Companions
Animal are our teachers and our spiritual guides. I would like to introduce you to my Spiritual Mentors.
The Story of Flare
After losing My Guy Sky ~ a magnificent dog and wonderful companion who was full of life – I was very reluctant to bring in another dog. But, day after day I would go to the ABMC website and mull over all the dogs needing a forever home.
Until one day Torch decided he was tired of seeing me there browsing the website. He decided I needed rescued. He was willing to take on the job; and he did.
He keeps me in shape with regular exercise. Occasionally he will grace me with a day off; which requires he spend the day at the resort…Pet Paradise Resort that is with swimming pool, canine friends and doggie ice cream.
Torch was a name given to him by his foster family, because he is so bright, and that he is… But, with me having an aviation background he decided to take a name I could remember. (Because see…. I’m just not that smart.) In aviation we are known to use a FLARE when we need rescued so he graciously took the name Flare just so I could always be reminded…that I was the one needing rescued, not him.
Flare is the light of my life…he’s as silly as they come, he’s friendly and outgoing. He will protect me from every gecko within the boarder of the yard, rid the yard of squirrels, in a heartbeat and take on that pesky ole fly buzzing around the house.
He will clear the coffee table with one swipe of his tail, and counter surf or clean up any particle of food that may have been left behind. And, if I’m not in bed when he’s ready…no problem he goes to bed without me.
He has two sisters; Sniffles and Shelly – both are Belgium Mals. But, you see Sniffles is the Queen of the house, and she will grace us with her company, when and if she feels like it. But, truth be known…she loves her buddy, he is the light of her life as well. We could not have found a more evenly tempered, well adjusted dog.
We are truly blessed.
Kramer’s Story
Back in 1993 I had a German shepherd who was my world and was hit by a car. The veterinarians in the area said that they didn’t believe he could be saved. And if I even wanted to try and save him, the only place that our possible do that would be Ohio State. I was living in Pittsburgh area, at the time, and Ohio State was the closest teaching university. So I loaded up the car with 5 IV and I got him to OSU, where a team of greyhounds and experts were awaiting our arrival and for the next 72 hours they all worked together to save his life. They gave him 11 years with me. (He died in 2004.) And I make a vowel at that time, that as soon as I could I would give back to the breed all the magnificent years that they gave me.Shelley’s Story
It has taken me 6+ years and countless families to find my forever home. One of the last places I stayed, my human family threatened me ~ saying that I attacked their Blue and Gold Macaw. I was defending myself…imagine this ~ they put up a baby gate to keep me away from the bird and the bird flew over the gate scaring the crap out of me. How smart was that…of course I ran away barking. But, according to them I was chasing the bird.
That’s when (my now permanent forever) Mom (Andrea) came to my rescue. I was so afraid of going back to a shelter, I left there with my tail tucked, hanging my head so low, I needed help getting into the car. My spirit was all but broken. Mom took me to this place called Pet Paradise with really friendly people, doggie ice cream and lots of dogs to play with – but I didn’t feel like playing – I still wanted my own people. That’s when I met my brother, Flare, and sister, Sniffles. Flare taught me to play with the other dogs, to dive into the pool and showed me how to swim. I was terrified at first, but Flare with his outgoing zest for life, helped me get over my fear and change my outlook.
Several of the humans at Pet Paradise fell in love with me and took me home on a trial basis – and that didn’t work out…I had already decided I wanted Andrea as my forever Mom and Flare and Sniffles for siblings. It would take awhile, but I wasn’t going to give up and Mom was one tough cookie.
It was time for me to get my Bordetella vaccine, I didn’t mind as long as I was with my Mom 
I was happy. Then on the way back to Pet Paradise she called to let them know that we were going to stop by the house to play with Flare and Sniffles…I had never been to her house before. I was excited…but I knew I had to be on my best behavior.
My plan was… if I was on my best behavior, maybe – just maybe I’d get to stay the weekend. Pet Paradise is nice, but getting to be in a home again with my people would be awesome.
Everything went just as planned; I got to stay the weekend.
Then, Sunday night came and it was time for me to leave – Mom picked up the phone – but this time she called the Rescue Coordinator, telling her that she was going to keep me at the house and would be fostering me. This lasted several weeks…when I won her heart and she realized she would be forever labeled as a “FOSTER FAILURE”.
She would now be my forever Mom.
I had just found my permanent, forever home. Now you see why I’m smiling all the time. I love my Mom, Flare, and Sniffles.
