Tails Underfoot

So I decided to change the name of my blog from "All the Spit and Sweat" to "Tails Underfoot." I think this name change also signifies the changes that I've seen in my own life. As of the last blog posting almost a YEAR ago, life was an uphill battle and I was always stressed out and getting walked all over by some of the people in my life. Well, a lot has happened in a year. I've parted ways with a few people who were holding me back and silencing the voice inside me and now I feel so liberated. Life is no longer an uphill battle, instead it is the clay beneath the mud after a rain- it is WHATEVER I MOLD IT TO BE!! This coming April will also mark my first entire year being single! No dates, no kisses, no nothing! Sure I have a crush, but what 22 year old doesn't? hehe. I'm also not working at Knott's as much as I was last year due to school... which is actually a blessing considering one of those people I parted ways with still works there. I still love that place and intend to go back to be a monster, it is just nice having spare time to use for other things. I've also learned a lot about myself this year, the first being that I am a total work-a-holic! On a whim I decided to apply for a job as a dog trainer at Petco having NO experience training dogs aside from my own, and to my surprise, I got it! I love my job so much... my boss and supervisor are so supportive. They've really given me a rich environment to spread my wings and creativity and develop new programs that are being implemented in the store. After my life-long four legged best friend Gus passed away, I made it my tribute to him to make sure that senior dogs are never overlooked just because they're getting old. Petco has given me the place to do just that by giving me the freedom to put together a Senior Dog Wellness seminar once a month and educate people about how to live with and love their aging buddy. Every seminar I have held so far makes me even more grateful that Gus came into my life and that now even after he is gone he can still help change other people's and dog's lives like he did mine. Always the giver, always the lover and teacher- that was Gus.

This brings me to my next topic... our new dog Tucker. I have a theory, and that is.. people who don't believe in angels obviously never experienced the love of a dog. Not only do dogs save lives (literally! helloo... search and rescue dogs, service dogs, therapy dogs, etc), they save souls and sanity. We adopted Tucker, a 13 year old Australian Shepherd about a month ago after seeing him at a rescue where my friend was adopting his new dog. After Gus passed away I wasn't really too thrilled about starting another 10+ year commitment, and having him to the end gave me a real fondness for senior dogs, so Tucker was my perfect match. What struck me about him was that for being 13 he has SO much energy! And after hearing that he had been in the rescue his WHOLE LIFE, I knew I had to have him. Let me tell you, the zest this dog has for life never ceases to amaze me. When we first brought him home, everything was so new and exciting to him! It was like watching a baby take its first steps, excepts it was more like first time seeing a cat, first time seeing (and jumping into!) a pool, first time sleeping in a dog bed (or indoors for that matter), first time going to the dog park or pet store, first time having affection 24/7, etc. His enthusiasm and excitement for new things and his ever present tail wag just really bring it home the impact of our decision to adopt him. I've given him something to live for, and in return he has made me take a second look at the world around me and appreciate everything about it. This little guy who has spent his whole life around barking dogs and fenced walls still has such a tender heart and a remarkable warmth exuding from him. The death of one dog shattered my world, but the adoption of another senior has shown me that while life and death go hand in hand, you can still make SO much out of the time you do have! I am looking forward to spending a few awesome years with Tuck-Tuck and seeing what other lessons this little angel has to teach me.

Labels: Update after a year/ Four Legged Angels.

posted by Honey Bee @ 6:33 AM 0 comments