Smoke Signals and other news
As I sit here staring at a blank screen, wondering what words to write, it reminds me of how some of our days may start. We get up each day with a possible plan, but sometimes those plans change as our day progresses. Although I am “retired,” I find myself overwhelmed with too many obligations and health situations that don’t let me do the things my mind thinks I can. I never have to look for something to do. My issue is deciding which project I can complete today.
I try hard to understand why people “dump” their animals for other people to deal with and to fend for themselves. For many years, our house seemed to be the local drop-off point for dogs. We have owned many pets that came to us by being dropped off. This week, two dogs were dropped in our neighborhood. They wandered from house to house, looking for food and attention. Sunday, they came to my house. One was at least part pit bull, sweet and gentle, and obviously had been a house dog before. She wanted so badly to come inside. The other one appeared to be part husky with possibly some coyote in the mix. He was a bit shy. My little dog wasn’t too fond of them and stayed very close to me as he growled at them. The little pit slept in a chair on my porch for part of the night, and the other one curled up on the porch. I had to slip out the back door to take my little Charlie out when he needed to do his daily routine.
Sometime during the night, they decided to move on. I hope they find a forever home. I just could not take them in. The last time I rescued a young female pit, I ended up in the emergency room. The fiasco happened after I fell and badly injured my ankle. My screams for help must have reminded her of the abuse she had suffered before we took her in, or maybe she thought I was wounded prey. For whatever reason, this shy little dog attacked me as I lay screaming and tore my shoulder, arm, and hip before my husband heard my screams. I never blamed her. My family has never forgotten, and they would not be very understanding if I took in another one.
Another thing that seems to be more and more common is hitting someone’s parked car and just driving away when they clearly know they hit the car. This happened to a family member this week. She knows who hit her car and even has it on video, but she hesitates to say anything to them. The damage is minor and the offender probably did not know it was her car. Would they have stayed if they knew? Do they not have insurance to repair her car? Many people struggle to make ends meet, but just driving away, leaving the owner to deal with the damage, is just wrong. Last year, I inadvertently bumped a parked car while trying to maneuver out of a tight parking situation. I was unaware I had hit it and the damage was minimal. Witnesses called my attention to it. I was highly embarrassed. There was no way to know who the car belonged to. I found a random piece of paper and pen and left a note with my phone number. The owner called me, and I gave her my insurance info. All was taken care of. Fortunately, she was nice about it. That was when I was driving my Silverado. I loved that truck, except in tight parking situations.
Please share your news with me at jchwagg@gmail.com or text or call 901- 246-8843. You can message me on Facebook as Clair Wagg.