In these days of hard economic times, thousands more homeless animals are dropped at our local animal shelters, which cannot keep up with the overflow. Some come from families that find they can no longer affford the costs of food and veterinary bills (per the humane society, one should allot at least $1,000 per year per animal in the household budget for animal care needs). Some from homes that have been foreclosed, leaving families often searching without luck for pet friendly rental accomodations. As always, some from inadvertant mixed breedings. Unhappily this leads to many animals being euthanized. Adoption of a shelter dog or cat is a chance to save a life. And how many times in our lives do we get a chance to do this? Enter Obama, below the fold and one of our fold.
The New York Times today has a short article about the difficulties of adopting a "first dog."
There were two points made in the article that touched my heart very deeply. The first was that Obama was quoted as saying he would like to adopt a shelter dog. To save a life. That otherwise would be slaughtered, the carcass burned, as meaningless to many as detritus or roadkill by the highway. But the President to be of the whole United States would look, not to an expensive purpose bred elite dog, a champion show dog, but to a puppy from an animal shelter whose life was at risk. And that dog, in its plain and uncertain origin was good enough for his daughters, and good enough for him.
The second point that touched me, was a quote from Obama saying the dog he wanted was "a mutt like me." The article implied that this statement referred to Obama's bi-racial origin. I think however, it speaks far deeper to a sense of common humanity, and to an abiding humility of spirit that marks our truly great world leaders. And the majority of Americans, of all and many ethnicities are mutts in our heritage, in our strength and resiliency, which comes directly from our varied origins and complex back stories.
A "shelter dog." A "mutt like me." This is caring for all the life in the world. It is unassuming kindness. It is caring for us.