The Tornado Dogs are our June 2, 2013 Pups of the Week

Meika

Friday night I sat in front of the computer scared to death.  I wasn’t watching a frightening video or watching stories about how the humans are messing up the world, I was reading post after post from my beloved friends who were living in the path of killer tornadoes.  

Thankfully all have checked in and were spared from the storm’s wrath, but it made me realize just how fragile our hold on life, and our friendships, are.  One horrible storm can cause so much havoc and devastation it is unimaginable.  The names of towns become synonomous with destruction, Moore, Joplin, Oklahoma City, Rainsville, like the towns that became famous for Civil War battles:  Fredricksburgh, Antetiem, Shiloh, Gettysburgh.

Practically every day we bark with our good friends Reese and Mieka from Missouri.  Reese is very proud that he can howl just as loud as the tornado sirens.  But his talent scares us.  We never want him to use his howler because that means danger is coming.  On Friday night they were excitedly waiting on word of twin family members being born in Michigan.  But they couldn’t contact their family, and they couldn’t contact us, so there was a big circle of worry going on.  We were happy to hear from them yesterday, but their human twin cousin is in a hospital and in need of prayers.

Then there are our very good friend Koda, Josie, Wills and Emme.  They all had to pack up and leave their farm Friday night as tornadoes were headed right for it.  Thankfully the twisters spared their homestead and by the next morning they were back at the farm, but for one night there were lots of prayers said in their name.

Chey’s and Kaizer’s Mom had to ride out the storm in their basement.  They lost contact when the tornadoes grazed their neighborhood and all us friends held our breath. They came through the storms in one piece but the hotel where many friends stayed during last year’s Baronfest was hit.  Chey’s and Kaizer’s Mom made a wise choice pushing this year’s Baronfest until after tornado season.

On Wednesday Chelsea and Junior Johnson’s family got a warning about a major tornado and had to hunker down in their bedroom.  Two nights later they had to go through the same hell and then again on the 30th.  Their Mom’s Facebook page became tornado central, as did many other peep’s pages.

Shakira, Napa, and tiny Travis had to go into the storm cave to wait out the tornadoes that swirled around them.  It was Travis first storm but he came out fine  thanks to his Mom being so calm and Angel Apollo watching out from overhead.

There were lots of other pups in the path of these terrible storms like Summer Grace whose stories we have not told.  But we want them all to know we prayed very hard for them and are so happy they came through the darkness OK and pray it is a long time until they face another week like this.

For now we give you and your parents a big tip of the tail for being calmer and braver dogs then either us or our parents could ever be.

May you have nothing but sunny days for the rest of the summer. 

Wills is our March 27, 2011 Pup of the Week

Pocket and I conduct our Pup of the Week meetings over a nice brunch of bacon and kibble.  We both read the blogs, and then discuss our nominations.  Sometimes we completely agree.  Other times we argue.

  

This was one of the nomination meetings where we argued.

I had a nomination.  Pocket raised some good points.  At the beginning of the week this pup wasn't even a member of the Brigade.  His names doesn't appear on our membership rolls.  This pup would hold the record for fastest pup of the week win after joining the Brigade

But there were two important reasons for giving this pup this honor.  The first is that the pup's family took in a sweet special needs dog for adoption and they deserve recognition.  The second is that he showed the will to live and find a good home.  Which is why Wills is our March 27, 2011 pup of the week

So many of us had a hard life before we found our forever home.  I was on a big farm where I got to run around free with my family.  OK, I had it super sweet, but I am lucky, and an exception.  Pups found by the side of the road, facing the business end of a gun, in a dumpster, abandoned, dumped, wasted and not wanted are the norm.  But for most of us those days are long passed, and, thankfully, barely remembered.  For Wills it is like it happened yesterday, because it did.

He is a Golden Retriever who did not receive proper nutrition from the day he was born.  Because of his mistreatment he did not develop correctly and lost his sight.  Also he was only 8 pounds.  He didn't have much time left.  But then the wonderful, beautiful, kind-hearted Ms. Barbara brought him into the most wonderful home a dog could have.

The vet named him Wills because he showed such a great will to live, and Ms. Barbara knew it was the right name.  As they were leaving the vet told Ms. Barbara that she was surprised he was alive.  Well, in his wonderful new family, he showed he will not only survive, but thrive.

I will let Angel Sophie Bub tell the story of when he got home because I cannot tell it any better than Sophie does in her beautiful blog:  "Now, little Wills made mommy cry tonite. She got him a harness like Pocket and Foleys.  She has been helping him keep his feet under him with this harness and a leash. Mommy took him outside tonite to potty and he started to run in a big circle around mom.  He kept falling and pretty soon (with mom holding the leash tighter) Wills was running fast as his little legs would go in a big circle! His tail was up and his ears were just flying !!!!!  He did not seem to be blind at that moment.  It is the first time he has ran!!!!  He was so happy !   Mommy was doing the Snoopy Dance."

And if you have ever seen Ms. Barbara do the Snoopy Dance, well, you know it's sort of like Natalie Portman as The Black Swan on acid.  It's beautiful.

So we are here to welcome you Wills as what I believe is our youngest Pup of the Week.  You have dogs here with experience of living in a sight challenged world, like Otis, and his Mom can help your Mom.  You do have a wonderful Mom, and Pup family, even if Josie is a bit of a grouch.  And you have an angel on your shoulder.  Mrs Sophie Bub, who you share a page with, which shows you how much your Mom loves you because I never thought anyone would share a page with Sophie.

So welcome our friend, you are a valued member of the Brigade, in a fantastic family, and have a wonderful life a head off you.,  And Wills, that's why you're our pup of the week.