#90: Lost, But Now Found

The latest of five stray pets I have taken in are two dogs.

Baby, a Boxer, showed up four years ago with a collar but no tag. She obeyed certain commands, her nails were short and her brown and white coat was well-groomed. All in all she appeared to be someone's pet. The vet scanned for a microchip. There was none. There was no response to fliers or newspaper ads. I drove her to several neighborhoods asking anyone I saw if they had seen her before and knew her owner, without success. So, I gave her a home.

Then, July 4th of last year, a white-haired Shepherd came running around the corner past the house next door as I enjoyed watching the fireworks going off in the neighborhood. She was terrified of the loud noises. Her hair was wet, dirty and matted. Her nails were worn down and she had sores on her left rear leg. Apparently she had been on her own for some time. She also had a collar with no tag so I knew that she, too, had likely been someone's pet.

I followed the same procedure of scanning for a microchip, fliers, etc., again without success. So, I also gave her a home and named her Thumper because her long tail thumps against the walls when she's happy which, like Baby, seems to be all of the time.

Fortunately, Baby and Thumper get along famously, not only with each other but with the three stray cats I've taken in over the years.

As I watched the dogs play in the back yard this morning I thought back to all of the lost, hurt and hungry dogs and cats that have shown up at the house over the years. I wondered if their owners, if they had one, ever sensed that they had found a loving and caring home.

Sometimes I joke with people that animals must have a hotline that tells them which houses to go to for help because they always seem to avoid certain ones while being attracted to others.

Whatever the reason, these animals were sent to me for care and support and I was happy to give it. In return, I have received far more fun and entertainment and companionship than I ever could have imagined.

I feel the same here on SparkPeople. That I've found a home of caring and supportive people. No matter my physical or emotional wounds, people here have accepted me into their nutritional web site home with open arms.

Just like Baby and Thumper and cats Brownie, Little Thang and Kitty, I am no longer alone on my journey to fitness. People here feed my insecurities, my doubts, my lack of confidence and applaud my successes.

Perhaps, like with the pets, there is a human hotline that has drawn us all together.

For me, I feel as if I have a new home. Thank you all for taking me in.