Tuesday, May 12, 2009

I Don't Believe in Karma / I Do Believe Kindness

Here's a little post I wrote for GlobaLove Tank tonight, inspired by Doodle's visit to the clinic today:


I saw some serious sack animals at the vet today, including my own lil' Doodle Cat who was with the dentist this morning to get her world rocked with a weigh-in, a rectal thermometer, some intravenous drugs, a catheter, a dental cleaning and a surprise front-tooth yanking. I don't have good health insurance for myself, let alone Doodle Bug, but she needed to go, I'm hopelessly in love with her, and it had to be done. But what if she didn't have me?

Doodle couldn't wait to get out of there this afternoon, poor thing. But she was in amazing shape compared to poor Sasha, the sweetest, saddest most gentle doll of a 6-year old pooch I've ever seen. She was in the waiting room too this morning, vomiting and beyond miserable. And she can't tell us what's wrong with her! Imagine that? Not being able to scream, "What are my symptoms? WHAT ARE MY SYMPTOMS? My stomach fucking hurtS, I'm hot as an inFerno, and iM ABOUT TO BLOW CHUNKS ALL OVER THIS WAITING ROOM!" Sure, Doodle was to undergo major anesthesia, and I had to sign a waiver saying that if she died in the surgery all was A-OK with it, but at work, my mind was more on Sasha and how she was doing.


When I went to fetch Doodle post-surgery (the staff in the back re-named her Cranky, not surprisingly), I learned from the receptionist that poor Sasha Pants was to spend the night and was resting wrapped in blankets under a heat lamp. The vet tech explained Doodle's pain meds with me when another tech appeared from the back with Sasha--outfitted in a pink cast--to take her for a walk.


Sasha. On her way back from a "walk." Having the RUFFest of days (poor girl didn't have the eye boogers in the morning) would you look at those eyebrows and that tail? Ouch. Lady is in a world of hurt but in the right place. 
5:15 p.m. ~ May 12, 2009.
Sasha, feel better soon! xxoxoxxoxoo!


Sasha Pup still looked miserable, barely holding up her head and limping along, but she was dealing. I'm to understand she may need a hysterectomy or something, and truly I wish her and human companion (who was understandably frantic about Sasha's condition this morning) the best! Oh, Sasha.

My point? Life is hard. Times are tough. Everything sucks. And when we're feeling low, hopeless and helpless, helping other creatures is the fastest feel-good thing you can do for yourself and in turn, others. The most vulnerable in any circumstances are the innocent and defenseless, and shelters like Bide-a-Wee (Scottish for "Stay while!") improve the lives of suffering animals through rescue, veterinary care, and adoption outreach.



Doodle (aka Cranky), home from the vet with way more drugs and one less tooth. May 12, 2009 ~ NYC


Did you know that adopting an animal improves the lives of humans? It's true! When I encountered Doodle ten years ago, sitting on the shoulder of the girl working the coat check of an underground Caviar Bar where I was 6 Russian vodka martini-soaked sheets to the wind, I was in no shape to adopt anything. But when Doodle was delivered to my apartment the next morning (3 hours later--did I really give out my card?), my life was changed for the better almost instantly, and she has brought me nothing but unconditional love and joy. And the occasional barf on the carpet. But it's 99% joy. If you can't adopt right now, you can still help make a difference: Feed an Animal for FREE simply by clicking HERE! Every click at theanimalrescuesite.com is a free bowl of food!

Thanks in advance for being kind. Rewind! 

Peace, meows and woofs,

Anne & dOoDLE

10 comments:

Micgar said...

Poor Sasha and Doodle both look so sad! Best wishes to them both for a speedy recovery! I hate to see animals suffer or feel pain.

Mojito Libre said...

Gah! Anne...back to the dick and fart jokes! I had to put my dog down the other day and I was finally kind of getting over it and you post pics of Sasha! Dammit! Oh well, thanks for the post...I agree with you. My dog was a rescue and it felt good to give her a good home rather than buying an overpriced pure-bred shit storm from a puppy mill or breeder.

Del-V said...

I totally agree with you. Pets rock.

Nina Paley said...

I Heart My Cat.

anne altman said...

i'm sorry, mojito. RIP pooch.

losing a pet is the worst part of having one, i know.

well, that and the cat hair. was that out loud?

Sans Pantaloons said...

Excellent post. In the interest of perfection, I would presume sack=sick. Also at GlobalLove.

newbluebaby said...

I've never seen Doodle look so... bitchy.

piglet said...

Loved this one. Got 2 rescue collies and 1 basement cat. I swear I spend more on these dumbasses then some people spend on rent, but they are the best life coaches I've ever met.

anne altman said...

newblue:

doodle's survived a spaying, dozens of multi-state airline flights, 12 hour car-rides, 9 hours trapped in a closet, a half dozen showers, to-the-blood fights with innumerable random critters at 3 am in a Vermont field, a trip on the N train to astoria, and day to day living with me: nothing compared to yesterday. it kicked her ass.

anne altman said...

piglet: <3