Commiting Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Beauty

This past week, the hounds at Silverwalk were blessed by two people (that I know of) who stepped outside of their wants and needs to benefit homeless dogs living here.  Thank you, thank you.

The first was Steven.  He is a young man who had a birthday party.  I think he may be still in the "boy" delineation of age but what he did was manly, so I call him a "young man."  He did not want presents.  He asked his guests to bring dog food for Silverwalk instead of presents.  This blows me away.  This was Steven's day, HIS day and he used it to benefit homeless dogs.  His dad caught up with me at church last Sunday to transfer the dog food to my vehicle.  Steven, thank you and we will pay it forward.

Friday night at work, a colleague whom I admire, always learn from and whose compassion is boundless, asked how many dogs were at Silverwalk.  I told Leigh 19 - 5 of my own, 14 needing homes.  For Thanksgiving, the employees of St. Francis Medical Center are each given a Schnuck's gift card plus a free meal in our restaurant.  Generosity from an institution committed to paying it forward.  Leigh went one better.  She gave me her Schnuck's card to use for dog food, knowing how much food she went through for their three dogs and having a tough time imagining my feeding nineteen.  Her kindness and generosity are appreciated more than she will ever know.  Thank you, Leigh - we will pay it forward.

November is Adopt a Senior Dog Month.  Silverwalk Beagle & Hound Sanctuary has many senior dogs.  For the most part, they are already prepared to be in a home, won't chew up your shoes, love to go for walks as well as hang out with the family.  Till Christmas, the senior dogs at Silverwalk, whose adoption fees are normally $100, are $50.  All these dogs are up to date on shots, heart worm negative and on treatment, get regular flea and tick treatment and live in a home with other dogs and me.  Here are some of them:

Allie Mae is not even listed on Petfinder.  She is perfectly house trained, let's me know when it is time to go to bed, keeps my feet warm and is a very delightful dog.  Her get-along is not as fast as I am sure it used to be.  Allie Mae would be a particularly good companion for a senior citizen looking for a medium size dog to keep them company. 

Betty Boop looks like she has had too many puppies.  She was found a stray, stayed at the house she chose whose owner contacted Silverwalk.  Betty is here and wow, what a little personality.  OK, she is not very active but she does keep watch, has a wonderful deep little bay, will zoom around on occasion (which is utterly hilarious) and is house broken.  I think she is 3/4 Beagle and 1/4 Basset as she has the wrinkly short Basset legs but looks otherwise more Beagle.  She will be be a mostly quiet companion for you in your home and on your couch...

Kisses lost her home due to the economy.  Believe it or not, she is about 10 years old, house broken, wonderful with people and children and would love to be an only dog with a senior citizen or family.  She bonds very tightly with her human(s).  Her fur is some of the softest I have ever felt. 

How about a larger dog?  Cane is a Husky mix, 11 years old who, the other day, leaped over my adult Treeing Walker Coonhound without touching him.  Don't tell Cane he is old - just give him some Deramaxx, good food, walks and watch him run.  Cane is good with children but grew up as an only dog; he is not thrilled with the multiple dogs here.  He, too, is house broken and ready to steal your heart.

  Lady Bug is literally half the size she was on arrival to Silverwalk.  She loves to fetch the ball or her un-stuffed toy, is house trained (and will train you, too!).  She is such a perfect 15" Beagle, I am really surprised she has not been adopted.  She does well in public - was a witch at Busch Pet Product's Howl O'Ween party, has been to Petco and to Safe Harbor to visit.  Lady Bug does well with people of all ages, dogs and, while she has not been "cat scanned," I think she would do well with cats, too. 

If none of these dogs appeal to you, please check out the dogs at Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary,  Bollinger County Stray Project, Rainbow Ranch in Morse Mill, MO and our local Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.  All have dogs of varying ages but remember, November is Adopt a Senior Dog Month - and hopefully, we will all be seniors some day, appreciating those who will value us even as our length of years decline. 

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