All I Want For Christmas ...

... is to get these things OUTTA me!

Poor dear.  She grunts when she gets up, grunts when she sits, grunts (and sighs) when she finally lays down.  If you touch her belly, you can feel the roiling, squirming wrestling match going on within.

Holly was a little reserved and submissive in the first day or so (as one might expect).  But the more we inundate her with love, the more we go away AND come back, the more she gets scratched behind the ears and tummy-rubbed and has her ears stroked and that spot right between her eyes kissed, the more she's settling in and showing her personality.

She's a quiet, sweet, gentle dog, very affectionate and calm.  Unlike some dogs (hello, Roxy!) who push you to pay attention to them or nudge your hand for pats and tickles, Holly will sit quietly by your side, waiting until you have the time or inclination (which is impossible to resist) to pat her head or find that special spot behind her ear.

None of this, by the way, makes me feel any more warmly towards the people who abandoned her.  I don't get it.  It's Christmas, and I want to give the human race some slack.  But ... when I ask myself "What would Jesus do?"  I conclude that he would hunt those jerks down and slap them upside the head, then say "Couldja turn the other cheek for me, because I got a lot more for you."  Well, I guess if Jesus was a superhero.

But you know what?  Shakespeare was right - all's well that ends well.  She's getting pummelled with love from everyone here, the puppies will be born in a warm, safe, comfortable place and be spoiled ridiculously from the first day, and one of our guests on Friday night - our next door neighbour - fell in love with her and if it can all be worked out, she'll be part of our lives for a long time to come.

By the way, everybody who comes to this lil corner of the internet has been very kind in saying we're doing something special and wonderful and aren't we just so great.  And it's nice to hear, but it feels a bit ... fraudulent.

We do this because we can, and because someone needs to do it, and because we feel so sorry for the animals we take in and want to do the best we can by them.

But we also do this because it's fun, it's endlessly entertaining, it makes every day brighter and (unlike some humans) when you shower an animal with love they pay it back with interest, and who doesn't need that?  What I'm saying is, it's nice that it helps out, but mostly we do this for US. 

If you have the physical space and time to do so, you should consider fostering a pet in need.  It's not forever, it makes a difference, and it will make your life better.  If you need more reasons, I'll have a whole bunch coming up in the next seven weeks or so.

And if you just can't, that's okay.  There are lots of other ways to help.  Your Humane Society is crying out for volunteers to do everything from feeding animals and cleaning their cages to walking the dogs, cuddling the cats, and hugging the bunnies.  And if you have no time they also need blankets, and pet food, and medicine, and leads and leashes and chains and dishes and a million other things money can buy ...

... and oh, yes, they also need money.  Lots of money.  And they don't mind taking it in little bitty increments.

I don't mean to turn this into a diatribe about how important it is to give.  But hey, 'tis the season, and there are lots of worthy places to donate your money.  Just want you to know that it's not just people who need it.

More updates as the blessed event draws nearer.  Look for a star in the East ...

Comments

[Susie]

OK, first paragraph? That's me. And I'm not pregnant.

[Sandy]

oh I love Holly! She looks like a beagle, right? Well she's precious, and you are doing a really great thing by helping her out.

And? I love that Jesus is putting the smackdown on total losers that deserve it.

[AB]

Everything you say: true. My oldest sons worked on an Eagle Scout project not long ago that involved building new pens/etc for the local Humane Society. Naturally, my oldest wanted to bring home every dog in the place, which we were not able to do...naturally. I do feel better knowing that the two dogs we had were adopted because either the people who had them didn't want them anymore (and they were given to us) or they were abandoned and we took them in then. Ditto for the three kittens we adopted this summer who were thrown into a paper bag and left out on a rural road to die. I doubt real people could get more love than those three kittens did in our house! The the burial one of them will get this week will rival a state funeral. Keep spreading the word.

[Lowa]

Yes, I know what you mean. You get so much more out of it than what you give, eh?? If I can speak for myself and my parents in their almost 40 years of being foster parents (to humans, not animals:)LOL)and my many years of growing up with foster siblings; we do it for selfish reasons. Sure, we love to help. But the reward of those giggles and smiles and knowing those kids are being cared for and cuddled and loved and are safe, warm, fed, will for sure get the medications and medical care they need, etc...it is for US more so than them. Especially once my parents started only focusing on "Special needs" children. Hiv positive, fetal alcohol syndrome, cerebral palsy, blind, in wheelchairs, hyrdocephalus (sp??) etc etc. Wow, do they love caring for those kids!

Anyway, I totally know what you mean. It always bothers my parents when people comment on how amazing they are, what patience they have, on and on. They almost feel guitly, because they get SO MUCH from it. So I know what you mean by fraudulent.

And boy can I relate to Hollly's discomfort! I have not been pregnant in more than seven years, but just looking at her makes me hurt! One never forgets how it feels!

I hope everything works out with a home for her, etc. And thanks so much for sharing all this with us. Too bad Owen wasn't a few years older, he would really enjoy those puppies, eh??

[Laura]

What are you going to name this group? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixxen, Rudolf, Nureyev, Trixie and Mittens!
(I think that was their names...)
And don't forget Olive! Olive the other reindog...~

p.s...I hope you'll keep Holly. Labs make great family pets. ;)

[Squirl]

She looks so sweet. It's so true that animals give back so much love. The humans are the lucky one. :-)

[CircusKelli]

*smiling*

Seems to me, she is just what you needed this holiday season.

[shari]

Poor li'l girl, that's a miserable stage. Hope for her sake it's over soon! But if it happens tomorrow, y'know the story... as soon as she gets through the birth, the shepherds barge in, the wise men show up for the baby shower, and no one gets any sleep from then on, because next thing you know the king's trying to kill all the puppies, or something like that.

Anyway, I'm so glad Holly's got your family. And you've got her for the moment. God bless us, every one.

[Ortizzle]

Merry Christmas! (pregnant pause.) And Happy New Year!
(We are so looking forward to the next batch of photos.)

[Bucky Four-Eyes]

Merry Christmas, all y'all!

And since no one else will say it, I will:

Holly has some spectacular teats going on there.

[Squirl]

Merry Christmas, Nils, to all of you!

[OpGal]

a truly wonderful gift to the blogosphere. looking forward to sqooshy puppy goodness.

BFE - we saved that comment just for you.

;)

[Susie]

Merry Christmas, ye of all species there.

[twisteduterus]

Merry Christmas

Give Holly a smooch from all of us here in PA.

BTW-I cannot foster animals...the last two I fostered 10 and 4 years ago are still here.

I failed.

Thank you for this post

Spay and neuter. Adopt and rescue. Be part of the solution.