A Question About Impactful Animals

[HomesteaderWife]

I was looking through old photographs of animals I've had over the years, and a question came into my head. I wanted to ask the same question to all of you, as an interesting subject that allows you to share about animals you've been close to.

Think of all the animals you've grown up with, raised, or been around. Can you think of one animal that played a big part in your appreciation for all other animals? An animal that was special to you, changed a perspective of a breed/species, was loyal to you, or was a great friend? Why did that animal mean so much to you? Share their name, breed, type of animal, photos, anything you like! This question is posed to help you reflect on an animal that had a positive impact on your life.

I can't find any of my old photos of him (so I included a photo from his adoption profile that was in the paper at the time), but an animal that played a very important role in my life was a little cat at the animal shelter I worked at years ago. I walked into one of the rooms at the shelter and looked down and my mouth fell open. It was the first time I had ever seen a chocolate-colored cat in my life, and this Havana Brown mix was in a live trap because he was trapped as a feral cat. In all the years working with animals, I've only ever seen two Havana cats.
So I ran into the director's office and begged her to let me work with the cat and get him adopted. After much convincing, Cocoa Puff (as I named him) was soon a part of a side project in which I was able to socialize and adopt out feral cats through the shelter. After about a month of work, he was the sweetest little fella, and a kind lady from some distance away came to visit him multiple times before finally coming to adopt him.
Puff's transformation inspired me to really love feral cats, and I ended up having the chance to help at least 6 other ferals find homes during my time there. He was already about 7 or 8 months old at the time, and proved that even older ferals could be worked with. I hope that his example helped other co-workers and folks who heard his story see that feral cats deserve a chance as well. (Years later, I'd come to rescue a feral cat and take him home, and he had a better personality in his life than alot of other cats I've met. I would not have had the confidence to take in a feral cat if not for my initial work with Cocoa Puff. )

 

[FortCluck]

Here's my girl Anabelle. She's a pit bull/lab mix. She's turning 4 on December 2nd.

She's a dog that DH and I rescued from euthanasia. She was the runt of the litter with a deformed leg (it was broken from birth and stayed deformed). The vet told the breeder that she should euthanize her because she will never thrive in the real world. We picked a different puppy in the litter and the breeder pulled out this puppy that was less than 4 lbs (half the size of a water bottle 16 oz) to feed it. She had her in her bedroom since basically the first week she was born. Instantly we fell in love. We paid full price... We brought her to the vet the next day and the vet told us if she didn't gain 5 lbs in 2 weeks that he recommends we euthanize her... I fed this puppy any meat with her puppy food that she would eat and we had a checkup at the vet 7 days later so he could see progress. He put her on the scale and she weighed 9 lbs! She gained 5 lbs in 7 days! The vet almost died laughing because he thought she was a goner.

I knew this little girl was a fighter. She still has a deformed leg, but she's everyone's favorite dog. Everyone thinks she's gorgeous and the sweetest dog ever. She's now 75 lbs of pure love!

And that cat behind her was given to us by a vet free of charge with for Christmas. He was a feral kitten, but now he's Anabelles best friend. We have 3 other dogs too.

 

[Rose Quartz]

I would have to say the one animal that made the most impact on me was one of my dads meat turkeys. I have no idea the breed. It was a generic white feathered turkey not intended to live long. For some reason COBB comes to mind but i cant find anything on it on google.

Anyway, one of the hens got it's head stuck in the chicken wire fence in the run. My dad put it in a small coop alone with food and water and said it would probably die since it's head was swollen and it couldnt see to eat or drink. I was probably between 8 - 10 years old. Every day after school i would spen hours in the coop with her and help her eat and drink by putting her beak into the food and water dish. I learned how to read their behavious because i spent so much time down there. I loved that bird. She pulled though. Made a full recovery. A month later she was butchered with the rest of the flock. I was sad, and angry at my dad for a long long time. He later explained that the breed didnt live long and she would have died soon if he hadn't buchered her himself. I learned that even if you're attached to animals they can't stay with you forever.

Whether it's rehoming a loved pet because you can't care for them anymore, butchering for food, or even mercy killing when they're too sick to go on. Learning that lesson has made a huge impact on me. And I'm glad I learned it long before I was responsible for my own animals.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

@FortCluck - What a cute pair your pup and cat make! They are both posed so perfectly. So great of you to give that little pup a chance, and now she's a big healthy dog! And bringing in a kitten that was feral, good on you!

@Rose Quartz - It's interesting to hear your story focus on the realities of raising animals. Being able to understand the life and death aspect of it from a young age is important. (I remember a young foal needed to be put down when I was kid, and I didn't want to see him go as I was attached greatly. It was the equine vet that helped me understand why, because of his health, and what was going on. She involved me in a gentle way that also educated me for the better. I'm still always thankful for that moment)

 

[FortCluck]

@FortCluck - What a cute pair your pup and cat make! They are both posed so perfectly. So great of you to give that little pup a chance, and now she's a big healthy dog! And bringing in a kitten that was feral, good on you!

@Rose Quartz - It's interesting to hear your story focus on the realities of raising animals. Being able to understand the life and death aspect of it from a young age is important. (I remember a young foal needed to be put down when I was kid, and I didn't want to see him go as I was attached greatly. It was the equine vet that helped me understand why, because of his health, and what was going on. She involved me in a gentle way that also educated me for the better. I'm still always thankful for that moment)

They were doing yoga together they think my yoga mat is for them

 

[HomesteaderWife]

How cute @FortCluck !

 

[NHMountainMan]

Below is Gryphon. He's half greater Swiss mountain dog and half great Pyrenees.
I got him shortly after a divorce. We hiked our way through the mountains on the weekends I didn't have the kids. When I started not feeling well, he knew something seriously wrong before I did. In his 12.5 years, he saw me through cancer and more then 20 surgeries. He'd be sitting by my bed when I woke up, and he'd escort me to the bathroom as a crutch- I'd rest my hands on his shoulders. When I'd get sick and just sit on the bathroom floor - he'd rest his head on my lap. I'm not sure I could have gotten through it all without him.We lost him this August. I've always had dogs (my avatar is Titan, Gryphon's little brother): he made me believe that guardian angels exist.

 

[FortCluck]

Below is Gryphon. He's half greater Swiss mountain dog and half great Pyrenees.
I got him shortly after a divorce. We hiked our way through the mountains on the weekends I didn't have the kids. When I started not feeling well, he knew something seriously wrong before I did. In his 12.5 years, he saw me through cancer and more then 20 surgeries. He'd be sitting by my bed when I woke up, and he'd escort me to the bathroom as a crutch- I'd rest my hands on his shoulders. When I'd get sick and just sit on the bathroom floor - he'd rest his head on my lap. I'm not sure I could have gotten through it all without him.We lost him this August. I've always had dogs (my avatar is Titan, Gryphon's little brother): he made me believe that guardian angels exist.


View attachment 1962375

what a beautiful dog and you'll NEVER forget how great he was! He will always be with you inside your heart!

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Oh, @NHMountainMan - what a story! Gryphon was indeed a guardian angel. I hope your health is better now.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

@NHMountainMan - It is amazing to hear of such a wonderful friend like Gryphon. I am so sorry you lost this great dog, but at the same time happy to hear that he was by your side through all that time and did all he could to help you get through. I hope today you are doing much better health-wise. Thank you so much for sharing, and again I am so sorry you lost your pup. But 12.5 is a good long life!