FOR THE LOVE OF ELLA AND ALL ANIMALS
Happy Monday!
I’m writing this post on Sunday while it’s chucking down rain outside. When is this rain going to end?! My niece arrived last weekend and there has been only one sunny day, which she ‘utilized’ by using no sunscreen at the beach and has been paying for that decision all week. Ah tourists … We will make a native out of her by summer’s end. Love, love, love having her here though. Lots to be grateful for.
Speaking of grateful, I have a new, health coaching client and one of my reminders to her each week is to be grateful. There is actual science backing the notion that giving thanks is beneficial to our health. Today, I give thanks to my dog Ella. She was once abused and scared of everything and now she is loved and fearless.
The escape artist
Saturday, April 5, 2014 is a day that will forever be imprinted in my memory. For the two months prior, I had been trying to catch a small, clearly abused, dog that had been hiding out in a closed soccer park. I visited morning and night to leave food and water and to be a positive presence that he could begin to trust. I created a shelter to protect him from the rain and left toys out to keep him company. He never let me come within 25 feet of him and always had his tail sadly tucked in. A few animal-lovers and I tried every tactic to catch him – traps, tranquilizers, chicken wire, wall of humans with gloves – but nothing worked and this guy kept evading capture, sliding under the fence and even running into oncoming traffic several times. I put up a note around the park thinking that if people stopped leaving food out and he was hungry, we would have a better chance of luring him to us with food. We were running out of time. Soccer season was about to start. The Park Manager told me I had two days before he would call in Animal Services on Monday to remove the dog, which meant I would likely never know how he fared. My goal was to place him in an appropriate, loving home. I could not keep him as I was moving soon to a place that did not allow dogs.
So there I was on April 5th, surrounded by movers and close to tears not only because I was leaving a sacred space I had owned and loved for 10 years but also because the clock was ticking on the fate of this little dog. At the eleventh hour, I got the call. Steven, a park maintenance worker I had befriended, managed to throw a goalie net over the sleeping dog and called me to come pick him up. I said, ‘Adios movers, you know what to do,’ and beelined to the park.
I had expected aggression when I got near but he put his paw through the net and proceeded to lick me to death. At that moment, he became my dog, well ‘she’ as I discovered during a much needed flea bath later that day. For the first year or so she cowered when anyone made a quick movement towards her but she eventually learned that she was safe and would never be abused again. It is beautiful to see her proudly wagging her glorious pom pom tail now for the whole world to see. Ella Parker Fitzgerald is my dog, my best friend and my muse as I follow my life’s purpose – to make the lives of all animals better. My mission is to enlighten people and empower them to adopt instead of shop and to move closer to a plant-based diet, saving millions of animals each day from slaughter and pain.
there is no difference between a dog or a pig or a chicken when it comes to love
Living plant-based and cruelty-free, we greatly improve the lives of animals, our health and our environment. I used to think that organic, pasture-raised and cage-free on the label meant the animals were treated kindly. Sadly, there is no such thing as humane milk, butter, eggs, meat or even fish. Like our beloved pets – like Ella who was once abused – farm animals have the capacity to love and be loved even after living in deplorable conditions. We can make a difference. We can stop this abuse. These beautiful beings deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. I have gradually eliminated animal products from my diet over several years. Some people go cold turkey but I wasn’t one of them. I gave up meat 30 years ago but it took me longer to understand the suffering in the dairy, egg and fish industries. I thought for years that there was no cruelty involved and truly enjoyed the taste. Now, I feel only guilt and sadness on the very rare occasion that I eat these animal products. Side note: I just looked up “cold turkey” and a general theory is that the expression came from the similarities between a drug addict in the throws of withdrawal and a turkey’s carcass – both pale, clammy and covered in goosebumps. Ehhh… gross. I digressed. Let’s think happy thoughts – like the beauty of hugging a farm animal.
Did you know that cows, sheep, lambs, chickens, ducks, pigs, deer, horses and turkeys all like to be petted? I’m serious. They are just like dogs in that way. When in a safe environment, they become affectionate cuddly beings towards humans and each other. Start visiting farm sanctuaries and you will see how little difference there is between a domesticated pet and a farm animal. If Ella were an abused calf, horse or pig, the story would have been the same for me (once I have the farm in place). She was the first of what I expect to be many rescues. If you are interested in eating more plant-based, contact me for advice, a quick chat or coaching.
I am a witness of the transformation of Ella. She was so traumatized when I met her, always scared and shy with everyone except for Susie. Slowly, we showed her that it was ok to be near us and share space together. Ella learnt at some point that she could trust us and that every time we got close to her it was to give her loving hugs. Knowing only abuse in the past, that was a colossal shift for her. Not only humans know trauma, animals too as well, and the beautiful news is that it is possible to overcome it. I can proudly say that Ella loves me and I love her.
I so much hope that Susie can open the animal sanctuary of her dreams.
thanks amiga. She has been an inspiration in my life and you know so well the bond we have. You have it as well. She goes crazy for you like no one else. Thanks to true love and, more importantly, trust.
most moving post yet Susie, beautiful journey you’ve been on with Ella
Thanks P. Just saw this comment. Love my dog <3