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Again?
Weather can be a cruel and capricious thing. Up north here, it took a mean turn this week. Here it is nearly summer, and we had snow! And not just a dusting mind you, but deep wet snow, up to a cowdogs knees, plus too much mud. Again.
I know some of the plants we put in last week will freeze and get replanted. The poor birds are crowding in everywhere. Mom even saw a beautiful pair of Western Tanagers, and from their expression, I bet they were very sorry they came to Montana in May!
I don’t know how those tiny hummingbirds survive this cold wet spell either. It looked like the snowflakes were bigger than they are!
Forget the weather and celebrate!
It sure makes me happy I have a warm and dry home and don’t have to fight for a seed at a feeder. I dimly remember a time when that wasn’t true, when I was hungry and cold and scared, a long time ago. It is good to be a rescued dog. I am getting a new dish to celebrate! https://amzn.to/3fDqHHD
May 20th is National Rescue Dog Day. I found people come up with a lot of ways to honor us canines. Here is a list of some other days to commemorate your pooch in May:
- Chip your pet month
- National foster care month for pets
- National pet month
- Pet sitter safety month
- Responsible animal guardian month
There is also Be kind to Animals Week, National Pet Week, and National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day [I don’t know exactly what this one means, but so far I do not think I have my own Bug Out bag].
Now I don’t know how these days are celebrated, but at least there is no shortage of ways to make a rescued pet know how special they are. It is also a good time to donate to a shelter so that other pets, scared and alone, will be safe until they find a home and family of their own.
Mom donated a bronze sculpture to help this shelter- our cat Tug came from them:
https://safelewistownmt.com/events
Honor a cowdog
With so many great qualities, I think us cowdogs deserve to be honored every day, especially those of us who have come through the shelter ranks. We keep going with grit, determination and gumption.
Now gumption is part of a cowdog’s DNA, although it seems to be sadly lacking in the human race these days. It started as a Scottish word in the 1700’s, and meant common sense combined with get-up-and-go determination. It was the 1900’s in America, when the qualities of tenacity and courage joined the definition of resourceful horse sense, in this word. Tell me that isn’t a perfect definition of us stock dogs? I especially like the old Scottish version of the word, rumblegumption; Heelers are rumblegumption! Mix that with grit, endurance, willpower – yup, you got a Heeler all right.
Life was not easy when I was young. Nobody knows but me, and I remember; sometimes when mom moves her hand fast, I still flinch. I try not to, because it makes mom and dad very sad. Before my first birthday, I was in a shelter, and I was there 4 very long months. I was afraid and anxious, I didn’t know how to act. I heard rumors I would not make it out of there alive. It had to be heavenly intervention that got me to my family. 
I did bring a lot of trouble with me, but I joined a long line of honored Heelers in a place of kindness and understanding.
I ate couches, doors, a truck seat, and broke out a window. One time I bit a guy; he jumped in the truck and shoved me over. I was not going to let him hurt my dad, although it turned out he was only getting in for a ride!
My gratitude list starts with a rescue
That was long ago, and I am happy to say that, in spite of that, I’m still here and have been in my forever home for many years.
So here are some of the things I am grateful for, on National Rescue Dog Day and always:
I am grateful I am a strong Heeler, who could survive.
I am grateful one kind lady at the shelter saw something worthwhile in me, when no one else did, and saved me from execution, in order for me to reach my home here.
I am grateful that, even though their hearts were broken from losing another cowdog named Ruger, Dad and mom still knew another dog needed them – ME!
I am grateful that all these years, my family has helped me overcome my worries and quirks, been patient and forgiving, and never given up on me. They show mercy every day, so I do too.
I am grateful I live in the country, on a nice foothills ranch with a creek to explore, a four-wheeler to ride, and cows and horses that sometimes need a good cowdog behind them. 
I am grateful I get good food with fresh meat and other things mom says keeps me healthy. I always have fresh spring water. I have many soft and warm places to sleep, and nice wide porches to lay on and watch my world. I love to ride in the truck with dad.
I try to count the cats among my blessings, but at times they try my patience, and are impossible to herd!
I am grateful I have someone to play with me, compliment me, encourage me, reassure me, to reminisce about our years together, and tell me the stories of how I rescued them.
I am a short cowdog with a long Gratitude List. Blessings come from God, and we all need them. I hope you have a long gratitude list, too, with a cowdog at the top. Or, perhaps, pleasant memories of a great dog from the past.
Be a hero, rescue a cowdog today!
