Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Just wanted to wish everyone, animal or human, especially those who are sick, unloved, unwanted, and hurting, and in extra need of love and prayers, a Very Warm, Cuddly, Happy, Valentine's Day. And know that there are people out there who do care about you and will be coming to help you and rescue you and give you food and shelter and warmth and love.

I also wanted to shout out a few Happy Valentine's Day wishes to some of my FBF's (First Blog Friends), so here I go...in no particular order: Cloud the Wonder Dog, Madi and Mom, Lindy MacDuff, Sandra, Bijou and Banjo, Khyra and Mom, Remington, Sagira, Judy and Miss Cindi Lou, An English Shepherd, Bunny and all at Houndstooth, Aine, Lorenza, Anya and Kareltje, Mistaya and M.O.M., Sara, Havetailwillwag, Fosterdoggies, Yodi and Jess, McGillicutty, Emma Rose, P.J., Life With Dogs, Jazzi, Sugar, Max, Twix, Chloe, TC, Priscilla, Sharon, Daisy, Summerrr, Canoe.Bill, Kinga, Tina, Coltin1948, Kasmid, Miz Minka, For The Love of Dogs, Jacks Dad, NancyTurtle, Spider and Smudge, Signe, DSS, Shangey....oh yeah..Jersey Joker and Josie's Dad...BOL...that's Uncle Gary and Daddy! If I've left anyone out, I apologize...but I think I've got you all. I've only been doing this for a couple of months, but the love we've received has been tremendous...life saving...in a way you'll never know. So I want to thank you all for being there for me and Josie and letting us share our stories with you. Thanks so much for listening. Hopefully next year the list will have more than doubled, but you will be special because you are my FBF's!!!

Josie and I visited the hospital on Wednesday, during the big snowstorm. On Thursday, we had to dig out. On Friday we visited again. And on Saturday, we had a Pediatric visit. We also visited 2 patients in the ICU Unit. These are patients that we've visited before and needed some extra love. We also visited John and Gertrude. John is doing better, but not good enough to go home yet. Then we visited an patient in Oncology, who had taken a turn for the worse.

We ran into most of his family Friday night while waiting for the elevator. They explained his condition after they asked a bunch of questions about Josie. (Josie is a great conversation starter!) I explained that we would be more than happy to visit their father/grandfather, even if he was "seemingly" out-of-it and Josie could lie on the bed with him. They seemed a bit skeptical, but I explained about how the healing/calming properties of the dog's presence helps the patient and the patient is aware the dog is there. I just left it at that. When we walked out of the hospital that night (Friday), we ran into them again, as they were bringing a bunch of food into the hospital and they said "did you go visit him?" and I said "well you didn't seem like you wanted us too, would you like us too?" and they said "Yes!" so I explained that we would be back on Saturday and we would visit then (meaning tomorrow).

So when we got there on Saturday, their Dad/Grandfather was mostly out of it, breathing steady, and I laid Josie's blanket on his bed on one side, and picked up Josie and laid her on the blanket. I introduced myself and Josie and she laid her head right on his chest and breathed in synch with him and fell asleep with him. It was quite beautiful to watch. I was told that Joe (that's his name) is a huge animal lover, especially dogs. We'd like to visit Joe again on Monday.

Also, I will have more updates on "Rescue" the dog when I can. We still do not know if she is going to lose her leg or not. So please keep her in your prayers.

Dog-Ma Thought for the Day:

Be Gentle and Kind.
There is Already so Much Pain in our World.

Much Love. Woof Soon.