I begin each morning these days finding animal inspiration and fun. No pet is present in my home but I go online and find heart-opening connection with animals and their human caregivers. Whatever else is happening in the world, plants and animals still live their innocent lives and particularly dogs, our natural teachers of unconditional love and joyful presence, are still doing their thing around the world.
There are so many kinds of animals who inspire: horses, cows, birds, cats, lions, deer, dolphins. My favorites are dogs and horses. In a future post I will share a short story I wrote about horses. This post will be about dogs – my dogs and others’ dogs that have so inspired me.
DUFFY – my wild happy boy
My life has been graced with two incredibly loving friends – my best friends in fact! The first was Duffy – lively, wild, outdoor nature boy, both independent and dependent, depending on the time of day and degree of hunger. My late husband, Bill, and I adopted him when he was only 8 weeks old. I chose him among the litter because he seemed the most enthusiastic. He came over to me, jumped on my lap and that was that!
A total extrovert, Duffy loved people and also loved other dogs. He was a cairn terrier with the persistent nature bred into that breed. He hated cats and would start to howl and chase around looking for one if he even heard the word “cat.” Once I yelled at Bill to bring my cap for our ride in the car. Duffy almost leaped out of the car to chase the “cat!”
Duffy’s mission in life
Other than having fun, Duffy’s mission in life was to protect our home and us from outsiders, particularly flies, bees, mice, chipmunks, roaches and the like. He would first bark as warning and if they did not disappear, definite consequence ensued. His devotion to us was extreme. He knew our moods, read our energy and always wanted to help and entertain. He would bring us his toys if we were down. Once he brought to me his precious buried bone he dug up for me when I was in grief.
Duffy – Returning to me from the veil
One sunny summer day, Duffy was excitedly barking outside at a mouse wedged in a pile of wood. He suddenly collapsed of a heart attack Four days after his death, I was in my bed and heard footsteps on the stairs and the click – click of his paws along the wood-floored hallway leading to my room. And then there he was, embodied in his youthful form! He jumped up on my bed and came up to me and I petted him as he lay down beside me on a pillow. I closed my eyes briefly and then he was gone. He had come to thank me for being his mother all those years. I know from this that animals have souls and can communicate with us beyond the veil.
Looking back, I’m grateful that we were able to give this little guy a loving, joyful and fun life from day one till the end. He and my husband, Bill, were loyal buddies. They started each day on a long walk, rain or shine, sickness or health – no day was ever missed in 11 years. We both adored Duffy and he reciprocated.
My other beloved dog would be a far different story.
BENJI – my mystic companion and teacher
My next dog was Benji, a cute Westie. He had been adopted by my friend, Dara, from a rescue organization only 3 days before I met him at her home. I sat down on her couch and Benji jumped up and laid his head on my leg. Whenever I visited her, he would do the same. It was obviously a destined love-at-first-sight relationship. Some months later, I adopted him and brought him home to live with me.
Benji had obviously been abused in his life. His confidence was low, he was fearful of large dogs and all cats. He related much more to humans than to other animals but even with humans, he had a quiet discerning nature. An introvert, Duffy was sensitive and seemed to be a kind of meditator.
He was graceful and athletic and could jump like a cat over things and up onto cabinets with no sound. He had many characteristics that were not dog-like. People who met Benji, remarked that he was more human than dog. He tried to talk and was a quick study with words.
Benji’s emotional healing and heroism
Due to his past difficult life, Benji also had behavior issues when I adopted him and a lot of love was used to help him heal his food aggression, agitation due to fear, and general nervousness. He rewarded me with a devotional love and loyalty I don’t think I will ever encounter again. I was his everything and more than once he showed a willingness to sacrifice his life to save me – like the time he ran after a large deer (20+ times his size) and almost caught up with it head-on to protect our yard and me.
If anyone spoke to me in the slightest angry tone, he would quietly growl. When I was bedridden for two months after a back injury, he would have to be persuaded to leave my bed to eat or go outside. Often when I was in particular pain, he would gently place his paw exactly where the pain was worst – just like an energy healer! He was always in the moment and would just sit and watch nature. He taught me many things, stillness was just one.
Benji’s spiritual teachings and example
He nature was love and sweetness, incredible patience and forgiveness. He was teased and taunted before my eyes and I saw the forgiveness and how he would simply come back to his mission of looking out for me. He was my beloved companion for the last five years of his life – years as my teacher and life inspiration. All this from a little one who had experienced physical abuse, abandonment, bully-teasing and probably more.
I will never forget him. My life now, I hope, will honor his character and example so that all he endured will not have been in vain.
As for Benji, I see a sweetly empathetic and wise spirit tempered in the cauldron of difficult life, a courageous hero destined for spiritual advancement, a noble being worth emulating. He will forever be among the biggest inspirations of my life.
My daily morning inspiration via animal lovers
A dog-companion may be in my life again someday. But for now, I tune into these inspiring angels every morning. There are many dog rescuers in the world and many post on YouTube. Here are two that I constantly tune into for joy, inspiration and heart-opening:
TAKIS SHELTER
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
These words by St. Francis of Assisi would apply to a Greek man nicknamed Takis, who left his long career as a nightclub owner to care for animals, particularly dogs, cats and goats.
Takis’ passion began when he found a starving dog one day who had been abandoned at a rubbage dump. He began to feed him and found others needing food and care. Authorities told him to cease his activity at the dump. He asked for a month to find a solution.
Takis sold everything he had to purchase land and build a dog shelter while living in a little storage container among his animal friends. He now has over 400 animals he cares for with a few volunteers and support from admirers worldwide.
Almost daily he posts youtube videos which chronicle life at the rescue. My husband, Charles, and I watch these videos (short) every morning and have come to know many of the dogs by name. We celebrate with Takis when they are adopted to loving homes. Takis is truly an animal whisperer using love to transform aggressive dogs often in less than an hour!
A modern day Francis of Assisi, Takis and his animals bring joy, inspiration and faith in the goodness within all of us – so needed in this time we are in.
Find him at these links: Takis Shelter YouTube Page, Takis Shelter Website, Takis Shelter Facebook Page.
THE ORPHAN PET
Another Greek native, Valia Orfanidou, is a photographer, film maker, poet and animal lover with a mission to demonstrate the souls of animals. She creates poignant and beautiful video-stories of individual animals often narrating them in the voice of the animal. Her words are passionate, understanding and sensitive.
She is an artist using soul as media. I have been following her for about two years and I go to her videos when I find a need to open my heart more. Her work is hard to describe and I can only say that she is an agent of heart-opening, compassion-building and connection to all beings.
Her narration is always eloquent and she finds animals to be her spiritual teachers. Beautifully photographed and filmed, her videos are truly a work of art.
Find her at these links. The Orphan Pet YouTube Page, The Orphan Pet Website, The Orphan Pet Facebook Page
This is a rather long article and thank you so much for reading this far. I hope you find inspiration and upliftment on this site. I would love to know what inspires you. Please comment below and let us all know where you find your own inspiration.
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