Following the conversation between you and Witch and Shaman for awhile and I'm going to have to join you - I say I'm not an empath nor empathic... but I absolutely bond with animals (and trees lol) If an animal is in pain I will feel it - if it is a domestic animal it's worse. This area is notorious for mistreating domestic animals - especially dogs. They get a pup, get tired of it, shoot it or starve it, or dump it. My county road is a dumping ground and always has been. Over the years I have taken in 24 dogs - I have gone and TAKEN a few right off their logging chains and into my truck in front of the owners (most of who were strangers but I got the word) and I have faced down a whole crew of drunk (really drunk) red-necks at the swimming hole who's big game that day was scaring then shooting them when they ran, a litter of pups (about 4 months old) that were born in an abandoned barn down the road... I was only able to save one as I got there to late - but I had no hesitancy at getting in their faces and would have had no problem making them eat those guns. When I first got here, the old timers (3 families) and I... all within a few miles of each other on this dirt road, all pitched in to take in the abandoned ones... but they all passed and that left me and my kids. Once upon a time my boys brought in a pregnant doggy (BIG DOGGY) and she proceeded to have 14 pups on the coldest night in Arkansas history - we were out in sub-zero temps past midnight bring in tiny pups and their mom - who all proceeded to take up residency in the kitchen all winter long. I was not a wealthy woman - at all... so it was impossible for me to have those animals spayed or neutered or give them good health care but giving them away was a trial because I had to keep going after them because of the treatment they would be getting from those idiots who took them... FINALLY I met a Vet in a small town close by and she took pity on me and the pups... and yes, kitties, several rabbits, and a pot bellied pig... and would give me emergency care and spay and neutered the ones I took in. That Vet has just retired last year, and I am down to 3 doggy's. I have lost another 3 in the last 4 years and it almost killed me. But they have all led good lives (as we could give them) here in the woods and they truly TRULY have been my best friends for all these years. I lost Roach 4 years ago to cancer (he was the first of the 3) he was 10 years old and the sweetest most mischievous and protective little Spirit I have ever known. My sister called the day I had to put him out of his pain and when I told her, she said "that's sad, but it was just a dog Sis" - I didn't speak to her until a few months ago. I have gotten so bad the last few years, I can't watch a movie I think MIGHT have a hurt animal in the plot. lol
So, God Bless all those human's who understand that animals are so far beyond our intelligence, wisdom, capabilities, and compassion's, that many times they give their lives and STILL their love for us is unconditional. THEY are the Guardians - we are just not to that level of Spiritual understanding and can't comprehend that thing.
My sweet boy - Roach
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Shu-Buddy ruling the roost
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The twins, Ms Barker and Nadine (14 years) -and of course, Shu-Buddy being macho
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A couple of visitors late summer
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And - a rare sighting of that new barnyard animal - the anti-masker: See below