Being British I don’t celebrate thanksgiving – although a holiday based on Turkey and pumpkin sounds pretty amazing to be. It does represent a nice opportunity to consider things we are thankful for, especially considering the strangeness of 2020 as a year.
Joe. I am always thankful for Joe. He makes great tea, takes the early wake up call shift with Bea, carries her up the stairs or into the car for an adventure. He is endlessly patient and affectionate with the dynamic duo and despite the culture shock of two large dogs moving in, does not complain about sleep deprivation, muddy paw prints or losing a sofa space to a greyhound – instead he gives them a fuss and calls them good woofers and sits on the floor to play with them. He is the best “doggy dad” they could want.
Dry weather walks. Living in Wales it’s a rarity but I’m learning to be more and more thankful for a dry day, much less towels to wash, floors to mop and coats to dry! The walks themselves regardless of weather is something I am thankful for and should try not to take for granted – the ability to get out in some fresh air with keen companions and just enjoy some gentle exercise away from a screen.
Family. Who are always willing to walk a woofer if required, who have treats sat in the porch ready for a woofer walk by (Bea now knows the route to my parents house and tries determinedly to direct the walk in that direction), who will call in and hang out with dogs if Joe and I both have to be out.
Friends old and new. The old friends that want to visit us to hang out with the dogs, that arrange a birthday outing that is a walk in the rain so the dogs can join in, that budge up on the patio furniture so Bea can cuddle in. The new friends, the wonderful greyhound cult friends that we have made in person, via whatsapp or messenger. This is a group I am unbelievably thankful for – a source of hilarity, advice, support and pictures of some of the derpiest dogs I have ever seen. 2020 in particular has changed the dynamic of the support network and forces people to seek support and contact in ways that would not have been typical last year. I’m thankful for the ability to access that, and to have been accepted into the cult.
The rescue. I am so thankful for the rescue, for taking Sam and Bea in, loving them and giving them the opportunity to start a new life. That seems like a very inadequate summary but I am struggling to find the words to express how thankful I am for that, for what they did for Sam and Bea, have done and continue to do for every dog that comes into their care, especially considering how difficult 2020 is for charities to raise funds and sustain operations.
Weirdly and roll with me a second here – I’m thankful for the trainers – not thankful for the life Sam and Bea and so many others have experienced in that environment but I am at least thankful those trainers handed the dogs over to rescue to deal with – the alternatives are too difficult to think of, so I’m at least thankful they did the “right thing” and gave the dogs to people who would give them the chance of a good life.
Sandra. I’m very thankful for Sandra and the phone call she made to me at the end of May, the visits she did with Sam and Bea pre rehoming, that she trusted us enough to give them a home and that she is always on the end of a phone if we needed something or to receive pictures of dogs in jumpers.
Sam and Bea. So thankful for Sam and Bea and all of the quirks, challenges, laughter and love they bring. They make us better people by being part of our family and they are the thing I am most thankful for in 2020.
I wonder what Sam and Bea would be thankful for? Warm beds, coats and blankets, Cleo the cuddlepillar, cuddles and fusses, laps to climb on, sofas to sleep on, food, food again (especially if you are Bea), toast (again if you are Bea), walks, a place to run and play tag, greyhound friends, a house, garden and people of their very own..?