DancingMermaid » love transforms

love transforms

it is official-ellie and delilah are now friends. delilah’s first animal friend! (that we know of) ellie lives in the cottage behind us and is the sweetest, most gentle being you will ever meet. like delilah, she had a rocky past and is slow to trust. in a way they are kindreds, two souls that got a second chance at love.

ellie is very, very shy and timid, and delilah is, well delilah.Â for months there have been stare downs and a little hissing. however, this summer something has changed.

ellie has started coming over everyday. this was an animal that usually runs up the stairs when she sees someone coming. but, she has gotten so much braver! one day i was taking a nap and heard something in the living room. (which is 3 feet from the bedroom, by the way) i look up and see this:

ellie just let herself in for a visit. surprisingly delilah just sat there with me, unfazed and uninterested.

she opened her eyes half-way for a minute with her stoney look, gave ellie the once over and then went back to sleep. delilah has become totally cool with ellie cruising in and out now with no drama. she has accepted ellie as part of our crew. so cute!

i have never had such an attachment to animals as i do to these sweet peas. they bring such a sense of peace and love that fills me to the brim. it feels really full and healing.
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i am also seeing so clearly how love transforms. these are beings that were hurt in some way, and through lots of love their confidence has soared as well as their view of the world.Â ellie’s sweet owner said one day, “she is a whole new dog!” she is. she has learned that love does in fact exist and there is much to go around.

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if this is what love can do to an animal, imagine what self love can do to you. i think about this a lot.

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you know, being around kids so much i get asked a lot, “do you have kids?” when i say no there is often an awkward silence, and i feel the need to say something. (and i am learning that i don’t need to fill the silence, wink) i have often caught myself saying, “no, i just have a cat.” just a cat? that is such an understatement. this little ball of soft fuzz has taught me so much about love and what is important, and i do not in any way wish her to be anything other than what she is-my baby….no matter how unconventional or silly that may seem to some.

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the truth is, i never thought i was a “cat person” or a “dog person” but that was before i met ellie and delilah. they have transformed me too. i did not know how much an animal could change your life.

and your heart too, of course….

do you have any animal healing stories? please share.

******

ps ellie does not usually dress up. this is her one special outfit. she is usually more casual.

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oh, these pics are so great! my dogs are angels with fur and tails…they bring me so much joy…I am so glad you allow ellie to come in and out…that is so very cool…and so are you my friend!

I completely understand your love for Delilah… the love I feel for my gorgeous dog Geordie sometimes feels stronger than any other love in my life. I can’t explain it. But it’s lovely!

after our 3rd ICSI/IVF implant which did not work, we went to buy some food. Just around the corner from the foodstore was a petshop.

under normal circumstance, i would say i prefer kids to animals..but on this day, i told my husband..let’s go to the shop…and we buy whatever dog is there! He just looked at me. (she is going crazy!)

Around we walked and there was this very tiny daschhund, with blue blue eyes and a little white nose…we bought him and went home.

Gordon, coming from Flash Gordon, had replaced our 3rd set of triplets (according to theory) ..but we would not exchange him for anybody in the world! He healed and comforted us in a time when nobody else could..he loved us and cuddled with us and made us laugh…like nobody other could..in a time when we were really broken and sad.

today, he is the king of the castle! he is our hearts and our little boy and came into our life like an angel!

when do you know that ‘things have changed?” i came home one evening from work, looking for Gordon all over, and could not find them. I heard a noise in the bathroom, walked in, and in the bath sat my husband and Gordon on his tummy, having a bath! (gross!) but that is the extend he healed us! (not that i would bath with him..)

do we have children? yes! we started with Gordon, and now have two labradors as well, Mala and Sebastian.

They do know how to treat us?! xx

I love Ellie’s outfit- she’s so sweet and shy even for the camera in her hat and coat.
We rescued our dog, Aiko. He was living with another family in Tennessee running along the highway and generally being mistreated by his owners until we adopted him. We have worked on trust with him and showered him with love- he has done the same. He goes everywhere with us and is our baby. I immediately feel better when I pet and cuddle on him, which he had to warm up to- very independent type of doggie. He’s going blind, we found out last year that there’s nothing we can do- it’s genetic. He still loves to play ball- he has to play catch with 2 balls- he’s so funny! I could go on and on about my baby boy, furry as he is, but this is getting to be a bit lengthy.
Oh, and kitties have been showing up at our door- literally. We adore cats, but are allergic- like even a tiny bit of petting turns in to a full blown episode- so we cannot take the kitties in. Luckily, our neighbors have friends and family who can take them in and we have a no kill shelter in this county. I feel quite witchy when the cats just show up here- they must know we love animals. The last little love to show up was a just about all black- little white patch on her chest- kitty with yellow eyes. I fell in love with her, ahh.. hopefully she’ll been giving her love to a good family soon.
xoxo

I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this. Ellie in her getup was a great first shot to see when I pulled up your page.

And then, when you moved into the part about love’s ability to transform, a big “Mmmm!” escaped from my lips. I totally agree, on both an animal and a human level. I’ve seen so much healing happen in myself and the people around me through the love we’ve carefully tended and shown to one another. Open space, completely acceptance, and a willingness to listen and speak honestly . . . trust heals.

As for animal stories, almost every dog we had growing up was originally from the pound or an owner who didn’t treat it very well. Our last dog was especially sweet, even though it became pretty clear that her last owner had beaten her with a broom, given the way she acted every time we tried to sweep the kitchen floor.

But our kitty Diva is the one I’ve seen the most remarkable change in. She was rescued from an alleyway and was totally matted and mewling when they found her. Now, since I came into her life three years ago, Kirk says he’s never seen her take to someone the way she takes to me. I think it’s because I treat her with tenderness and am totally enthused whenever she comes around.

I too have two dogs as children, when I was growing up (and today) my parents never loved me – I tell my puggies that they are loved (with lots of kisses) every day – and I know they share that love with me too.

I love your animal stories. I rescued my pup from a shelter, but she has rescued me from so much more- from my hurt, insecurities, and sadness. She has saved me from the deepest depths of despair when I thought nothing in my life could possibly be good or bright- but that wagging tail and soulful eyes helped show me I was wrong. I am no longer depressed or sad (most of the time, anyway) but I couldn’t have gotten through those days without her.

you know about my babies…well the one-keely. The neglected, skinny, filthy, infected little girl (dog). She’s so healthy now. Our other one was a rescue too but he came to us in much better shape. Both have opened our hearts in ways we couldn’t have imagined. And keely even lets us hug her now!! This is a huge step as she used to be pretty warry of anyone getting too close.

When my father was dying our cat never left the small hollow between his legs on the bed. He would eat, use the litter box and return to the spot immediately after. The day he came in to my mother’s room we knew Dad was gone. It was as if he knew someone had to be there for my father. Every. Single. Minute. And he chose it to be him.

BTW,
I ♥ you.

What a beautiful post. It lifted my spirits on what feels like a bleak, dark day.

I have 2 handsome boy cats. They are all black and we rescued them when they were only 4 weeks old. One of the kitties, Anja, was a cuddle-bug from the start, always wanting to be snuggled and played with. His brother, Riley however was very shy. He didn’t hide under beds or anything, he would play and loved being in whatever room his people were in, but the most he would come to snuggling was one shy paw touching my leg while he slept. I loved both of my boys so much but I really wished that Riley would snuggle the way Anja did. I loved him and accepted him as he was.

5 years later I was going through a painful time in my life and one day while I was sitting on my couch with a book, Riley climbed right into my lap and went to sleep. It was one of the most precious gifts of my life and since then he has gotten more and more affectionate. Our furbabies have beautiful messages for us.

we got our first baby (west highland terrier) 2 weeks after my father passed away. it was the 23rd december and there was a hollow in all our hearts that we just didn’t know how to fill… cujo came into our lives that night and gave us joy again xx

this is the sweetest post ever!

i have never had such an attachment to animals as i do to these sweet peas. they bring such a sense of peace and love that fills me to the brim. it feels really full and healing.

one again you have over-flowed mccabe.

i am filled to the brim.

my healing story is of gracie…and you can click over to my blog and scroll to the bottom to take her in…when she was born, her eyes were … I don’t know what, they were not right. they weren’t opened and she couldn’t see. i prayed, oh Lord how I prayed, with more conviction and faith than ever….this is your creation, heal her, and that is my healing story. and that is why her name is Amazing Grace…how sweet the sound…was blind but now she sees!

oh would she love to get close to delilah…she is completely obsessed with cats…

that look on ellie’s face is priceless.

Every doggy needs an outfit to go out on the town… I love the pictures… There is nothing better then animals to make things wonderful… I love that Delilah went right back to sleep… leave it to a cat to be totally unimpressed with company ~

Greetings from one pet parent to another! I am so happy that my cats and dogs love each other so much. It’s funny how each have picked their buddy and watch over each other. Take care, Karin

What a heartwarming story, thank you for sharing!

(I would be so honored to have him wander in to join me during the day, that is such a HUGE compliment!)

wow….what a great post!! Animals really do have a place in all of hearts that heal and love whatever isn’t right with the world.

our baby {sophie} is now almost 12 and we got her when we decided two kids were enough….she filled that “should we have another one” question and she has been attached to my hip now for all these years, as she is “my” baby.

our teenagers just adopted a dwarf bunny and because I’m a softie and couldn’t say “no” we have a little fur ball living with us…and even though she poops all the time, she makes us all smile and laugh and Sophie…well, she loves her, too.

What a sweetie Ellie is…she looks like the purrrrfect companion for Delilah…

As a mom to both the human, and furry variety(kitties and pups)…I have to say that YES, love transforms!

Thank you for this post…and making me smile…again!

xoxo

That was an excellent post and great insight. I believe animals do something really powerful. I have always grown up with dogs. My fiancÃ©’s mom has an abused dog Nanuk and I remember when I first met her when his mom and dad came down to visit she was very standoffish. Which is understandable after being abused, however I didn’t give up on befriending her. I tried to extend my friendship to let know i was not there to hurt her and she barked and leapt at me. After a while she did come around and ended up laying in my lap on the couch. With abused dogs you just have to take your time and be patient. My guy has a great story about a dog he adopted in Columbia that was also abused…it could bring you to tears with how he talked about Julio, unfortunately he passed away while he was Iraq.

We have a black cat (Tarro) who is a real snob! He is the real ‘outdoorsie type’ and is a fab mouser… He doesn’t much go in for cuddles… UNLESS there is something on your mind, that is causing you pain… and THEN (and only then) will he very bossily push his way onto your lap and purr and purr until your troubles fade… i think he’s mAgIc X;-) Vicki x

that’s such a great story and, yes, is making me think )

I just realised my URL was mispelt. I hope to hear from you now!

I too have “just” two cats and a great dane ~ and I LOVE them so much ~

Hello,

I was blog-hopping and ended up here. I just finished reading some of your entries and I have to say, I am INSPIRED! I love your philosophy (from what I’ve seen and read so far) and your approach to art and life (or should I say art as life?) My day job consists of working with kids too (after-school program) and I know how much they can bring to the table. They are always surprising. I don’t have any kids of my own but I do have my lovely furry baby-girl Diesel (a lean-mean-purring machine!)

So anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and let you know that I’ve added your blog to my regular reads.

Cheers,
Sophie (in Montreal, Canada)

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