Tiger, Tiger, burning bright

So begins the famous poem by William Blake, but for us it marks the end of the shelter stay of our own sweet 'Tiger'. Still a puppy, but already larger than the average Mexican street dog, Tiger was so named due to the beauty of his golden, striped coat. But what of his nature? Sweet, gentle, loving and endearing are just a few adjectives that apply, but we could find many more just as nice. To know him is to love him, and without a doubt he stole our hearts. Parting with him is the sweetest sorrow, but we are thrilled that he now has the opportunity to experience that permanent, one-to-one love that sadly shelter dogs are deprived of. All our animals are loved, all are stroked, kissed, cuddled, but each one craves so much more than we can possibly give when there are so many. There is plenty of love to go around but unfortunately just not enough time.

Peanut Pet Shelter provides a safe, secure environment. There is food to eat, water to drink, shade and shelter from the sun and rain. There is room to play and certainly no shortage of canine playmates. Visitors to the shelter know that it is not a place of sadness but of happiness, where doggy grins and wagging tails abound.

Yes, of course, there are sometimes heart-wrenching cases.

Peanut Pet Shelter exists for needy animals and the process of becoming strong and healthy can take a long time....a lot of our energy and of course, a lot of money! For some, their condition is too far advanced and no amount of money or energy can save them. The struggle is simply too much for their broken, defeated bodies to bear and for them, sadly, time runs out. We rarely tell people about the truly heartbreaking sights we see and the deaths we deal with as we prefer to focus on the positive, but they exist....all too often.

For many shelter dogs, learning to play and to give and receive love can also take time. If an animal's life has been one of only harshness, deprivation and despair....when the sum of their previous existence has been only the scavenging for the next morsel of food to ward off starvation, the search for a drop of water to drink and the seeking of shade from the glare of the sun, when they are carrying a bellyful of parasites (roundworm, hookworm, tape worm, amoebas, coccidias etc)....how do they find the energy or inclination to play?

When they have been kicked or pelted with rocks, when they have never heard a kind word, only shouts and curses....for often, in Mexico, street dogs are considered vermin....when they have never felt a hand gently stroke their heads or scratch behind their ears or been held in protective arms, can we truly expect them to love us and believe that we love them? And yet, they do. In a very short space of time, they do. That first, tentative, hand-lick from a cowering, terrified dog can feel like the greatest gift you have ever been given. That moment when they first look into your eyes with the confidence of knowing they are loved, is a precious memory to be cherished. Could we humans ever be so trusting and forgiving?

Tiger was one of the lucky ones. He arrived at the shelter at a very tender age and the gift of loving and being loved was his almost from the start. Parting with him was a wrench, but his new owner is wonderful and one of our 'dog-wash day' locals. He is going to bring him for wash-day visits and of course we know where he will be.

We look forward to watching beautiful, sweet, gentle Tiger, grow and develop.

When the stars threw down their spears,

And water'd heaven with their tears,

Did He smile His work to see?

Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, Tiger, burning bright

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

--William Blake

Tiger, you are one of the lucky ones - may you continue to burn bright.