ALL ANIMALS GO TO HEAVEN

In those days, I was attending college. When I first moved to that area, I had been forced to find a home for a wonderful small dog that had "owned me". His owners cherished him. He was a very special and extremely smart and talented dog. For example, how many dogs have you seen walk up a cement wall? Keeno did once. It is your choice to believe it or not but it is truth. Very seldom, does a person get an opportunity to have a second pet of such great nature come into their lives again. Kenna looked just like Keeno. When I first met her, she was on a road and about to be hit. She ran to me when I called like a long lost friend and that is what she became to me.

Now, back to the walk. Cammy, Kenna and I were walking back from checking my mail. This was a familiar walk to all of us. Only this time, Cammy spotted a rabbit and took off across the road after it. I was terrified when I saw a car speeding down the road. There was no calling Cammy back. Kenna saw the same thing. She made a quick decision. She ran as quick as I had ever seen her run and bit Cammy's heel. This caused Cammy to speed up. Cammy made it just fine to the other side of the road. Kenna, gave her life for Cammy. Well, in the Bible it says with a rough parphrase here, "There is no greater love than that a person lay down their life for another"....I will never forget either of my angels. Kenna stopped walking on earth that day with me. Cammy and I had some more precious time together. The unconditional love of animals....It is the closest we can know of the Great Spirit's love here on our Mother Earth. Some of us are blessed with Cammy and Kenna's. Is it any wonder that all animals go to heaven?

The Integrity of "Ugly"

The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner. His tail has long ago been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch.

Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped-type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs. Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!"

All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave.

Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around feet in forgiveness.

Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If you ever picked him, up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbour's huskies. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. From my apartment I could hear his screams, and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.

Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling.

It must be hurting him terribly, I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear.

I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye toward me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion.

At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.

Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly.

Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful.

He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared for.

Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be Ugly. ~author unknown~

MY MISSY

When I first met Missy, she was almost hit by a city bus in Denver, Colorado. I hesitated to pick her up and take her with me. Even so, there was something that told me I could not turn my back and walk away. I turned my car around and went to check on the safety of this little dog. She was such a cute dog. I later found out she was a long haired doxan. An older woman told me, "I see you are interested in her. Please, if you can at all, please take her." She told me Missy's story. Missy had lived with her neighbors who really could not take care of a dog. She had taken over Missy but then she had had surgery and was not able to care for her much longer. I finally agreed to take her home with me. I named her Missy Ginger. Missy quickly took over my life.

One of my favorite activities with her was our walks....around the block....The leash was perfectly comfortable to her.....she was just a baby, after all....and leashes when properly used are for the protection of all as my story up above illustrates all to well...even when in the country. Missy would prance.....one tiny foot up in a dance step, then the next until the perfect four step was done...The only allowed break from routine would occur when the leaves danced....:-) Then, her prance was not important but the dance with the romp of leaves was all consuming.

Missy, contracted a kidney infection all too soon. It took her life. One of my most poignant memories was when she was in the Vetenarian's office and it became all to clear that she would not live. The Vet came out and told me, "There is nothing more that I can do...would you like a little time with her? She is going fast..." When I went into her office, the song, "Bridge over Trouble Waters" was playing. I knew that if Missy could leave a tribute for me, this is the one she would choose to leave. For all time, I know there is only a bridge that separates us....Sometime, in the near future, I will be joining Missy and all my beloved animals. Then, it will be a day of happy reunions when I get to see all my animals that went to heaven....and the one who was a bridge over the sometimes troubled waters in my life.

LEO VON DAMONARIES A name like that kind of shouts for recognition. Leo, was a Rottweiller..and the kind that all should be. I got him when he was three months old. At that time, I could hold him in my lap easily. As he grew, he became my gentle protector. We attended "Obediance School" together...it took him a while but he eventually got me pretty well whipped into shape.

Leo grew up with Penny(whose story is below)...he was always tender with her...she made him her hero. When Penny was gone and Dandy came, Leo had hard work to make Dandy his buddy. Dandy was so tiny and Leo was sooooo big....He worked constantly at showing her she had nothing to fear..and in fact he would be her loyal protector. Eventually, she grew to love and trust him.

One day there were two guys standing on the other side of my creek...Leo made sure they knew I was "canine protected". His growling alerted me to their presence. His observations were always keen.

Comedies happened daily in my house when I had Leo. When visitors would come, Leo would be laying down and doing his observation. He would raise his head, make sure they were being appropriate then he would lay his head back down. Dandy, on the other hand went into a wild barking frenzy. The visitors would hesitate at the door...having seen Leo....Dandy loved it...she was sure that they were hesitating because of her...what joy that brought her...she would increase her protective behavior...and the poor visitors got a real ear full while she let them know she meant business.

Leo was snakebit several times on our property. The big, gentle head laid down to rest to wake no more. I can never see a Rottweiller without thinking of my Leo. One of these days, I will see him on that Rainbow Bridge.....the hugs and love I will give him knows no boundries...he is my Angel Rottweiller....Believe me, there is GOOD in the breed...Leo was my living proof.

Penny,Dandy and Buddy

Before Dandy and Buddy there had been Penny. She was a Minature Doberman that I thought the world revolved around. When I lost her prematurely, I thought I would never have a pet again. Then, the same people who had Penny's Dad called me and told me there would be a new litter with the same Mom and Dad...I decided one more time I would try....and so along came Dandy. When I got her, she was four weeks old...she could barely eat. I had to soften all her meals and work with her so that she would live....She slept with me....I told her all my dreams of life and she always dried all my tears.

Then, when she was two years old, she had puppies. One I placed with a nursing friend of mine. My friend still thinks the sun revolves around "Princess Sugar"....but I knew that the world revolved around Buddy...I had purposely kept her "runt"....Dandy had been the runt....and I loved her so.....Before I left Arkansas to go to Arizona, I lost Dandy in the most unlikely way...and then when I got to Arizona, I was to loose Buddy.....no one was left to dry my tears...or be the best little Buddy in the world...but their memories are ever more with me....and my little Dandy.....well, she is with someone who one of these days I will write about.....one of these days...in the meantime....I know she is in heaven...and I am ever so grateful for all she gave me from her loving heart. When I talk to her and feel her licking my tears away, I know more than ever "heaven" is just a step away....

LUCY MY GOOSIE GANDER

Living out on a farm, you get use to the losses in life. Some are harder than others though. Lucy, had originally been one of several geese who lived out on the pond of my new home in the country. Only, by the time I came along,she was the last living goose. The coyotes had enjoyed many fine goose dinners. Lucy was the last of her kind. Lucy became my project. I walked to the pond every day and talked with her and feed her corn seed. I asked her to follow me back where I hoped she would be safer. One day, she decided to take me up on my offer. I feed her seeds and she followed me. For a while, she lived happily in my barnyard.

I decided that she must be getting lonely so found some people who had three "teenage" geese and arranged to pick up three new "friends" for Lucy. I worried how Lucy would accept them. Lucy was perfect example of "Mother Goose". The minute she laid eyes on the new geese, they belonged to Lucy. For a while, there were four happy geese. Now, geese own people like very few other animals. A flock of "watch geese" are nothing to tangle with....My visiting friends often found this to be true much to my dismay just as the dogs and cats and any other critter on the place discovered.

Even with the problems that a flock of geese could cause, I was very fond of them....They all had their names....When Greta was hurt on some farm equipment with a fatal injury, I cried. Only it was to prove much worse in coming days.....Maybe, it is possible that the coyotes smelled the blood....I don't know. All I know is that within the next week, the other two geese that had been obtained for Lucy, were taken by coyotes.

After this had happened, Lucy "told" me all about it in her honks and goose talk....Lucy had turned out to be a gander....Lucy was still Lucy and Lucy and I were in a true predictament. I stayed up that night with the gun close to my chair. When I checked in the morning light, I discovered that the coyotes had managed to take Lucy despite my best efforts.

When I first arrived in this farming community, I had seen a coyote's skin stretched on a farmer's fence....I just couldn't understand how any farmer could do this....Even if they truly thought it would keep the other coyote's away...Now, after my loss of my geese, I was ready to go "coyote hunting". It was a good reminder to me to be careful of not looking just skin deep and that not all things are what they appear to be on suface level.Somedays now, I look at the picture of Lucy and I "remember when" I had a gander as my best animal friend. When I hear the call of a goose, I look up and I think, "Ahhhhh....heaven is not that far away, after all..."


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MY EARLY FRIENDS AND OTHERS

Tracy was my Dad's dog before I was born. It must have been hard on the old black cocker spaniel. He thought he had the life of a bachelor pretty well figured out. Then, my Dad who was no spring chicken went and threw a new ball at him. The baby was bad enough....screaming and taking all the attention....the toddler was even worse...and this new kid who even went so far as to go to his person's barber shop with him was just way to much to comprehend. Still, old Tracy gave it the royal effort. After all, Tracy was a dog and that unconditional love was the nature of his being. He learned to love that kid....and the kid adored old Tracy. When Tracy was killed, the kid was only 5 and bawled like a baby. Tracy had found his way to doggy heaven....but the kid left behind just couldn't understand....Her baby brother had been taken, her Aunt had been taken...and now her best doggy friend in the world was gone...where was this place called heaven, anyway?

Along came Ginger...Ginger looked a lot like Tracy...Only, she was the kid's dog from the start...She was the essence of gentleness...When she was poisoned, she would only let the kid pick her up....and when they took her to the Vetenarian's ofice, the kid went to church and prayed that the Angel's let her "doggy" live....and cried and hurt when the angel's took her doggy home.

The cat Tom was so kool. He was a Tom who turned into a lap cat as he grew wiser and stronger. He died for no reason and the kid was glad that all animals go to heaven. Along came Rover the dog and then Tiny and then Pooch.....My last "child dog" came to me as a Teen when life was tough...he was a beautiful German Shephard I named Chris as he was a Christmas present...he only lived a year and then died of heart complications.....oh how I cried when I lost all my dogs of youth....all hold a special place in the hearts of those they touched....Heaven is reserved for those who love like they could love.

There are lots of other animals....some are heros....some are friends to the friendless.....lots of my own super friends are not included here....All of our special friends who have taught us of love....they are all in their own special heaven just waiting for their loved ones.....waiting to show them the way....to be their guide....to walk over that "rainbow" bridge with them.....That final descent from what is here on Mother Earth to what is there in what we call "heaven"....all animals go to heaven.

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