Seems weird to not have Scoobs here on his birthday. But I know he’s close. And even though we may be in slightly different places, we’ll still be sharing our traditional Veuve Clicquot tonight. And some good food too. Because Scooby loved his food! And that’s why it is fitting today, on Scooby’s 22nd birthday, that The Pongo Fund has placed an order for 50,000 pounds of pet food to restock our pet food bank and help carry us through the harsh winter months.
Because those are the same kind of winter months that Scooby spent living on the streets. But he made it. And that’s why we stock up extra heavy for winter, so we can help the tens of thousands of other Scooby’s too. And we invite you to join in on that truckload.
Since you follow The Pongo Fund, you know where Scooby is today. Because you’re one of us. And that’s why with complete certainty you know that he’s everywhere today. He’s right here next to me now, sleeping on his bed like he always does. And he’s right there next to you too, waiting for you to smoosh his perfectly smooshable face. Go ahead, smoosh.
I wish I could meet Scooby’s Mom and thank her for raising such a great son. Because she instilled in him such a powerful bounty of Kindness, Strength, Grace, Compassion and Love. And those qualities have guided him through a life that has not always been perfect. Yet despite it all he never complained.
We met on August 31, 2011, five years ago today. He’d been living on the streets, sleeping in doorways and searching gutters for his dinner. But everything changed the moment we met.
As I knelt down to greet him he crawled onto my lap. And then he stretched his perfect 52 pound Beagle-Basset body right up my chest to kiss my face. He moved a bit like a Slinky, just inching along until he was where he wanted to be. And then he didn’t move. He remained right there, tight against me until I lifted him into the back of my car and drove home. He fell asleep so fast.
What I didn’t know at the time was how badly he hurt. A painful ear infection so severe that both of his ears were swollen shut. A golf ball sized tumor on his paw that grated pavement with each step. A horrible spinal infection that made all movement agonizing for him. And if left untreated would have killed him. Yet somehow in that moment he hid the pain and found the strength to stretch himself far as he could just to give me kisses. Even though with everything he had hurting, he shouldn’t have been able to walk.
In terms of Scooby’s past, there were as many as nine people before me. Think about that. Nine different people made commitments to care for Scooby. But no one stuck with it. That means during his first 17 years he found out over and over again what it meant to be left behind. He was given to others casually, like an old coat or something. Like it was no big deal. What a mistake, because this guy is priceless!
He was traded. He was bartered. He was even dropped off at a convenience store once and just left there. And then the next person would keep him for a while until they would give him away too. But that will never happen again.
Because Scooby is part of my family now. Yours too. And I love him more than words can say.
That Scooby found the best in everything is what amazes me most. Because after everything he’s been through it would make sense for him to have given up. To never trust again. But he does.
And now, to help celebrate Scooby’s 22nd birthday today, a generous Pongo donor is matching all contributions and will keep matching them until September 15th. Every single dollar will be DOUBLED to help pay for the 50,000 pounds of dog and cat food that will be delivered in September. Now we raise the money to pay for it. And you can help.
If you would like help celebrate Scooby’s birthday with a donation to The Pongo Fund, please click here:https://www.thepongofund.org/contact/donation-page/ .
Donations can also be mailed to The Pongo Fund, PO Box 9000, Portland, OR 97207, or please give us a call if you’d like to donate by phone. Or just give us a call to let us hear your dog bark a little bit. We’d like that too. Phone is 503-939-7555.
There are a lot of other dogs and cats out there just like Scooby. And thankfully The Pongo Fund is here to help all of them.
And this is why we Scooby.
Happy Birthday, Scoobs. I love you 🙂
–Larry Chusid August 31, 2016
In Memory of 150 year-old Scooby Chusid:
August 31, 1994 – February 14, 2016
Always Loved, Always Remembered.
Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org
(This beautiful Angel Scooby artwork is one of the deeply meaningful things sent to me after The Scoobs crossed the Rainbow Bridge on February 14, 2016. I cherish this artwork but have misplaced the name of the kind person who created it. I know you’re out there, will you please email me so I can thank you?)