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Animal-Outings  Offline
And The Ripon Ruffians
Joined: Sep 15, 2005
Age: -1975
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Posts: 12631
Posts Left: 0
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37244 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Majic (Lab) - 10/6/05, Pip (Lab x Collie) Passed away 24/02/10. RIP x
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Location: North Yorkshire.
Gender: 
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 Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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Ahhh I see.
Thanks Nat 
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Littlelab  Offline
LL Rescue Coordinator
Joined: May 08, 2005
Age: -1970
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Posts: 18336
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78862 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Jack- Lab, Maia -Utonagan, Molly - LabxWolfhound & Tara Banana - Irish wolfhound (05/09/08 - 13/07/09)
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Location: ESSEX
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| Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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Little Pieces
by Grace Saalsaa (Written for those who foster)
Melissa sat on the floor, unable to sit straight and tall like her mother had always admonished her to do when she was a child. Today, it would be impossible. And tomorrow... it probably wouldn't be possible then either. Her mind was too busy thinking about the dog that lay across her lap.
When he came to be with her, he had no name. She remembered that day very well. The first sight of him was enough to break her heart into little pieces.
The woman, who had taken this dog from the rough streets where he had lived, had tried to save him because she was unable to watch this young dog find his own food in a dumpster outside the crack house where he lived. Nobody cared that he was gone.
His fur was very thick; so thick that she had to wiggle her fingers down to feel his bony body. And as she pulled her fingers away again, they were coated in old dirt. Black and white, he was supposed to be. But on that day he was beige and dust.
He sat in the back of her car panting continuously, ears laid outward for he had lost his courage and couldn't keep them proud and tall. He sat motionless, waiting and limp.
But the thing that was the most disturbing was the look in his eyes. They were quiet eyes, sunken into his head - and they watched her. They were alive with thought. He was waiting for her to do something "to" him.
Little did he know at the time that, instead, she would "give" something to him. She gave him one of the little broken pieces of her heart.
She reached out to stroke his head and he instinctively squinched his eyes shut and dropped his head, waiting for the heavy hand. With that little bit of movement she gave him another one of the broken pieces of her heart.
She took him home and gave him a bath. She toweled him dry and brushed some order back into his coat. For that, he was grateful and even though his own heart was loaded with worms, he accepted yet another piece of her heart, for it would help to heal his own.
"Would you like some water, big boy?" She whispered to him as she set down a large bowl of cold well water. He drank it up happily. He had been dehydrated for a long time and she knew it would take him most of the week to re-hydrate.
He wanted more water - but it was gone. Ah... that's how it is, he thought to himself. But he was grateful for what he had been able to get. "Would you like some more?" and she gave him another bowl along with another little piece of her heart.
"I know that you are hungry. You don't have to find your own food anymore. Here's a big bowl of good food for you. I've added some warm water and a little piece of my heart."
Over the four months that he stayed with her, his health improved. The heart full of worms was replaced piece by piece with little bits of her loving heart. And each little piece worked a very special kind of magic.
When the warmth of love and gentle caresses are added, the little broken pieces knit together again and heal the container it resides in. That container becomes whole again.
She watched each little broken piece fill a gap in the gentle dog until his quiet eyes radiated the light from the little pieces. You see, kind words gently spoken turn the little pieces into illumination for the spirit that resides within.
He rested beside her, happy to be with her always. Never had he known such kindness, such gentle caresses; such love. His health had returned, his spirit was playful as a young dog's should be and he had learned about love.
Now his heart was full. The healing was complete. It was time to go. There was another person who had another heart that was meant to be shared with him.
So she sat shapeless on the floor because all the broken pieces of her heart were with the dog. It is difficult to sit tall when your heart is not with you. She wrapped her arms around the dog that sat with tall, proud ears for her. Lean on me, he said.
And she gave him one last thing that would keep him strong; that would keep the pieces of her heart together long after he had gone on to live his new life. She gave him her tears and bound them to the pieces with a simple statement made from the ribbons of her heart.
"I love you, Joe."
And Joe lived happily ever after.
Melissa sat on the floor, straight and tall like her mother had always admonished her to do when she was a child. Today, it would be possible. And tomorrow... it probably would be possible too. Because her mind was busy thinking about this, the next dog that lay across her lap.
Where did she get the heart to help yet another dog, you ask?
Ahhh... it came with the dog. They always bring a little bit of heart with them. And when the rescuer breathes in that little bit of heart, it quickly grows and fills the void left by the last dog.
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Natalie x
LAB LINK RESCUE Co ordinator
Jack, Molly & Maia, watched over by Tara Banana from the Bridge
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Angelsmum Offline
And the Kernow Krew
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
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Posts: 3031
Posts Left: 0
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8652 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Maxi
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Location: cornwall
Gender:
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| Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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 you got me again
Natalie 
If I may add that if you do have children and you would like to foster,speak to your local rescue,they all seem to have different points of view about childrens ages,please don't be put off by this. You may not be able to help to strays or dogs with no known backgrounds but there are lots of dogs that still need family homes,through marriage break ups,allergies,loss of income...they all need looking after and your help.
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Becs Offline
The Clique Chick Queen
Joined: Dec 10, 2005
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Posts: 10116
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114163 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Hartley (black lab) Zorro (Golden retreiver) Flo, (JRT) Ted (mini dachsi) & Mouse (brown Lab)
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Location: gloucester
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| Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 5:09 am Post subject: |
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Hi Natalie,
I would love to be able to help you but I think that, at the moment, The Gang is a bit chocablock! One day though it is something I would like to do. I love your piece on the broken heart - so true - dogs, even those that just pass through our lives for a short time, give back far more than we ever give them.
I hope you get more people offering to foster. I love hearing from the LF fosterer how their 'guests' get on, and I'm sure that none of them ever regret what they do for these dogs. Its just a shame that so few people have the lifestyles nowadays to be able to get involved.
Lots of Luck in your 'campaign'. I've managed to get 1 person off the forum interested in puppy socialising for DftD - there's good people on the Forum!!!!!
Love Becs and the Gang
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_Den_ Offline
Mobs mummy
Joined: Feb 11, 2006
Age: -1970
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Posts: 9912
Posts Left: 0
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40364 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Chester yellow. RIP Puds 22/11/05 - 15/11/2008
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Location: Bradworthy, Devon
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| Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:10 am Post subject: |
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Well done Natalie
Like you have said we are crying out for fosterers. It is the most rewarding experience i have ever had. You feel brilliant when you pack a dog of to his new home or in my case as we are generally the first port of call for the furbabies to new fosteres, and you have see a marked difference in them, most have changed from a nervous dog that wont come in the house to a puppy with boundless energy.
Please, please think about it, and you wont look back, i have only been doing fosterering for 2-3 months and already had about 15 amazing pups through my door, and i have loved each and every one of them! I have even adopted one myself, he is just a great dog that no one else wanted as he snapped at other dogs. He has come on no end, we took him on a sponsered walk last week with around 20 other dogs and he was on his best behavouir!
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Angelsmum Offline
And the Kernow Krew
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
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Posts: 3031
Posts Left: 0
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8652 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Maxi
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Location: cornwall
Gender:
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| Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:19 am Post subject: |
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Awwh! thats fab news about Jake
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Night Offline
Baileys Partner In Crime
Joined: Apr 10, 2006
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Posts: 2803
Posts Left: 0
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22233 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Bailey
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Location: Dudley
Gender:
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| Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:27 am Post subject: |
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This is something have really been interested in since i first heard of it, and eventualy this is something I fully intend to do. As soon as the time is right to do so. I'm not making excuses but right now i'd be unable to give another dog the time it needs as we have only just moved into our home (that needs alot of work)
But i think you, and anyone who fosters/helps out these lovely animals the way you do are fantastic and I do hope to be apart of that eventually!
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chocoliza Offline
early riser
Joined: May 12, 2005
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Posts: 49
Posts Left: 0
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539 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 2
Lab Names: Harry & Ruby
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| Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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I would love to foster a dog (labs especially).
I'm a full-time mum, got a fully enclosed garden, one 4 yr choccie (who loves other dogs) and two daughters 10 & 16. I think I meet a lot of the criteria except that I can't drive... 
However I've got a brill OH who carts me about when he's not at work and my parents live close by and they can always help me out.
I do lack self confidence so need a bit of a shove in the right direction. 
I live in Northamptonshire.
I'd love to help if someone can show me the way!!
Lizzi & Harry
xxx
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Littlelab Offline
LL Rescue Coordinator
Joined: May 08, 2005
Age: -1970
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Posts: 18336
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78862 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Jack- Lab, Maia -Utonagan, Molly - LabxWolfhound & Tara Banana - Irish wolfhound (05/09/08 - 13/07/09)
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Location: ESSEX
Gender:
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| Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you to those that have taken the time to read this and to those that have posted, even if we can make a difference to 1 dog by just 1 of you becoming a fosterer that is what counts.
If you can't become a fosterer then why not help out with transportation, sometimes you maybe going that route or part of it anyway. Or perhaps help with fundraising. Lost Labs need help with putting up posters when dogs go missing, just being registered for email alerts can make a huge difference.
I am sure if you offer your services to many of the rescue organisations they will bite your hand off (no pun intended  ), every little action causes a ripple effect.
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Natalie x
LAB LINK RESCUE Co ordinator
Jack, Molly & Maia, watched over by Tara Banana from the Bridge
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smithdouglaswood Offline
puppy walker
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
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Posts: 328
Posts Left: 0
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996 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 2
Lab Names: Barney and PJ
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Location: East Scotland
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| Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
I would love to help but am more than likely too far away.
Angie, Barney and PJ
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