I spent the weekend at the Tired Dog Ranch, a retreat near Oakridge, Oregon. Amy Jo and Sally, the owners of the Tired Dog, also own: 10 horses, 4 dogs, 23 cats, 6 goats, many chickens and ducks, and a young wild turkey.
They are all rescues. They ended up at the ranch because Sally or Amy Jo answered the phone, and someone said, “Do you know somebody who might?”
My better half, Brian, and I are partial to their dog, Wally. He was a skinny dumped pup who ended up on their doorstep.
The last time I visited Amy Jo and Sally, Wally followed me through the orchard. He stopped me and said, “If you need a place to stay, this is a good one.”
If I could, I’d take Amy Jo and Sally on a global tour of kindred spirits.
We’d stop first in Majorca, at the Finca Sant Blai to visit our friend, Marta and her donkey Pepper. Here’s Pepper, traversing the Majorcan Alps.
Okay, okay. There are no alps here. Majorca is not a large island.
People move to the Majorca, find they can’t afford to live there, and move away, leaving their pets behind. When Marta bought Finca Sant Blai, she inquired about the animal inhabitants, including Pepper, Blas (another donkey) and Angel (a pony). They were going to be sold to who knows where. Marta kept them.
She brought her rescued pets to Majorca as well, two cats and a dog. Then she adopted a husky from rescue, and also took in two bunnies. She runs this former farm as a beautiful hostel.
Marta said that there are two animal rescue organizations on the island that try to address the issue of homeless pets. Some even transport homeless pets to Germany, in the hopes that they find their forever homes.
After a long visit, we’d leave Pepper in charge, and Marta, AJ, Sally and I would head on down to New South Wales to visit Billie Dean and her husband Andrew Einspruch. They run an animal rescue and sanctuary called Ballyoncree.
Animal communicators, filmmakers and writers, Billie and Andrew and their daughter Tamsin take in and rehabilitate brumbies (the feral horse of Australia!).
I think that Billie and Andrew and Tamsin and Marta and AJ and Sally and I would find lots to talk about.
Perhaps you feed feral cats, or volunteer at a shelter, or tell a chained dog that he’s a good boy. It is good to know you! It is these acts, all over the world, that bring honor and dignity to our feathered, finned and furred kin. I am hoping that in the coming year, we will find new ways to meet and talk together, helping animals all over the world.
Gosh, I don’t know where I would take my little Munch. We’ve only been together for four months and he has been rather ill most of the time. We did go to the beach, but he didn’t seem to like that. Some place rather sunny with lots of green grass. He loves to sun bath, like a cat. Some place he would get lots and lots of my attention, particularly nap laps, and a place to chase his busy ball for hours. No rain or snow. We’re both easy to please that way.
That is so nice to hear. Often I say hi to the dog or let them smell my ‘fist’ or just smile at them. I guess I didn’t realize that it brings honor and dignity to them. I love that!!
really fun image – If you don’t mind I would love to use it in one of my own blog posts. Do you mind?