When I “ran off” to my new life in rural Northeast Central Florida in September 2023, the last thing I needed in my life was a new dog. As I’ve written before in previous Widow’s Voice posts, however, i think that dogs seem to enter our lives often when we don’t even know how much we need them.
When the time is right, so is the dog, I often advise, because they seem to know how to reach us with their “devious” plans and designs, often bringing special gifts. How is it that of the millions of dogs walking this earth, one in particular, or even several, seem to end up in our hearts and homes?
Five months after my move here, while strolling through a farmer’s market in town, I spotted the booth of the Animal Rescue Konsortium (ARK). I’d passed their building down the highway many times, always meaning to stop and check them out. But, here they were conveniently right in my path.
I stopped to chat with the rescue’s, Founder, Ginny Oakwood. Upon hearing that I wrote about dogs, and sometimes cats, she asked if I could use my skills to help her rescue organization as their offerings and goals were expanding to widely serve the county.
I agreed, and she invited me to tour her facility. By coincidence, a litter of lovely black and white puppies were being cared for at her facility. They’d been brought in as tiny pups in bad shape and nursed back to health. Each now strong and thriving, they shared a large outdoor pen with another litter of pups.
I asked to meet them and for some inexplicable reason I heard myself saying, “I’ll take one.”
With the exception of my late dog, Hooper, a Portuguese water dog, I’ve typically been partial to small non-shedding dogs, weighing no more than 20 pounds. Although these pups resembled border collies, I understood no one could really tell me their breed mix or potential full grown size. These are only guesstimates.
A day later, on Valentine’s Day, I returned to the shelter with my partner, David, and kept my eye on one that seemed a little shy, sitting off to the side of the playground area observing us and his siblings. This litter had been named for the fairy tale characters of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and his shelter name was Grumpy.
Long story short, Grumpy, now a 75 pound dog renamed Jackson, turns two today according to his adoption papers. Despite his challenging beginnings, he is a special dog, strong, protective, smart, sensitive and soulful, always looking out for others. He’s a gorgeous creature, and a super shedder as well!
I can no longer lift him, but he allows himself to be hugged, which I do often. Jackson is the dog that helped me to settle into a new life during a difficult time. In the wake of my widowhood, several life-changes had occurred and in my struggles, Jackson showed up to help me when I didn’t think I needed another dog. In turn, I’ve given him a second chance for a good life. Jackson was just what this home and rural property needed, and what he needed to grow and to become the best dog I “never” needed.
Happy 2nd Birthday, Jackson! We all love you so much.
Wishing a peaceful Thanksgiving weekend to my readers in the United States, (we now have readers in 10 foreign countries) although I know the holiday season is extra hard on so many, it’s a good time to just do whatever you need to get through with no explanation. Give yourself the time and space you need. Hopefully your pets will bring you comfort. I will spend it with my pack and be thankful that they are in my life.
