Dog Rescue

First of all, thanks for all the heartfelt sympathies for the loss of my brother. To know there are many who are praying made this time of mourning easier to deal with.

Let’s move to a lighter topic. Let’s talk about a friend I developed in the house/farm where I stayed in Dalipuga, Philippines. The pace of life was so slow I actually befriended the local animals. One of them was a dog named Artie.

I heard a harsh bark coming from the back of the house. Sounded like an old dog straining to catch attention. What I saw was disheartening. Artie had a tight noose around her neck. Her gray-white fur was muddied and there were patches of exposed skin. Her staring eyes wondered if I was friend or foe. She cowered when I approached and moved as far away from me as the chain would allow. Slowly, I reached out my hand and pat her on the head. Eventually, I started to give her a good massage. All the while, I could see she was trying to process this strange sensation — as if, for the first time, someone actually recognized she was an animal who had dignity.

In the Philippines a few fortunate dogs (who are owned by rich masters) are treated well and live in cages and are let loose certain times of the day. Today there is a trend among the well-to-do to get the smaller breeds for companionship. But most dogs are treated as commodities. Their main use is for security. That’s why the preference is for big scary hounds. They are tied down near the entrances to sound the alarm for any stranger coming within the premises. Some home owners build up quite a collection of these hounds. One of my cousins has close to 20 of them. When one barks the whole caboodle follow like a howling orchestra; and the neighborhood wakes up; and the lights turn on; and this goes on for several minutes.

Dogs live off leftover scraps. Many are malnourished. A few limp because they’ve been run over while crossing the busy streets. Very rare are the pure bred. Many never bathe and are filthy. Yet strangely, all dogs, worship their masters. Whether man realizes it or not, they are indeed man’s best friend.

According to Tata (our house helper) Artie was in chains since she was a puppy. I had to put a stop to this abuse and had Artie bathed and released. What a transformation. She was actually all white. She pranced around the compound like a wild stallion taking in the wind rushing down her body with her tongue hanging out. After she had done exploring do you know where she went? She nestled close to the kitchen where Tata (her master) worked. And wherever Tata would go (to feed the chickens or take the goats out to pasture) there was Artie following along to make sure things were going smoothly. Occasionally, she would pounce on Tata to give her a hug making all of us laugh at Artie’s need for affection.

I would see Artie frolicking about wagging her tongue and tail, it felt good to know I had a part in her happiness. Alas, signs of the trauma of growing up were still visible. Whenever I was alone with Artie and tried to pat her head, she would move away — just like the first time I met her. I learned to let her smell my hand first to let her know I was still a friend. Then I would give her a mean massage that she thoroughly enjoyed.

Who is more important?

Before you start criticizing the Filipinos for the way they treat their dogs, take a step back and take off your western glasses. Stop judging by western standards. We who treat our dogs better than we treat some of our fellow humans — whose culture is doing a better job of compassion? Are dogs more important than humans? Growing up, the answer to that question was very simple. Today, I’m not sure we will agree.

There is a mention of a dog in the Bible in Matthew 15:21-28 — a desperate Canaanite woman asked Jesus (a Jew, her sworn enemy) to help remove a demon from her daughter. Jesus seemingly insults the woman — essentially saying “why must I help you? Shouldn’t I help my own people first? Let the Jews eat first and you can eat the crumbs that fall on the floor just like a dog would.” In genuine humility, the woman admits she is a dog but like a dog she will still be content with just the crumbs.

So, even during those times, dogs have been treated so badly. It is only today that we give them so much importance.

To choose who is more important is difficult. But it’s not difficult to show kindness to anyone — humans or dogs. If we show kindness to both, then perhaps we won’t have to choose.

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA for this joke.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Jacqueline of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

I found these series of dog jokes to fit our topic today

The post I know the whole truth appeared first on Traveling Archive.

“Ding!” My phone said there was a new comment on a video about Tornado Chasers which I posted in YouTube (I linked the video below). I didn’t think much of it until I saw who it came from.

Now, to be clear, I did not create this video. Someone sent this video file to me, and I searched for it on Youtube (as I normally do) and it wasn’t listed. So I posted it with a disclaimer. Over 5,500+ views later, I get this feedback:

No way! Not the almighty Air Jordan himself?! How often do you get a connection with the greatest basketball player in history? I was giddy the whole day … the whole week. I’ve been following MJ’s career since forever. I still wear a tattered and faded Bulls T-shirt because of this man. For one bright shining moment, I was having a conversation with my hero.

And then I noticed: “Michael” is spelled differently. Is this a pretender of my all-time favorite player? Or maybe it’s still him. Maybe he’s using that as a disguise. What do you think?

I figured whether it’s true or not, it made me happy and important. I never realized how much power Michael Jordan ( a complete stranger) had over me until that moment. Heroes have so much power over their followers. We parents have so much power and influence over our children. We all have so much power over each other. Many times we make mistakes. Many times it’s hard to forgive ourselves. Sadly, there are times we ask forgiveness that isn’t granted. But that should be okay. We don’t need approval to forgive. We just do it.

A wise man said “Never argue with people about their perceptions of your actions or their assumptions about your motives. Do your best to do what is right and move on.”

Oh, but I still wish it was the real Michael Jordan.

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C. for this joke.

Videos of the Week

This is the exciting video that Micheal Jordan commented on:
“Tornado Up Close and Personal”

Thanks to Mel of Washington, D.C. for this humorous court case from Chuck Swindoll

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, California

click on the video image to listen to the music if you don’t get the joke.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Mel of Washington, D.C.

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena

The post Hospital Call appeared first on Traveling Archive.