At this very moment, my morning cup of coffee is starting to brew. My thoughts for this week’s blog post are beginning to percolate in tandem, as I lift the lid off of my ceramic cookie jar that houses my almond butter snack packs. For years, I have enjoyed this delicious morning pick me up, which is coincidently named “Barney Butter.” This simple revelation has caused me to pause, examine the outer wrapper and say out loud, “What are the chances of that?”
Second chances. What a truly glorious phrase that really is for me. In October of 2011, my little Yorkie, Batman, at almost 14 years of age, passed from diabetes. By February of the following year, I felt ready and confident to bring another four-legged family member into my house and I had actively started searching on Petfinder. I had spotted a photo of a small dog eating from a bowl that prompted me to further explore this opportunity. I filled out all the necessary paperwork and waited for that elusive “he’s yours” call to come my way, but it never did. Little did I realize at the time, that life was preparing me for one of the greatest joys that would ever be bestowed to me in just a few short months.
In August of 2012, I stumbled across a picture of a maltese mix on the Yorkie911 Rescue website by the name of “Casper”. That photo spoke volumes to me. I knew within seconds, that I was destined to adopt this 4-year-old bundle of fur (aka Barney) into my home. A home where more love would exist than we could have ever possibly imagined.
To all of the hard-working and selfless individuals that rescue the abandoned and mistreated animals that are no longer deemed part of a family, I want to personally thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your work is painstakingly difficult, but remarkably rewarding at the same time. There will never be enough words in my personal vocabulary to accurately convey my level of appreciation. Your tireless efforts to find these innocent animals another chance for a better life are “second” to none.