Winnie, etc.

A good friend does dog rescue.  Mostly border collies, but others as the need arises.  I journeyed with her to Pendleton, Oregon yesterday to pick up Winnie--a female akita coming up from Baker City.  Hadn't been to Pendleton for awhile and, not surprisingly, things had changed.  The restaurant designated the meeting place no longer existed!  But there was a new DQ nearby.  The DQ was quite nicely decorated with the typical Pendleton theme--wild west, coyote, etc.  It was very nice and blizzards were buy one, get one for 99 cents.  Guess how we used up some of our waiting time?

Winnie.  She turned up at an animal shelter with buckshot wounds to her mouth and chest.  Owners were found but they declined to pick her up, surrenduring her instead.  Given treatment (including sewing her tongue back together) a rescue group found a foster home for her in Spokane.  Hence the "railroad" to get her up north.  One segment from Baker City to Pendleton, then Pendleton to Pasco, finally Pasco to Spokane.  There are an amazing number of people involved in dog rescue--transporters, foster parents, organizers.  I admire their passion and the results they can achieve.  (I can't keep track of how many dogs my friend has fostered, transported, and found home for!)

Winnie was a gentle, well-behaved, and affectionate girl of about 5 years.  How anyone could shoot her in the face is  beyond me.  Even worse, my friend told me of a cocker spaniel that had been dumped by its owners.  Tossed in a black garbage bag and thrown out of a car onto the freeway.  Someone noticed the garbage bag moving and stopped to check it out.  Severely matted, the cocker is now shaved and in foster.

I have no issue with people deciding that dog owner ship is not for them.  Caring responsibly for a dog isn't easy.  But take them to a shelter for Pete's sake.  Try to find another home.  Cruelty is a coward's way of problem solving. 

The sermon today was on grace.  I'm trying to muster some up for people who mistreat animals.  In the meantime, thank God for people who try to help as
life goes on.