By Wendy Hunter
A Happy New Year! There is a glow of cheer and optimism in the very words: "New Year." The old year, with its anxieties and worries, is over. It, too, brought happy days and sunshine, and in memory we must cherish the bright places.—May Louise Crane
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ARF pup Boudy |
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ARF pup Gemma |
I think we can all agree that the Year 2020 sucked
big time, and watching it go with it’s tail between its legs will be a most
welcome sight. If only it would take the COVID virus with it, then our
lives would be complete. At Animal Rescue of Fresno, we plugged along just like
everyone else this year, learning how to social distance for adoptions and
wearing masks for protection. Unfortunately, we had to cancel pretty much
all of our usual fundraisers, including the annual Christmas Open
House. Boo. But, life must go on, and dogs still need to find loving
homes. Our “by appointment only” plan was a great success, and we adopted
out a huge number of dogs. It took awhile for people to come around to the
idea, and it was originally met with as much excitement as a bowl of Brussel
sprouts at the kids’ table. Um, no no.
Eventually, people began to realize it was a good
thing, especially since they were able to spend quality time with their
potential new pet. We had a whole mess of Meet and Greets, and for the
most part they went incredibly well. There was the occasional “But mom, I
don’t WANT a playmate” attitude, but generally speaking, dogs found themselves
riding shotgun on their way home to a forever family. If a picture is
worth a thousand words, then the ones you see here must be priceless. The
joy and happiness on both human and canine faces can only be matched by us ARF
volunteers. It’s always a mixture of tears and laughter when one of our
dogs leaves us, but it’s always worth it when you can say to yourself, Hey,
I helped make that happen. We’re kind of like
Santa’s elves, but without the funny hats.
ARF pup Scout
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ARF pup Scrappy Doo |
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ARF pup Lucy before haircut |
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Lucy after |
It’s hard to believe this year is almost over, and most of us couldn’t be happier. I usually don’t like it when the year seems to blow by in a flash, but this time around, I couldn’t wait for it to end. I’m ready for the New Year and better times to be had. I’m ready for all the gloominess to end and to see some of the worry erased from my mom’s face. I’m looking forward to another year at ARF and volunteering with some of my best buddies. At work, we are constantly reminded to “self-care” and to do something to relieve the stress of everyday life. Animal Rescue of Fresno has kept me mostly sane for the better part of this year, and given me a refuge from all the scary things that life has thrown us. As December has slowly come closer and closer, I truly dreaded it’s arrival. I thought about my dad every single day of 2020, and would usually end up a weepy mess. And every Saturday at ARF, I was so thankful for my volunteer friends there, and for my furry friends as well. There is absolutely no judgment when you’re sobbing into the softness of a dog’s silky neck. He knows how you’re aching because he feels the heaviness in your heart. I hope this coming year is good to you. I hope your friends and family are safe. And I hope your heart is as light as a dog’s kiss. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Animal Rescue of Fresno is located at 4545 E Dakota in Fresno, CA.
Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section on Kings River Life, and the Pets section here on KRL News & Reviews. Check back every month for another animal rescue adventure from ARF. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to a local animal rescue. Learn more about ARF on their website.
Wendy Hunter has been volunteering with ARF for four years. She grew up in Fresno and recently became an Office Assistant with Fresno County. She has been writing all of her life, though never professionally, and currently writes personalized poetry for birthdays, weddings, pet remembrances, etc.
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