"THE PAINFUL IMAGES OF RESCUES"

After the death of my longtime love, Sunday, finally after 1.5 years alone, I had the honor of inviting two RESCUES into my life. 

Lucy was the first. The 12 year old Mini Shnauzer was cast aside on the sidewalks of Long Beach with a 5 lb tumor tugging at her groin attemping to swallow up her small frame. Animal Rescue Mission stepped in, rescued her, sent her for surgery. 

Lucy with herculean strength, was able to lighten her load for a brief period, bask in the sun, inhale the fresh air, and heartily tip toe through life for another 6 weeks, until her fate came a knockin' with a Cancer reoccurance. 

Lucy trotted, no longer weighed down by illness, towards the Rainbow Bridge April 1st 2024.

Stuie, the second, a 6 yr old Mini Poodle was left behind blackened with filth, like a piece of trash in a vacated apartment in Watts----unknowingly, will leave my home today after nearly 7 weeks as a Foster to Adopt (ESA animal). Due to a fictitious complaint in my building that he barks all day while I work (part time).

In lieu of being banished to the streets myself for his "part time" barking offense---he will return to LOVED AGAIN PETS Rescue, hoping to find a furever home that has more than one person, and one more doggy to quell his fears and terror of being abandoned again. 

All these loving, happy, beautiful dogs and cats, once the joy of someone's life, become a burden to their person's hardened heart. And without thought, guilt or shame, throw them into the cement wilderness of urban life, confused, frightened and in shock. 

How can a vulnerable domesticated animal recover from this crime by the hand that once fed them and stroked their soft body?

We can't speak their language, and only surmise, how broken their minds or hearts have become. Only time, trust, love, understanding, compassion, empathy can hopefully wipe away a fragment of their suffering long enough for the hope to spring from their eyes again, and the joy spread itself across their smile, tickling their tail once again---to wag. 

If more people were "awake" to the fact a majority of humans are cruel, vicious, thoughtless, mean and violent to vulnerable domestic & wild animals---maybe, just maybe, they'd be justice and love of all living beings. 

Then you, would NOT have to close your eyes, or ignore, the plight of the innocent animals that are victimized hourly, and these creatures, happen to live beside us on this earth. 

We did not grow them like a plant. Their paws walked through our lands before "we" even knew this land existed. If you want to do something to prevent these types of posts.....then help by donating to reputable animal non profits, or adopt an unwanted, cast aside, abused pet.

---R. B. STUART

"FROM FUR TO DUST"

Some say the Spirit vanishes when we die, the body means nothing. But, each of us have different ideas about death, dying & "the body" that represented "US" in life. 

After much contemplation, the body, was in fact, everything.

It housed our Spirit, and nourished every cell, muscle, organ and strand of hair, so that we "could" live on Earth.

Sunday's body, his face, his hair, his liquid brown eyes was the first image I fell in love with.

The furry body I clutched in my arms.

The heart that beat with mine.

The breath his lungs pumped minutes before my own exhaled.

The mind that pondered my alien human words.

The paws I washed hundreds of times.

The nails I clipped to a fine point.

The devoted eyes I wiped clean. 

The pink ears I plucked of hair so to hear my cooing better.

The K9 teeth I scraped, brushed, till ivory white.

His scent..it came from the body I was in love with, cherished, dedicatingly, painstakingly healed, groomed, nurtured, adored. 

His ashes are a tribute to that.

Honoring the remnants of the body he wore to kiss me, lick, eat, walk, jump, run & play through life.

All of it, was reduced to a sacred mound of dust. 

His dust. 

His Life. Sunday Jean.

---R. B. STUART XOXOX

"LOVE IS NOT BLIND"

My best friend, protector,  companion, team mate, sleeping buddy, TV pal, dinner partner, Volvo riding Shot gun cohort, beach bum, flea bag, handsome fella, 4 legged gymnist, runner, with chicken legs and doggedly patience...has become blind at 16 years old. 

                                      SUNDAY, 2019

The cataracts cloud the sensitive, stirring brown eyes that laid upon my face every sunrise, and each twilight. Never to capture my expression again. 

May your mind remain vivid with images of me, the rains blessing your face, the wind  floating through your ears, salty ocean waves chasing your tail, the airplanes lighting up the sky, the arrogant squirrels that taunted you each day, and fields staking claim to your squeaky balls. 

May those pictures from your life keep you warm as you lay down beside me in the dark.

I Love You Sunday...Our life will never be the same. 

XOXOXOX

"MY DOGGY, MY LOVER, MY FRIEND"

SUNDAY WAS MY BELOVED & MY FIRST TRUE LOVE.

ALMOST 20 YEARS TOGETHER JUST HE & I.

HE WAS THE MOST HANDSOME, DEVOTED, DUTIFUL, PATIENT & DETERMINED FRIEND, COMPANION, PARTNER, WITH STRONG CONVICTIONS & LOYALTY TO ME. 

HE WOULD FOLLOW ME TO THE EDGE OF THE EARTH, WHERE WATER MEETS THE HORIZON, OR TO THE CITY SIDEWALKS IF I WERE DOWN ON MY LUCK.

AS LONG HIS HIS EYES REST ON MINE...HE WAS CONTENT & AT HOME, FEELING SAFE & AT PEACE. 

HE WAS UNDETERRED,  AND UNSTOPPABLE TILL THE VERY END. 

HE WAS A MAJESTIC GIFT BORN UNTO MY HEART & LIFE.

HIS PRESENCE & AFFECT ON ME WILL BE TILL ENTERNITY.

THROUGH SICKNESS & HEALTH.

TILL DEATH DO US PART.

HE IS MY DOGGY, MY LOVER, MY FRIEND. 

I LOVE HIM SO XOXOX.

27.SEPTEMBER.2022