These words feel so familiar as I type them; I wasn't visiting the pet rescue to find another dog. I was there to drop off some fundraiser proceeds. 

Almost Home is right around the block from me, and I chatted with Barbara, who was manning the desk that day. I follow the rescue organization on social media, and I love seeing the good deeds they're always up to.

If you've ever felt disappointed (or disgusted) in mankind's treatment of animals, a quick trip to a caring animal shelter will set you right. For every sad story you hear, there are just as many Angels. These Helpers work quietly behind the scenes to rescue, repair and generally make better lives for these abandoned pets. They don't make the evening news much, but rest assured, good things are happening.

If you want to feel better, take some advice from Mr. Rogers and "look for the helpers", they are legion.

I mentioned that I noticed they had mostly big dogs. A smaller dog was on my radar for my mom. She turned 80 this past summer, and she wanted a little lap-warmer. 'An older dog, ' she told me, more than once.

My mother's had dogs all her life, and she'd been missing one. She lost her last little rescued girl, a wiener-dog named Maggie, about a year ago.

"Never again!" mom initially declared, "that's it, I quit- I can't take the heartbreak, anymore!"

Don't we all say the same thing when we lose a beloved pet? I do.

But a well-lived life includes a series of dogs.

And then from a room in the back, protected from view and further injury, Barbara carries out a 10 lb Pomeranian. Wearing a Cone of Shame, with only one eye and a conspicuous underbite, 'Cheska'; was a sorrowful sight, and she was perfect.

Little Francesca had been suffering for sometime with a grave injury to her left eye. Despite having been hurt, and then given up at 12 years old (whaa?!), she seemed a pretty happy little girl. The pet rescue tried to save her eye, treating it everyday, but to no avail. She finally had it surgically removed on December 6, and my mom adopted her about a week later.

They spayed her at the same time of her eye surgery, and from the looks of her teats, she's had at least one litter of puppies. Apparently, her usefulness had run its course.

But those days are over, and it's all downstream from here for this little love bug. Retirement's in the works, and it's all lap-time & cookies. 
 
It's no wonder we love dogs so much. The gifts they give, and the things they teach us! Perfectly imperfect, grateful trumps everything.