To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.
-— Lao-tseWhen you are good to others, you are best to yourself.
—Benjamin Franklin
Last week I mentioned the story of Nubbs and Major Brian Dennis. Dennis had nursed Nubbs when the dog was wounded and freezing near the Iraq-Syria border. When Dennis had to leave the area Nubbs tried to follow the Humvee but couldn’t keep up. That didn’t stop him… Dennis was 65 miles away, but Nubbs tracked him down in just two days. Dennis rewarded that determination and loyalty by sending Nubbs to California, where he will be reunited with Dennis when Dennis finishes his tour of duty.
This week’s story is about Tuffy, who was close to death when he was found at a ranch in Nevada by staff members from the Best Friends Animal Society. They named him Tuffy because of his resilience and will to live.
The staff members were at the ranch trying to rescue some of the dogs left after the owner had died. In the process they saw an unrecognized face peering out from the opening of a hay bale structure. The dog wiggled in recognition when they spoke to him, but he was too badly wounded to come out. Apparently he had been dumped at the ranch by an owner who thought he would find food, water and shelter there, not realizing that he would be an outsider and attacked by the pack.
As we can see from the first picture above, his right side had been torn down to the muscle layer and was covered with filth. He also had some deep bite wounds and had lost a lot of blood, and his wounds were dangerously infected. But as he looked up at the staff members he tried to wag his tail. He was glad they were there.
It took four hours to get him medical treatment from a veterinarian, and while they were transporting him and cleaning his wounds he didn’t protest. He just lay still and looked up at them with trusting eyes, occasionally wagging his tail a bit. When they settled him down for the night they weren’t sure he would survive, but the next morning they found him standing up, thumping his tail against the sides of the crate, happy to see them. As Liz, one of the staff members said, “For Tuffy …it seems that knowing someone cared was just enough to help him pull through this serious setback and fight for his very life.” Never underestimate the power of caring.
He was then taken to the Best Friends sanctuary in Utah for further medical treatment and tender, loving care. After he had healed, he was adopted by a family in Arizona.
Tuffy is just one example of the many rescues taking place every day by humane societies across the United States. I’m grateful to be a part of the No More Homeless Pets Movement, which also includes spay/neuter programs to reduce the number of homeless pets left to suffer and die. As I mentioned in last week’s post, we can’t do everything, but we can do something.
So much for one of the causes near and dear to my heart. What about you? What do you care about? Do you get a chance to hear about success stories that feed your soul? Please share your experience in the comments section.
Thanks to bikehikebabe and Jonathan for commenting on last week’s post.
To see a video about the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, click here.
Hi Jean, great thoughts there. It is so great if many people can do that, care for others. Sometimes, we may wonder that it might take a lot of time and energy or may even money to care for people, but I believe that we can even start with simple encouragement or affirmation to show our care to the person surrounding us.
Here is a post in my archive few months back…
Encouraging others…
Thanks,
Robert
Robert: Koala, Yoseph, Oon, Andri, you mention in your post. What country are you from? How super that you know English too.
( I’ve subscribed to your site.)
Jean: What a heart warming story about Tuffy.
Robert,
I agree. I’m a great believer in encouraging the people we come in contact with. Making my little corner of the world a bit friendlier is a top priority for me.
bikehikebabe,
🙂 Glad you liked the story.
Hi Bikehikebabe,
Lol, I’m from Indonesia, those are my indonesian friends, most of them are nicknames actually. I stay in Singapore right now, using English at my office, blogging in a way help me improve my English as well.
Thanks for your subscription, that really encourages me.
Jean, thanks for the comment! =)
Hi Jean,
thanks for an indeed heartwarming story; a great reminder of the power of caring..
Your last question ‘do you get a chance to hear about the success stories that feed your soul’ is at this moment right on target for me.. I’m trying to find my balance in a new job, working like crazy to get everything done in time, but with limited success so far.. And that really can be tough sometimes. I’m learning more and more that those success stories aren’t always available, so I’ll have to find another way to feed my soul. Knowing e.g. that I’m doing everything I can..
The thing I care deepest about, trying to prevent child abuse, or even worse children dying at a young age, having known nothing but pain, fear and abuse, is exactly such a cause..
It’s the drive that keeps me going, knowing that I’m getting nearer to what I am ‘supposed to be doing in this life’, and knowing that with that, I will find a way to become more successful at what I do. I guess that’s what feeding my soul at this moment, together with finding more and more opportunities on the way that indicate to me that I am indeed on the right track..
Wow.. didn’t realise that one until I wrote it down here.. thanks for that Jean!!!
For Robert: Small World! I was born in Indonesia in 1933 (where you live). It was called Dutch East Indies then. My father was working there for Standard Oil.
For Ellen: I was just kidding about “misspelling words & saying something stupid” to make my Comment look better. I look forward to your Comments. Inspirational !
Ellen,
Working with abused children is probably the hardest job in the world. It’s so hard not to get burned out…I’m glad you’re finding other ways to feed your soul. And, as you say, when you’re new at the job and still struggling to master it, you’re already stressed and exhausted. We’re rooting for you, so please keep letting us know how it’s going. Even though I don’t believe in a theist god, I am sending you my prayers and good wishes.
bikehikebabe,
Thanks for giving Robert your encouragement. You might try hitting the Stumble button at the bottom of his post. It’s another way of giving support…it tells other people about it and gives them a chance to vote, too. I’ve installed the Stumble Upon toolbar on my machine, so it’s easy for me to click on any post I like.
This is one of the most amazing posts that I’ve read. I love animals very much and know that the stories that we hear about the animals that were rescued that got a second chance are the rare ones as most dogs in the shelters don’t get this chance but it is really warming me heart to hear of dogs that got such love to help them have a life with a deserving family
Pauline,
The encouraging thing is that progress is being made. Sure, 4 million animals are killed by shelters each year, but 20 years ago the number was 17 million. And No More Homeless Pets programs are working hard to reduce that number even more. Spay/neutering is a big part of the effort. Ending irresponsible puppy mills is another. I find working with my local Friends of the Shelter, which has essentially turned our town into a no-kill one, and reading inspiring stories helps keep me going. I wrote this week’s post because thinking about the homeless dogs in Iraq (the previous post) was breaking my heart. Thank you so much for coming by.
I like your site, too!
Hi Bikehikebabe,
what a small world, which city were you born? I believe you’re a Dutch, isn’t it? I’m from Surabaya, wondering if you know that?
Can I ask Jean to pass me your email so that we can easily keep in touch =)
Jean, thanks for mentioning StumbleUpon, bikehikebabe, appreciate if you can help as well. Let me know if you need some help on setting up the account or the toolbar.
Cheers,
Robert
Hi Robert,
I was born near Palembang, Sumatra. Palembang was bordered by a leper colony island & a river full of crocodiles. My mother was almost bit by a cobra when pregnant with me. The forest was full of noisy monkeys that were gone after the 2nd World War.The Japanese ate them during the war. My father used to say “This little pig went to the market” in Maylasian which I remember, but with bad pronunciation.
What memories!
this post brought tears.
so thankful tuffy found a good home. when you said he looked up at his rescuers and tried to wag his tail… well that says it all about the dog world. they keep showing us unconditional love. we just don’t get it.
glad to read a fascinating comment about your birthplace and your early memories bhb!
you are all simply wonderful, literate, caring, interesting people! friends really!
love,
tammy j