"Do you ever feel like you're drowning in a sea of dogs? And yet, when you look into their faces, maybe, for a split second, you want to do a little dance! There's not anything in my life I've done that's harder than fostering and finding new inside homes for dogs. It's a constant struggle to get them trained, able to live with people...cleaning up poop, pee, puke, hair every single day. Seven dogs at my house, it feels like a picnic compared to the usual 8 to 9 that typically grace me with their presence. I know it's just the calm before the storm, it always is...

Soon I have an elderly beagle coming in, no home ever will manifest for that poor girl. And yet, how you do say no to a beagle who's lived chained outside for 13 years? Who am I if I can't give her six months of life in a comfortable home out of the cold, with food and water readily available for her? If I say no to her because I can't get her adopted out, then I won't be able to sleep tonight.

And look at Bridget, a blind Akita. When I took her I thought she would never find a home and I wondered what I was getting myself in for. Now she may have a home, but you can never count on them until they come through, and even then...so many! Bridget, Rosie, Sess, pooping boy, Willow, scaredy girl, Dusty, oh my beautiful puppy, Petey, Barney Rubble, Berkley, the one who had puppies via c-section and almost died, Chloe, Fi Fy Fi Flowey, Max, God how I miss you! All my shoes are intact now, Buster, Teddy, Blue Eyes, Buddy, Milton, Luke, Chance, Aldus, Beagle Bailey, Scooby, my beautiful Sadie who passed away, with the gently clacking toenails, Siddy Widdy, biting boy, Shiva, what a gorgeous girl, Kane, Jax, I know there were more but can't remember them, and first and never last, the boy who started it all, the beautifully ordinary Bo, never Worthless..."

I know some of you can relate to this, right?

This piece is now out of print.

Buy framed pieces, apparel, or other items with Tamira Thayne art

Email this page to a friend