Peg Hume
In the last two posts we talked about the importance of being able to say no and the pitfalls of being too generous. But an even greater danger to our well being is to close ourselves off, to not help enough.
When we read about stress the articles usually focus on the fight-or-flight response. The idea is that stress gears us up for physical action. But fighting and running aren’t our only options. Scientists are now realizing that model is too simplistic…animals and humans have a variety of responses to stressful situations. “Tending and befriending” is a powerful one now getting more attention. Reaching out and working with others to solve problems and to nurture those in need is one of the best ways we have to deal with the inevitable challenges of life.
The above picture was taken at our local Relay For Life fund raiser for the American Cancer Society…a great example of people working together to fight a common threat. The dog on the right is Tundra, the now-three-legged dog I wrote about in Doing the Best We Can With What We Have Left.
Here are two more pictures of Tundra. The first is of him with the Girl Scouts, the second is of him just being happy:
Notice how beautiful his coat looks. That did not happen by accident. Peg Hume, the woman who took the pictures, spent hours working on it and befriending him in other ways.
When I asked her for permission to use the pictures and for more details about the care she gave him, this is what she wrote:
I’ll try to send you all my photos of him and feel free to use them. He now belongs to 9 yr old Madison Mas of Big Rock Loop, who hopes to teach him to be a therapy dog. Shouldn’t be too hard as all he does is schmoooooze his way through a crowd….
I believe I was his main caregiver from the first day he came in. I would climb into his kennel and brush bags of old undercoat full of fleas and ticks out of him…. When he had his surgery I would go to the vet everyday with my brush and either take him outside where he would lay his head in my lap and fall asleep, or I would get to enjoy his air conditioned “condo” after he had his belly surgery. I’ve been with him every day except for the 2 weeks of his adoption, but part of the deal on the adoption was that I would watch him at Jeff Hay’s home while his family went on vacation. They had found a kennel for their other dog Valerie, but there were no more kennels available when they adopted Tundra. So I go to RV and get Valerie and take both of them to the park so that they don’t forget that they live together. It will be even harder on both of us for me to have to give him back a second time on Wed, but that should be the final break in the relationship.
Peg
It’s easy to get cynical when we read about the chicanery and problems in the world, but we do have a choice. Thank you, Peg, for helping us keep our faith in human nature. Bless you!
Working with others is very important I think. Now, with our planet’s problems so urgent, more than ever.
.-= Evan´s last blog ..Predicting a Healthy Old Age =-.
It’s fabulous to see Tundra thriving! He really is a gorgeous dog with a great spirit.
The whole idea of befriending, helping others, really giving of yourself to another is wonderful Jean. You can’t be busy creating dramas, worrying needlessly about stuff you can’t change, and all wrapped up in yourself – all that inward self-involved stuff – if you are extending out to help another. You are so right about this and the stress issue.
Thank you for sharing the photos of the furry friend I love already, and the story of his care. It’s a great reminder of the depth of human compassion we are all so capable of!
.-= suzen´s last blog ..Re-Entry =-.
Evan,
Amen to that!
suzen,
Tundra is a love and an inspiration, isn’t he? So is Peg. 🙂
.-= Jean´s last blog ..Look Before You Leap =-.
What a beautiful dog. A great post!
.-= gaelikaa´s last blog ..Monsoon Memoir =-.
Inspiring post!
.-= MelRoXx´s last blog ..MelRoXx at Random =-.
Yes, we can make differences to people and animals. In a way, there are many doing things like this, and we simply do not know about them. The true heroes.
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..Good Taste. =-.
I can’t find anything good I’ve done worth mentioning after Peg’s help of this dog.
“I would climb into his kennel and brush bags of old undercoat full of fleas and ticks out of him” etc.
Now I took dogs, Three (3 legs) with his brother Four (4 legs) on my hike everyday, but I was going anyway & I enjoyed the company.
gaelikaa,
Thank you. 🙂
MelRoXx,
Thanks for coming by.
Rummuser,
Here in the U. S. it’s not that hard to find places where we can volunteer. I appreciate that.
bikehikebabe,
You made a big difference to your dog neighbors. I think it’s even better if we find something that we enjoy doing. I’m sure Peg got a great deal of satisfaction out of helping Tundra…I know I did when I was working directly with the dogs.
I clicked on the above MelRoXx at Random post. Is fun for all you cool cats. (Supply yur own term.) Nice music. Pretend you’re a teen again.
Wow! Thanks for coming Bikehikebabe! Come again!!
.-= MelRoXx´s last blog ..Miss Universe 2oo9 =-.