Such a beautiful story, Deb! I can see your sweet heart throughout. It’s tragic the way some people treat animals. Luckily there are angels like you who care and rescue them. It makes me sick when people can be so cruel. Thanks for bringing awareness to a heartbreaking problem.
Thank you so much friend! I "lightly" poured 18 years and our own rescues into this, in one day, with some weekend edit -- and didn't see it coming. I had been asking myself if I had a fictional piece in me, several weeks ago. Pushing my mind. Praying about it. Waiting on it. Then boom. Living next-door to a very evil dog breeder for years almost did me in. Then God called me to the house we're in now in the midst of a very traumatic event -- the killing of an animal in his backyard. I had kept our blinds closed upstairs for years and on this day I needed light. I'll never forget the gunshot and my Bea running frantically.
So much of our life can be painted as normal and beautiful when inside there is another story. For all of us. I always thought that our bad luck with neighbors was just the way it was and I needed to get over it. I had prayed, kept working at my photography, raising our kids, driving them all over, doing life, smiling, and yet being home was often a compromise of the suffering next-door. I never got combative or did that overbearing fighting, pointing fingers, that many neighbors do. I didn't fear him but I had to walk a fine line for the sake of my children and my sanity. His mail would often end up in our box and I'd hand it to him while he scowled. I would get paid by the university I photographed for, by check in the mail, and I wanted him to know I needed that if the mailman made a mistake. He taunted us and I ignored him and just kept going. I tried in the end to contact all the animals rights people and no one cared. Sooooo I never knew that this would be my first fiction (based on truth) - It was surreal to be called to the table and pound away. I so appreciate you reading it! It felt good.
That’s incredible, Deb. Oh, the horrors you lived through! How he tortured you and your family through his animal abuse! And those poor dogs! You must have been sick when the gunshot rang out. I can’t believe you could not get any animal services to do anything!!!!! It’s awful here, but he will get his reward, and I believe that the precious dogs he abused will be rewarded, too. God will not forget those good creatures. Keep going with the fiction if you’re feeling it! You are wonderfully talented. Sending up hugs!! ❤️
No God will not forget. I thank you so much Jenn for your kind comment here. I really hope to turn this into something, if not a few more chapters! Hugging you back. ox
I love this, Deborah. You do an amazing job of capturing the heartbreak of witnessing how people have no problem just dumping unwanted animals and the tireless and thankless work of the people who clean up the mess.
Alison! you have no idea how much this means to me. You are my favorite fiction writer here. This came from years of living next to a very evil backyard dog breeder. I have kept so much inside and it was weird, but I kept saying to myself, for weeks, “do I have a fiction piece in me?” and suddenly I sat and wrote. Did some research on names, years, places, but it flowed. It was mild to the ptsd I was forming before leaving our family home. Thank you so much. ox
This was an absolutely beautiful story! My son has rescued 9 dogs, mostly Great Danes. I hope you don't mind if I pass this on to all my friends with fur babies! ❤️❤️
This is so strange, but I wrote to you and thanked you last night and I can see me telling you to say "thank you" to your son for his love of rescuing and it's not here? I am so glad I looked through the comments as I don't like to miss any! I am very sorry! So I'll say again, thank you so very much for reading and for this wonderful comment! Oh my! nine dogs and I adore Great Danes! Please pass this story on to anyone you like! It's a dedication to everyone that rescues. I'm hoping to do at least one more with the same characters. God Bless you! ox
Just wow… you’re a master of short fiction my dear! This is brilliant…so well written! I was smiling thru tears as I read it… knowing how passionate you are about abandoned animals, profit breeding and owners who mistreat their pets. Write what we know, write what we feel… you’ve nailed it my friend! This is terrific writing and thought provoking- I hope you’ll enter it somewhere! Love you! 🐾👏👏🐾👏😊🐾❤️😘🐾
I finally got up off the couch to see these comments and you made me cry and get stuffier in my nose too (ha ha!). I appreciate your years of experience as a writer and can't thank you enough. Do you think I should continue this story into a part two?
I was finally handed a dreaded cold. I so love writing and having it to run to in all seasons, up and down. It's such a blessing and I know you know that feeling! I probably "lightly" poured the 18 years of living next-door to a very nasty backyard breeder into this story and it came to me so fast. I wanted to attempt fiction (based on truth) and had no idea where to start and it just began to flow, as if every ounce of the pain I experienced all those years keeping our upstairs curtains closed, trying sheepishly to "do something" about it, to the abuse I witnessed, the lack of any official caring, the anger that evil man projected onto the neighborhood and the realization, all along, that we built this home as a family on a very slim budget and we were never going to move or be away from that situation. My John threw his heart into it. And there was far more. We have always rescued and I read the stories daily and post on IG as you know. I took so many elements, yet could go on and on. For every evil that man projects onto an animal I really feel they should be the ones dumped in the heat with no shoes on their feet and a heavy jacket. Then they'd know how it feels. That's where I was going and it's something I confess I think of - but I know God will deal with those people and me at the end.
This is my story of home testimony. I wrote it all out, stopped and read, re-read, and realized "man we sure beat ourselves up as parents and people, yet look at all the stuff we dealt with?" Another good release. We didn't get lucky with good neighbors and shook our fists at God for that love thy neighbor commandment A LOT! https://deborahthewitt.substack.com/p/welcome-home
Sending my love to you always Joan and hope you had a good weekend! Have a blessed week ahead. oxox
Oh sweet girl…you’ve more pain inside you… let it out in another chapter/sequel! Blast that fricken neighbor into an evil character based on truth! So sorry you had to live like that! 😡😢 You write from your beautiful heart even the bad stuff…I’m with you all the way! You can do it, you will! God is guiding you, I can tell! Blessings and love my dearest friend! I’m trying to finish a piece that’s so hard right now. I get it!
I think this has another few chapters! I nearly collapsed after finishing. It was a crazy ride. I had asked myself if I had this in me, several weeks ago and sat on it. Just like that I was drawn in and wrote it mostly Friday. Everything came to me through all these visions of all that I witnessed, have continued to see, the real life characters, my own rescues, the losses, etc. Just some research on names, places, details like that that I wanted relatable. It felt like it was the beginning of something I didn't know would happen. Thank you for this Joan. He does guide us if we're listening and the more we are honest the better it becomes. We are REAL people, flaws and all. Everyone has a story. I read your piece first thing and responded through tears. Love you. ox
Ahhhh Jamie, I have a nasty head-cold and after I read this my eyes filled with tears and my nose became more stuffy 😭🤧 Thank you my magical poet friend! I won't stop if you won't stop 💫🙌🏻🍻 ox
Loved your story about the animals being rescued l have rescued a few dogs in my time it's good people who love animals and God gave them more sense, than some humans .x🕊️🦋.
Thank you Mary 🙏🏻 I absolutely imagined you to be an animal lover and rescuer. I believe they rescue us. We don't deserve them. You are right. They have far more sense than most humans. They ask for very little and give so much in return. Hope your weekend was peaceful. ox
Dear Bob! I get a feeling I'll quit after I read Some Other Time! 😭 You are way too kind to me! God is so good to give me a friend like you 🙏🏻💫 Thank you. ox
Oh Caroline, I think your writing is absolutely fabulous, so when I saw this I smiled big through my watery coldy 🤧😑 eyes! Thank you so much for this 🙏🏻
I was writing it when I saw your Delilah! and it looks like we're both sick 🤒 ugh 🤦♀️. Hope you feel better soon 😘 My Bea has been staring at me all day from her place on the couch 😅🩷
What a great honor to get this compliment from you Jim 🙏🏻 You have also made my day and definitely my week! This is the best community I have ever been a part of. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead. ox
I enjoyed that, Deborah. Thank you. I felt like I could see that road and that poor dog and your hero of course…..whom I’m sure has a more than a few fair shades of you about her😉😘
Julie, I know I thanked you in Notes, but I really appreciate your reading this and leaving my heart completely full this Sunday afternoon. Have a joyful week ahead. Sending you a big hug. ox
Oh thank you so much for taking the time to read Merissa! The way it came together was only God’s hand on the keys again. I had been asking if I had anything in me. And let it brew for over a month. I actually wrote this pretty sick in a few days! Researched places, some I was familiar with, and dates, etc. And all the stories, people, our own experience just came flooding together. I was saying to Him, “are you sure? I feel like sleeping!” lol.
Aww! Haha, I completely understand that writing process with the Holy Spirit 😂 it happens every time! But the final result is always so precious 🤗 so happy you pushed through with him! 👏
Thank you so much Merissa! It's so true! Or at least this is how it's been since the day I started writing. My mom keeps saying "you're writing a lot" (lol) and I say, I am being pulled by God! Sorry! not sorry!
Thank you so much friend! I am so grateful to have met you here. I know we carry a similar heart for the animals. Have you seen Sterling? oh my heart!!! Brings me to tears. You keep going too. oxox
Awe, thank you Emma. I really appreciate you reading and for your heartfelt comment. I’d like to hug you. We can so relate to the animals. God Bless you. oxox
Deborah, excellent, And I can attest that you have captured the true essence of life and Spirit of the Central Valley, California. Randy’s parents migrated from Oklahoma on route 66 from Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl. They settled in McFarland. So his parents grew up in McFarland and that’s where his grandparents and uncles and aunts live until they spread out into the local towns like Pixley, Shafter etc.
We currently live about 3 miles outside the little village of Terra Bella on a farm where many pets are regularly dumped either up on the road or sometimes a half mile from the road right at our house. I can tell you heartbreaking stories.
This area of the central valley as well as McFarland are some of the worst poverty stricken areas in the United States. I most cannot afford dog and cat food let alone food for themselves. Bless those hearts who manage to share what they have and care for these animals. At least Randy and I can afford to feed the ones who come through here. Fortunately I know how to find them homes, so they are here usually only a few short weeks. I can tell you heartbreaking stories though and my calls to SPCA or a leading for help, go ahead for unheard. I don’t know where they received their rescue animals? I couldn’t get their assistance.
If this is your first attempt at fiction, I am looking forward to your future work, because this is just awesome! Thank you for shedding light on this subject matter as well. God bless you!
This truly means so much to me that you would sit down and read this and share with me this special history. What a rich history your husband comes from. My John's family is from a very tiny farming town in Iowa. We have the old phone from the farmhouse. I believe John's dad was one of nine siblings. All but one died of different cancers in their 60's. One sister lived into her eighties.
I don't think I've seen the kind of dumping going on with animals and just posted another desperate situation on my FB to a rescue I support. As we were driving to the Hollywood Bowl last night I also heard a breeder of literally everything, was busted out in Cherry Valley and all the animals were being collected. Emaciated horses, dogs, cats, rats, cockroaches! (bred ones!), you name it. Big bust - but probably no justice again. There's no justice for any heinous crimes it seems. It's an utter heartbreaker.
The truth of this story is that after all the years living next to an evil breeder, while we rescued, up in the foothills of Alta Loma, Ca, I tried, like you, to live with, do something, suffered the consequences of ill health over it, was getting some ptsd, and then an incident changed our lives and we had to move and leave the family home we built together. Thankfully we were empty nesters and it was good to downsize. Sadly it was John's dream to build a home and he saw grandchildren, etc. coming there. We had our oldest two's weddings there. We built on a $300k budget literally as a family. The work was excruciating and took over a year. We ended up squished between the worst cases of humanity in the city - the foolery going on with the breeder we had no idea (he fooled people and we never knew until a year living there) and the lovely woman on the other side, divorced, remarried (I shot her 2nd marriage on film at The Mission Inn!) - well...she sold out a few years later to a sinister "commune" that wore no clothes. It's often funny to people - but my survival was based on living outwardly towards my family, work and trust that God had us. We lived, like you, in a beautiful area. We had survived the Grand Prix fire that came for our home and took the backyard out - all the way to our back door. We had been through a lot. When I wrote about our testimony of never getting the good neighbors ("Welcome Home" - I believe it's titled) - I released everything. I still had so much inside of me with the animal thing.
So this last month I walked, prayed and asked myself, "do I have a fiction story?" "do I have a book in me?" I carried on with life and writing other things. Last Friday, pretty sick, God sat me down and this story came about - with great ease and it was shocking to me., as if someone else had the keys. I did mild research, but I knew all the facts of rescue, I love humanity, see it suffering, heard your stories and the poor shepherd mama with her decapitated puppy, see rescue daily, sponsor it, have my own animal stories, etc. I don't even remember Saturday I slept all day. On Sunday morning I rose in bed and finished this story. It was just like that. I cried after. I got it out and it was truly mild considering how much we all wish there was justice in this world for all that is wrong. I know what you mean about calling the SPCA. I had called them all. Right now a rescue I sponsor near L.A. tried to call the City Animal Services to a woman that makes $300k a year and her job is head of animal services. Her shelter is disgusting, L.A. City Animal Shelter has leaks in the roof and dogs are 2-3 to a cage in hallways, with tarps over in the rainy months. There's no air. Water is pee'd in, they go to the table fast. She had a message she would be gone for two months!!! No explanation, no other help. A young 16 year old girl, on her way to school this week, saw a dog in the middle of the busy street and tried to call them too. She looked up the rescue I follow and called them. She rescued this dog from the middle of the street. The rescue has the dog now. When I saw Karen Bass at the Paris Olympics and all the Hollywood hoopla, clean beaches, I felt sick.
I'll end there. I love you Charlotte. Thank you. I think I will write another few chapters or turn this into a book - a very long distance dream to help the animals. I think Susana's town will be Matheny. You inspire me to keep going. oxox
A moving story that is bound to tug at the heart strings of all dedicated animal lovers, such as in our family who have never been without a pet to spoil.
Thank you mama. They have enriched our lives immensely. All rescues it seems. Rejects. The best anyone could ever ask for. We need them more than they need us. Love you and thank you for listening! oxox
It hurts to write it 😔 Thank you Aaron! I really appreciate you reading and commenting. I hope to bring light to the worst of times for discarded animals. God Bless.
Such a beautiful story, Deb! I can see your sweet heart throughout. It’s tragic the way some people treat animals. Luckily there are angels like you who care and rescue them. It makes me sick when people can be so cruel. Thanks for bringing awareness to a heartbreaking problem.
Thank you so much friend! I "lightly" poured 18 years and our own rescues into this, in one day, with some weekend edit -- and didn't see it coming. I had been asking myself if I had a fictional piece in me, several weeks ago. Pushing my mind. Praying about it. Waiting on it. Then boom. Living next-door to a very evil dog breeder for years almost did me in. Then God called me to the house we're in now in the midst of a very traumatic event -- the killing of an animal in his backyard. I had kept our blinds closed upstairs for years and on this day I needed light. I'll never forget the gunshot and my Bea running frantically.
So much of our life can be painted as normal and beautiful when inside there is another story. For all of us. I always thought that our bad luck with neighbors was just the way it was and I needed to get over it. I had prayed, kept working at my photography, raising our kids, driving them all over, doing life, smiling, and yet being home was often a compromise of the suffering next-door. I never got combative or did that overbearing fighting, pointing fingers, that many neighbors do. I didn't fear him but I had to walk a fine line for the sake of my children and my sanity. His mail would often end up in our box and I'd hand it to him while he scowled. I would get paid by the university I photographed for, by check in the mail, and I wanted him to know I needed that if the mailman made a mistake. He taunted us and I ignored him and just kept going. I tried in the end to contact all the animals rights people and no one cared. Sooooo I never knew that this would be my first fiction (based on truth) - It was surreal to be called to the table and pound away. I so appreciate you reading it! It felt good.
Sending you a ton of love Jenn! ox
That’s incredible, Deb. Oh, the horrors you lived through! How he tortured you and your family through his animal abuse! And those poor dogs! You must have been sick when the gunshot rang out. I can’t believe you could not get any animal services to do anything!!!!! It’s awful here, but he will get his reward, and I believe that the precious dogs he abused will be rewarded, too. God will not forget those good creatures. Keep going with the fiction if you’re feeling it! You are wonderfully talented. Sending up hugs!! ❤️
No God will not forget. I thank you so much Jenn for your kind comment here. I really hope to turn this into something, if not a few more chapters! Hugging you back. ox
I will be looking forward to reading more! ❤️❤️❤️
I love this, Deborah. You do an amazing job of capturing the heartbreak of witnessing how people have no problem just dumping unwanted animals and the tireless and thankless work of the people who clean up the mess.
Alison! you have no idea how much this means to me. You are my favorite fiction writer here. This came from years of living next to a very evil backyard dog breeder. I have kept so much inside and it was weird, but I kept saying to myself, for weeks, “do I have a fiction piece in me?” and suddenly I sat and wrote. Did some research on names, years, places, but it flowed. It was mild to the ptsd I was forming before leaving our family home. Thank you so much. ox
Wonderful job! I can’t wait to read more! 💕
Thank you so much Alison 🙏🏻😘
This was an absolutely beautiful story! My son has rescued 9 dogs, mostly Great Danes. I hope you don't mind if I pass this on to all my friends with fur babies! ❤️❤️
This is so strange, but I wrote to you and thanked you last night and I can see me telling you to say "thank you" to your son for his love of rescuing and it's not here? I am so glad I looked through the comments as I don't like to miss any! I am very sorry! So I'll say again, thank you so very much for reading and for this wonderful comment! Oh my! nine dogs and I adore Great Danes! Please pass this story on to anyone you like! It's a dedication to everyone that rescues. I'm hoping to do at least one more with the same characters. God Bless you! ox
💕😊
Just wow… you’re a master of short fiction my dear! This is brilliant…so well written! I was smiling thru tears as I read it… knowing how passionate you are about abandoned animals, profit breeding and owners who mistreat their pets. Write what we know, write what we feel… you’ve nailed it my friend! This is terrific writing and thought provoking- I hope you’ll enter it somewhere! Love you! 🐾👏👏🐾👏😊🐾❤️😘🐾
Dear Joan,
I finally got up off the couch to see these comments and you made me cry and get stuffier in my nose too (ha ha!). I appreciate your years of experience as a writer and can't thank you enough. Do you think I should continue this story into a part two?
I was finally handed a dreaded cold. I so love writing and having it to run to in all seasons, up and down. It's such a blessing and I know you know that feeling! I probably "lightly" poured the 18 years of living next-door to a very nasty backyard breeder into this story and it came to me so fast. I wanted to attempt fiction (based on truth) and had no idea where to start and it just began to flow, as if every ounce of the pain I experienced all those years keeping our upstairs curtains closed, trying sheepishly to "do something" about it, to the abuse I witnessed, the lack of any official caring, the anger that evil man projected onto the neighborhood and the realization, all along, that we built this home as a family on a very slim budget and we were never going to move or be away from that situation. My John threw his heart into it. And there was far more. We have always rescued and I read the stories daily and post on IG as you know. I took so many elements, yet could go on and on. For every evil that man projects onto an animal I really feel they should be the ones dumped in the heat with no shoes on their feet and a heavy jacket. Then they'd know how it feels. That's where I was going and it's something I confess I think of - but I know God will deal with those people and me at the end.
This is my story of home testimony. I wrote it all out, stopped and read, re-read, and realized "man we sure beat ourselves up as parents and people, yet look at all the stuff we dealt with?" Another good release. We didn't get lucky with good neighbors and shook our fists at God for that love thy neighbor commandment A LOT! https://deborahthewitt.substack.com/p/welcome-home
Sending my love to you always Joan and hope you had a good weekend! Have a blessed week ahead. oxox
Oh sweet girl…you’ve more pain inside you… let it out in another chapter/sequel! Blast that fricken neighbor into an evil character based on truth! So sorry you had to live like that! 😡😢 You write from your beautiful heart even the bad stuff…I’m with you all the way! You can do it, you will! God is guiding you, I can tell! Blessings and love my dearest friend! I’m trying to finish a piece that’s so hard right now. I get it!
I think this has another few chapters! I nearly collapsed after finishing. It was a crazy ride. I had asked myself if I had this in me, several weeks ago and sat on it. Just like that I was drawn in and wrote it mostly Friday. Everything came to me through all these visions of all that I witnessed, have continued to see, the real life characters, my own rescues, the losses, etc. Just some research on names, places, details like that that I wanted relatable. It felt like it was the beginning of something I didn't know would happen. Thank you for this Joan. He does guide us if we're listening and the more we are honest the better it becomes. We are REAL people, flaws and all. Everyone has a story. I read your piece first thing and responded through tears. Love you. ox
❤️😘🥰
Deb! You are magic 🪄 Keep turning love into ink! Amazing 🙏❤️
Ahhhh Jamie, I have a nasty head-cold and after I read this my eyes filled with tears and my nose became more stuffy 😭🤧 Thank you my magical poet friend! I won't stop if you won't stop 💫🙌🏻🍻 ox
Loved your story about the animals being rescued l have rescued a few dogs in my time it's good people who love animals and God gave them more sense, than some humans .x🕊️🦋.
Thank you Mary 🙏🏻 I absolutely imagined you to be an animal lover and rescuer. I believe they rescue us. We don't deserve them. You are right. They have far more sense than most humans. They ask for very little and give so much in return. Hope your weekend was peaceful. ox
Not fair Deb - you've got the trifecta - great writing, photography, and poetry. I'm suddenly feeling inadequate...
Dear Bob! I get a feeling I'll quit after I read Some Other Time! 😭 You are way too kind to me! God is so good to give me a friend like you 🙏🏻💫 Thank you. ox
I loved this story sooo much!! Beautifully written. I could see the characters. And you know my feelings about my animal brethren!
Susana reminds me of an older woman I see from time to time — always a different foster!
Oh Caroline, I think your writing is absolutely fabulous, so when I saw this I smiled big through my watery coldy 🤧😑 eyes! Thank you so much for this 🙏🏻
I was writing it when I saw your Delilah! and it looks like we're both sick 🤒 ugh 🤦♀️. Hope you feel better soon 😘 My Bea has been staring at me all day from her place on the couch 😅🩷
Great job with this story Deborah. Enjoyed reading it. - Jim
What a great honor to get this compliment from you Jim 🙏🏻 You have also made my day and definitely my week! This is the best community I have ever been a part of. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead. ox
I enjoyed that, Deborah. Thank you. I felt like I could see that road and that poor dog and your hero of course…..whom I’m sure has a more than a few fair shades of you about her😉😘
Julie, I know I thanked you in Notes, but I really appreciate your reading this and leaving my heart completely full this Sunday afternoon. Have a joyful week ahead. Sending you a big hug. ox
❤️
Ooh, love, love, love! You have beautiful story-telling skills, Deborah! I hope you write another story soon!
Oh thank you so much for taking the time to read Merissa! The way it came together was only God’s hand on the keys again. I had been asking if I had anything in me. And let it brew for over a month. I actually wrote this pretty sick in a few days! Researched places, some I was familiar with, and dates, etc. And all the stories, people, our own experience just came flooding together. I was saying to Him, “are you sure? I feel like sleeping!” lol.
Aww! Haha, I completely understand that writing process with the Holy Spirit 😂 it happens every time! But the final result is always so precious 🤗 so happy you pushed through with him! 👏
Thank you so much Merissa! It's so true! Or at least this is how it's been since the day I started writing. My mom keeps saying "you're writing a lot" (lol) and I say, I am being pulled by God! Sorry! not sorry!
Haha 100% can relate! Love it, keep it up! Love your writing ✍️✍️
Real. Genuine. Wow. Keep going! 🌿
Thank you so much friend! I am so grateful to have met you here. I know we carry a similar heart for the animals. Have you seen Sterling? oh my heart!!! Brings me to tears. You keep going too. oxox
I really enjoyed this story - a totally unfamiliar landscape to me, but I felt it. All about being dumped! Great story. And the animals…♥️
Awe, thank you Emma. I really appreciate you reading and for your heartfelt comment. I’d like to hug you. We can so relate to the animals. God Bless you. oxox
Deborah, excellent, And I can attest that you have captured the true essence of life and Spirit of the Central Valley, California. Randy’s parents migrated from Oklahoma on route 66 from Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl. They settled in McFarland. So his parents grew up in McFarland and that’s where his grandparents and uncles and aunts live until they spread out into the local towns like Pixley, Shafter etc.
We currently live about 3 miles outside the little village of Terra Bella on a farm where many pets are regularly dumped either up on the road or sometimes a half mile from the road right at our house. I can tell you heartbreaking stories.
This area of the central valley as well as McFarland are some of the worst poverty stricken areas in the United States. I most cannot afford dog and cat food let alone food for themselves. Bless those hearts who manage to share what they have and care for these animals. At least Randy and I can afford to feed the ones who come through here. Fortunately I know how to find them homes, so they are here usually only a few short weeks. I can tell you heartbreaking stories though and my calls to SPCA or a leading for help, go ahead for unheard. I don’t know where they received their rescue animals? I couldn’t get their assistance.
If this is your first attempt at fiction, I am looking forward to your future work, because this is just awesome! Thank you for shedding light on this subject matter as well. God bless you!
Dear Charlotte,
This truly means so much to me that you would sit down and read this and share with me this special history. What a rich history your husband comes from. My John's family is from a very tiny farming town in Iowa. We have the old phone from the farmhouse. I believe John's dad was one of nine siblings. All but one died of different cancers in their 60's. One sister lived into her eighties.
I don't think I've seen the kind of dumping going on with animals and just posted another desperate situation on my FB to a rescue I support. As we were driving to the Hollywood Bowl last night I also heard a breeder of literally everything, was busted out in Cherry Valley and all the animals were being collected. Emaciated horses, dogs, cats, rats, cockroaches! (bred ones!), you name it. Big bust - but probably no justice again. There's no justice for any heinous crimes it seems. It's an utter heartbreaker.
The truth of this story is that after all the years living next to an evil breeder, while we rescued, up in the foothills of Alta Loma, Ca, I tried, like you, to live with, do something, suffered the consequences of ill health over it, was getting some ptsd, and then an incident changed our lives and we had to move and leave the family home we built together. Thankfully we were empty nesters and it was good to downsize. Sadly it was John's dream to build a home and he saw grandchildren, etc. coming there. We had our oldest two's weddings there. We built on a $300k budget literally as a family. The work was excruciating and took over a year. We ended up squished between the worst cases of humanity in the city - the foolery going on with the breeder we had no idea (he fooled people and we never knew until a year living there) and the lovely woman on the other side, divorced, remarried (I shot her 2nd marriage on film at The Mission Inn!) - well...she sold out a few years later to a sinister "commune" that wore no clothes. It's often funny to people - but my survival was based on living outwardly towards my family, work and trust that God had us. We lived, like you, in a beautiful area. We had survived the Grand Prix fire that came for our home and took the backyard out - all the way to our back door. We had been through a lot. When I wrote about our testimony of never getting the good neighbors ("Welcome Home" - I believe it's titled) - I released everything. I still had so much inside of me with the animal thing.
So this last month I walked, prayed and asked myself, "do I have a fiction story?" "do I have a book in me?" I carried on with life and writing other things. Last Friday, pretty sick, God sat me down and this story came about - with great ease and it was shocking to me., as if someone else had the keys. I did mild research, but I knew all the facts of rescue, I love humanity, see it suffering, heard your stories and the poor shepherd mama with her decapitated puppy, see rescue daily, sponsor it, have my own animal stories, etc. I don't even remember Saturday I slept all day. On Sunday morning I rose in bed and finished this story. It was just like that. I cried after. I got it out and it was truly mild considering how much we all wish there was justice in this world for all that is wrong. I know what you mean about calling the SPCA. I had called them all. Right now a rescue I sponsor near L.A. tried to call the City Animal Services to a woman that makes $300k a year and her job is head of animal services. Her shelter is disgusting, L.A. City Animal Shelter has leaks in the roof and dogs are 2-3 to a cage in hallways, with tarps over in the rainy months. There's no air. Water is pee'd in, they go to the table fast. She had a message she would be gone for two months!!! No explanation, no other help. A young 16 year old girl, on her way to school this week, saw a dog in the middle of the busy street and tried to call them too. She looked up the rescue I follow and called them. She rescued this dog from the middle of the street. The rescue has the dog now. When I saw Karen Bass at the Paris Olympics and all the Hollywood hoopla, clean beaches, I felt sick.
I'll end there. I love you Charlotte. Thank you. I think I will write another few chapters or turn this into a book - a very long distance dream to help the animals. I think Susana's town will be Matheny. You inspire me to keep going. oxox
A moving story that is bound to tug at the heart strings of all dedicated animal lovers, such as in our family who have never been without a pet to spoil.
Thank you mama. They have enriched our lives immensely. All rescues it seems. Rejects. The best anyone could ever ask for. We need them more than they need us. Love you and thank you for listening! oxox
That hit like a gut punch. Great job with this!
It hurts to write it 😔 Thank you Aaron! I really appreciate you reading and commenting. I hope to bring light to the worst of times for discarded animals. God Bless.
You are doing a wonderful job of it!
Thank you so much!