Those eyes tell the story. It’s a broken heart. The Dad she loves is not there with her and she’s sad. Because his emergency hospital stay left her scared and alone in his van. Although scooped up into the arms of The Pongo Fund, followed by excellent vet care at Alberta Veterinary Care and an extended stay at Sniff Dog Hotel, she was still alone in her heart.
Despite being surrounded by some of the biggest hearts around and getting lavished with love, sweet Lil D longs for the love that is not there. And no matter how much we tell her she is loved, what she misses is feeling that love.
The love that only her Dad can bring.
A broken heart is never the goal. Particularly on Valentine’s Day. No one really needs chocolates or flowers or fancy gifts or lavish dinners. Just being remembered with a simple call or greeting or neck scratch or belly rub is more than enough. Remember those little funny Valentine cards we gave in grade school? The cards we mocked but secretly longed to receive? Weren’t those some of the best memories?
And wouldn’t you love to find one of those in your mailbox again today? You bet I would. Even if it comes from Anonymous.
With just a simple message that says you are remembered. That you are loved. That you have a friend. So today I’m going to do two things. The first thing I’m going to do is tell each and every one of you that you are loved. And that love comes from both Scooby and me.
We love you for being the kind and caring person that you are. We do not care about your political or religious beliefs. We do not care if you made your bed this morning or have dirty dishes in the sink and dirty laundry next to the washer. We do not care if you watch 50 Shades of Grey 10 or even 20 times. We really don’t.
What we care about is that you love the animals. That you believe in your heart that they too deserve to be treated with kindness and compassion. Not just today. But every day. And we love you for that.
And if we could, we would embrace you in our arms and paws right now for one giant goofy group hug. And you bet we’d include all of the animals too.
But it gets better.
Because later today those sad eyes in the photo are going to change completely when Lil D is back in her Dad’s arms. That’s right. Today. Valentine’s Day. When the heart of hearts works overtime to sprinkle the love everywhere. And no one will feel that love more than Lil D and Joe.
Their ongoing health issues mean that neither one of them are out of the woods yet. But today none of that matters when that lonely girl with the sad eyes will receive the best Valentine ever when she again snuggles up in her Dad’s arms. And I’m pretty sure her Dad of few words will be pretty choked up too.
I’ll do my best to get a photo and share it soon. But the truth is you already know what it will look like. And you know how it will feel.
Because you are one of those people. Those people who love. A person with a heart that works. That feels both love and sorrow. Yes. You are one of those people.
And that’s why today, Valentine’s Day 2015, you will cheer this moment of love that will intentionally tangle together a broken-hearted man and his broken-hearted dog. And I hope that moment will touch each of you and bring you the same joy that I know it will bring to them.
Until one has loved an animal, part of one’s soul remains unawakened. – Anatole France
Love is in the Air for Joe and Lil D.
And this is why we Pongo.
With love from Larry and Scooby and all of us at The Pongo Fund
Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Love. thepongofund.org