Prophetic cookies

Trooper

Clay and I had dinner Friday night at a restaurant called "Made in Asia" up at Zion Crossroads.  It's surprisingly good food (Chinese and Thai), much better than I would have expected from a strip mall Chinese place in Louisa County.  They brought fortune cookies with the bill, of course, and mine read:  "You lead a useful life no matter what riches are coming to you." 

Harry

Although it didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know (what do you expect from a cookie?), that seemed pretty fitting for me.  No great riches are coming to me; I made that choice many years ago.  I'm not terribly ambitious or driven professionally and I have no desire to do the kind of work that I'd have to do as a lawyer to make a lot of money.  We get by fairly well as long as we are both employed and at this point in my life what I'd like more of is time rather than money.  Not that winning a lottery would be a bad thing, but I don't even play the lottery so that's not likely.

Our Jack changed many people's attitudes towards rottweilers
and saved many other rotties as a result.

Now, I reject the premise that anyone can know the meaning of life or know what, if anything, comes after.  Conjecture or wishful thinking is not the same as knowledge.  I also reject the idea that "he who dies with the most toys wins," a/k/a the wealth-worshipping Republican approach to life.  For me anyway, the useful life is a life well lived and a life worth living.  Useful doesn't necessarily mean great accomplishments, but I think it means doing something worthwhile, something that benefits someone other than just yourself.  How is that for socialist thinking? 

Cooper (rear) found Teddy a home and
provides the support he needs to live a normal life.

Buck, now known as Robin, is living the life as a service dog
providing support and therapy for an autistic child.

I apply the same philosphy to our dogs.  Some dogs are born into the lap of luxury, are purchased as puppies and live with the same family their entire life while receiving the best of care, and that is wonderful for them.  I wish it were true for all.  All of our dogs, however, are rescues of one kind or another.  While we try to provide for them the best we can now, we also expect them to contribute something, to lead their own useful life.  For some, it's a matter of them accepting the fosters that come through our revolving door, showing them the ropes, helping them learn to live with halfway decent humans perhaps for the first time in their lives. Our Molly was the matriarch of the kennels when she was a foster.  Gypsy helped run this operation by keeping an eye on everything; she was my second in command for many years.

Griff now assists with his own rescue operation.

Rocky, even when he was miserable, showed an incredible
degree of gentleness and gratitude.
He is now a certified therapy dog.

For other dogs, most perhaps, their contribution comes when they are finally adopted and provide a life of love and companionship for their new family.  That's all that we can or should ask of them, but dogs are giving creatures and some provide ancillary services like security and squirrel patrol to show their gratitude and appreciation.  We've had some dogs that really help with the rescue effort.  We had an old guy, Harry, who was a great fundraiser.  He was old, gray, and walked with a limp.  His coat was coarse and he looked worn and haggard.  But Harry wasn't suffering and he certainly didn't complain.  Take him to an adoption event and put a donation jar on top of his crate and the money would come pouring in.  We weren't really intending to exploit him, but he was good for donations and eventually he got the best possible home. 

That brings me to Trooper (a long and wordy road, I know, thanks for hanging in there).  Trooper is still finding his niche around here.  Our other dogs have accepted him, although Zachary is a bit jealous when Trooper gets up on the bed.  Trooper has taken over the security/protection job vacated by Gypsy's passing.  He has a fierce and intimidating bark, and only a fool would dare test him to see if he would back it up with more. 

Trooper has also entered the world of fundraising by entering a photo contest being run by the Charlottesville-Albmarle SPCA (CASPCA).  They are doing a 2012 calender and have a photo contest underway to select the photos to be included on the calendar.  It's a fundraiser, of course, and each dollar donated counts as one vote.  You can click on this link to get to the page to donate/vote for Trooper.  You have to create an account (email address and password), and then pay any amount with a credit card. 

It's a great organization and they have done so much to help me that Trooper and I would like to give something back to them in return.

Dogs give us so much more than they ask in return.