From Jim: We have a "new" dog at Home At Last. His name is Lazarus-We'll call him "Laz". He's a four year old Bernese Mountain dog. We got him from the SPCA shelter in Oroville. Boy, are those ever some nice folks! This guy was surrendered by his family mid-month and really needed a home. That would be us. We had lost Zoe, our Border Colly cross, earlier this month and it seemed fitting to celebrate her life with a rescue. We're dog people, as well as cat, horse, mule, donkey, goat, chicken, guinea, people. You get the idea. We love animals. Laz is still pretty shocky and will need a few weeks to settle in completely. The other dogs are really OK with this new guy and the cats are as OK as they ever are with dogs-Clods in cat language. Around here, the holidays are an extension of an ongoing daily festival of life. The vibrancy and energy of the sanctuary is driven by the critters' presence. We go along for the ride. I tried to imagine what it would be like for Laz. His world just plain fell apart. Nothing he could do about it and certainly not his fault. He simply found himself at an institution one fine day with no way to know what would happen next and his "support system" gone. Alone, in a cage, with caregivers to feed him, get him some exercise, and offer a pet or two-but not "his" people. Left to sleep in cage and listen to and smell the scents of other frightened animals. Now, don't get me wrong-these are the lucky ones. They're not abandoned on the streets, homeless and uncared for, but it still must be stressful and difficult for them. Well, anyway, Donna saw his picture on the net, said he called to her, and that was that. When she and Beth and Margaret went to "look", I said, "Sure, you're just going to look. Heard that before". Love my wife and her kind heart. Laz has a "kennel cough". The vet at SPCA had started a course of treatment which we'll continue. At the next ranch call, Dr. Darling will do an intake exam and get the records we were given. In short order, Laz will tell us who he is and what his part of our family he'll fill. We already know he'll be the absolute best dog he knows how to be. Critters do that. Wish people would. Laz has a "chip" implanted. That's a good idea and I encourage pet owners to make this small investment in their animal's security. Our holidays will also see two new mules find their way into the herd. Jackson and Reba came from Horse Plus after not finding an adoptive home. Dang it, these are really nice mules and the economy hammered em. Here's a real Christmas story for you. A while back we brought Bow (AKA, Gumba) to the sanctuary. His owners' health simply could no longer allow for horse care. They have been really good friends and taking Bow was never a question. Well, the mules arrive and are put into the backyard bunch. It never occured to us that Jackson had been in a neighboring turnout next to Bow. Should have, just didn't. Jackson had been rescued from the same area where Bow lived. That was OK, because they sure remembered. After months of separation, these two guys stood with their heads on each other's backs, elated in their reunion and picking up where they left off with their friendship-mule and Mustang, pals! How's that for a holiday moment. Home At Last has story after story that makes us feel so humble and quietly happy. Merry Christmas to all of our dear friends and their critters!
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