  You can hear Mackenzie call my Kenzie  "Cookie".  You may also notice that Kenzie is the only choc one.