BackPageMay2015

Every once in a while, I get an opportunity to shed some of the Bad Karma I'm sure I'm collecting as I amble through my days here on earth. I wonder how many of these chances I've tripped over, anxious to get away from someone I'd much rather punch in the face....?

Last week I didn't miss the chance to Do Some Good, and this deed fell somewhere between "Act of God" and "Meant to Be."

A co-worker was losing her house and was being evicted. This is the "Act of God" part. I'm sure that Bree and her husband don't see it that way, but if you keep making bad choices (which I won't get into here) eventually "God" steps in and says, "OK, enough of this shit. I'm taking the wheel."

She had two dogs, and was only allowed to take one of them to the apartment she and her family were moving to. The dog she was keeping was the dog she had first. The other one, a Chihuahua, was a dog she acquired from her in-laws. While Bree and her family seem to like dogs, I wouldn't call them "dog people." Bree got that Chihuahua partially on a whim, and partially due to some health care issues her in-laws were having. She is not really suited for the neediness--or bossiness--of a Chihuahua. Last year, when Bree was 'getting sick of the shedding' from the Chi, which was a Long Hair, she said to me, "You want her?" --and I said I would take her. That was a premature outburst on Bree's part, because when I told both her AND her husband that their lifestyles weren't suited for a toy dog, they chickened out and decided not to part with "Tiffany."

Tiffany, now Kate

A year later, Bree and Co. are now losing their house and Tiffany needs to be relocated. I kept my word and said I'd take the dog, meanwhile thinking that I did NOT need dog #7, but no way would I let this little girl fall into the wrong hands. My plan was to foster Tiffany until I could find a new mommy for her.

The pieces were about to fall into place. I was on Facebook chatting with Louise Cacchio, who is very involved with fostering, keeping, training and living with lots of dogs. This person used to breed Chihuahuas, so she was a good small breed connection. She said, "I bet Garrett will want this dog."

Garrett O'Dell is a retired teacher {Ed: RVW member, taught high school art}, lover of Pomeranians, kind person, and all-around spit-fire. I've known her for a long time, from my days of working at the animal hospital where she brought (and still brings) her dogs.

It only took a few facebook messages and phone call and Garrett did indeed want this dog!! All I had to to was make the arrangements!

The next week, we had the re-homing of Tiffany. Bree, Garrett and Louise met at my house so Bree could give Tiffany to Garrett in person. It wasn't easy for Bree, and there were lots of tears, but it was the right thing to do all the way around. Tiffany, now called Kate (thank God) has bonded to Garrett, and is now part of the Doggy Social Hour she goes to on Wednesdays.

Garrett was looking for a young female dog she could train. Bree has peace of mind that Kate is in a good home, and I don't have to have 7 dogs. This is the Meant To Be part of the story, in case you couldn't tell.

I feel good about this Mitzvah and really hope that it negates some of my, er, less favorable Karmic points.

See more, in New Additions, on page 2

Garrett judging the Wrinkler Match, in 2007, in Red Hook, NY. Occhi with S K-M