Mood:
sillyTopic: Some new insights for you
It all started 25 years ago when I acquired this wonderful bloodhound I named "Queenie". I was 20 years old, and very much into learning about the incredibly keen sense of smell these dogs have.
Actually, my love for animals started when I was very, very young, but it was when I bought Queenie that I realized there was something more, let's say, a higher understanding and power in their world. Following her through the woods here in northern Vermont, over rocks, under logs, to find my new husband, David, was simply amazing. We would take her out and have a ball trying to hide on her! Forget it! She would find either one of us everytime! She was one of those acquisitions that you do out of the goodness of your heart. Her owner, a breeder in southern Vermont told me that that pup wasn't for sale. When I asked why he said, "because she'll never be any good. she has red eye and can't see, and it will cost a fortune to get her eye condition fixed. I don't have the money." Well, I didn't have alot of money either.
But....what's money have to do with anything, when, here's a living thing needing you??? I told him I wanted to buy her and asked how much he would take. Oh, he said, "fifty dollars." Fifty dollars wasn't easy for my newlywed husband and I to come up with, but believe it or not, between the two of us, we had $55. ($5 for gas to drive the 80 miles home). We looked at each other and immediately paid him the money and took our pup home. I don't know how she knew we had just saved her life, but she just adored us and didn't let us down. We took her to our vet and he told us that the eye condition could be operated on. Yes, it was a small fortune. I don't remember how much it was. He said we could instead, put drops in her eyes. So we did. I think because she couldn't see well, it made her nose even keener. Really. There wasn't anything or anyone she couldn't find. Now, what's this have to do with petcare? I now run a business caring for people's pets in their homes when they go away instead of having to put them in a kennel.
Last summer an overwhelming feeling came over me about Queenie. Don't ask me why, it just swept over me. I suddenly had a strong desire to write a book, including Queenie's incredible ability to find people. With my undying interest in crime, and fettish for romance, "Red Eye of Justice" was born. Never having submitted to any publisher before, I found one that wouldn't require any money from me up front. They looked at the manuscript, and two days later told me they loved the story, wanted to publish it to give it the chance it deserved. You can imagine my elation.. Since then, it has come out (January 2005), and I have never been prouder. It's listed on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com and selling up there with the works of John Grisham and Mary Higgins Clark.
Do you suppose that old dog from the grave had something to do with its success? When I have heard about people getting countless rejections from publishers, when I tell them mine was accepted overnight, they gasp. "No way!" they say. Because I am not a professional writer, and it was my first stab at it, can we just chalk it up to luck? I want to, but, deep down, I just know there's some karma involved!!! People tell me they enjoy it so much!
My goal is to offer people happiness which is what "Red Eye of Justice" is all about. Finding happiness...
One thing that happened recently when I was caring for a couple's cat and dog, was that their dog, when I arrived, couldn't get up on his own. They said he had arthritis really bad and needed to be helped to get up. Once up, he could walk, but would need assistance to get down from the porch to go on his daily walk. "No problem," I said. When I met this sweet guy (an old border collie), I swear he smiled at me. He nuzzled up against my hip. His owner said, "he only usually does that with family members!" They wanted me. So I did it for 4 nights and one morning, going in each time, helping him down and giving him lots of hugs. When I went back two days later (after they were scheduled to be home), they said, "he was standing at the door to greet us when we got back yesterday!" "What did you do?!!!!!" You know, that old dog looked at me out of the corner of his eye. I laughed. He had done that every time I came while his owners were away. He would watch me sitting on the porch waiting for him to come to me so I could help him down off the porch. He trusted me. It was as simple as that. He needed a little understanding and encouragement, that's all. I didn't really know what to tell the owners except that maybe, the way I handled him when I helped him down did some "touch therapy" help...? All I know is, they were ecstatic! No one was happier than I was, though, that he got up again. Mainly because, I just hate to see a dog suffering. The fact that he did find the courage, with my help, to overcome his difficulty, really inspired me. Maybe I do have a gift with animals. I'd like to think so.
If you have some stories you'd like to share, I'd love to hear them! You can e-mail me at inyourhomepet@yahoo.com! I'm publishing a weekly newsletter too. It's all about my pet family (two cats) and some information about my experiences.