The obligatory year end post

It's December 31st and most of us are glad to see this year on its way out the door, finally. I'm hard pressed to find a lot to say about 2020 that's very good. Even the defeat of Trump was muted by the failure to defeat many of the trumpists in the House and Senate. And no, I'm not prepared to join hands and sing kum-ba-yah with the idiots and asshole republicans who supported him and lacked the backbone to stand up to him even after he lost. When people show you who and what they are so blatantly and obviously, I'm inclined to believe them and treat them accordingly. 

This year had plenty of personal lows for me as well, losing both my job and my mother in the same year.

But in spite of it all, life muddles on and there are dogs to console us, entertain us, amuse us, and show us how to be better people. Dog rescue goes on and I've got to say that it gives me a sense of purpose that I'd be sorely lacking without it. I don't keep track of the number of dogs we take in over the year or over the 20 years we've been doing this. The number is always small compared to the need, that much I know for sure.

Here are a few pictures of rescued and re-homed dogs, mostly from this year I think, although some were from prior years but their pictures showed up recently either in emails or my newsfeed on Facebook. It's not an exhaustive list, just a few that I could easily pull out this evening, so don't feel slighted if I missed your dog. But do feel free to post his/her picture or send them to me.

Thank you to all adopters and supporters of dog rescue, in whatever role you participate. All we do is foster, but I'm quite aware of all the other work that goes into operating a rescue organization and keeping it afloat. Thank you also to all the vets, vet techs, and office personnel who keep veterinary practices going in good times and in COVID times. These smiles are for all of you.

Bruno, the doggie daddy of all the mini-Troopers and tiny Trooper pups from earlier this summer.

Daisy with poinsettias

Big Momma Diamond. This girl deserves everything she has in her new home.

Duvel (one of Della's pups) and Chester live with friends and neighbors

so we get to see them occasionally.

This is one of the mini-Troopers, the six month old pups that came with Bruno and Luna.

Tucker celebrating Christmas with his family.

Winston in his new home.

This picture of Caesar (formerly Journey), and the one below, are nothing short of miraculous.

I'm sure he has a long way to go yet, but what a leap he has made in his new home.

I really didn't think we'd ever find someone willing to take him on.

The greatest tasks have the greatest rewards.

Caesar under the Christmas tree.

The Goddess Athena (the Dane) and her newly adopted puppy.

Benny (formerly Lenny), left, and his big sister, Priscilla. 

Bete Noire (formerly Bessie) learning to enjoy the comforts and love of a real home.

This is one of the tiny-Trooper pups that came with Luna, just a week after she

gave birth to them in a shelter.

This is Jamma (formerly Pinky) who had been painted blue under her former owner's watch.

Kona, out of the back woods of Kentucky, who with Jamma (above) had a massive upgrade

in their quality of life and standard of living after being adopted to the same home.

Reka, adopted as a pup, sharing a bed with a much smaller dog in her home.

This is the beautiful Samantha, now called Taiga, enjoying her first snow.

Eva (formerly Summer) is a senior now but still loving life.

This is Dasher, who is still with us tonight, but he met his new home today

and will be my first adoption of 2021 next Monday.

And these last two pictures are of Jake, my mother's pug, who now lives with my sister in Montana. 

Jake is living proof of the adaptability of dogs, becoming a mountain pug in his senior years.

He's doing well, and I think he's lost some weight too.