Mostly I am still struggling to recover from the loss of Wasabi. The most dreaded was the first dog breakfast without her. No need to get her supplements out of the cabinet, the bottles untouched. Where should the boys eat now that she is gone? Mochi in her place? In her bowl? On her elevated food stand? And after breakfast, her happy wiggle butt was not there to persistently remind me to not forget the after breakfast Vegident! The boys seem a little lost and disoriented, as we all do.

Hard to imagine I took her to the dog park only a few days before, just like normal. I didn’t take any pictures of her there, nothing was out of the ordinary. Now everything feels a little empty and out of place. We are all trying to adjust to the new normal without her big presence in it. Her picture flashes up on the screen on the fridge. Without hesitation, I give her a big kiss.

Even everyday chores are changed. I poop scooped the yard, knowing it was the last time hers would be there. I wash the sheets, and clean the dryer lint, surprised and saddened to pull out and throw away so much of her beautiful fur. Knowing I will likely never, as long as I live, have another dog that outweighs me, and all that comes with that walking with her big beautiful presence out in the world. And I have to balance my ego for that loss, as well.

(And I know this entry will be cut off, but I am tired of limiting my words to fit an algorithm, and I know this entire journal entry will show up on our website www.ResqRanch.org, and if it doesn't, I will move it all over to Substack, because I don't want to be limited anymore in sharing my heart)

But there are plenty of other animals still here that also need and want love and attention. Wild Mustang fillies, like Chilli, who just lost a middle lower incisor tooth, indicating she is turning 3 1/2 years old. Time to get on with the training for these girls! And who I was JUST about to gloriously pronounce this was the first summer that we have had her, that she didn't escape, but alas, last Saturday afternoon we drove up to see her little naughty butt on the wrong side of the fence. But we sped up wildly and honked the horn, and she spooked and bolted right back into the pasture, so we were so lucky we caught her just in time, and maybe, just maybe, THAT is the last time she gets out. After all, for wild horses, fences are merely a suggestion!

And finally gentle Emblaze, who, suddenly after the loss of both Dixie and Sugar, has decided after nearly 2 years of disinterest in any of our training sessions, to gently, with mild trepidation, to be showing up more and more often, clearly interested again in being groomed, and joining our training sessions. What an unexpected, pleasant surprise! It took this mare nearly 2 years of exercising her right to NOT join a training session, to fully embrace that we would never again force her to do anything she didn't want. Although that has been a little sad for us, we wanted to acknowledge her wishes. And now, after all these months, she is ready to trust, and try again. Which is such a testament to the amount of PTSD these animals can hold from years of not having a choice. And the glorious proof that with time, all wounds can heal.

Even mine, with losing the most magnificent dog I have ever had the pleasure of sharing my life with. I am so grateful for the time I had with her. I am grateful her passing was quick and painless for her, I am grateful I don't have to watch this huge dog painfully age drawn out over many years, I am grateful for all the pictures I have of her which still bring me joy, and I am grateful Emblaze has finally decided to forgive what humans have done to her, and give us another chance, and finally I am grateful to have a brand new volunteer, who has been here a couple of weeks now, and who seems to be fitting in like a glove, and just in time.

What about you, Animal Loving Angel, what are you grateful for this beautiful Friday morning? That you get to spend your day with your animals? That you woke up? That you get another chance to try to make yourself a little better today, in every way?

I sure hope so. Because if you are here, you are my people, and the animals need us.

Sending all my love, as always,

​DrQ

​Check out my YouTube channel for more from the rescues and lots of free tips and training resources. https://www.youtube.com/@the1drq