ROCKY WHEATON AND LUCY SHOW {TAMPA AREA PET PHOTOGRAPHER}

OKAY SO I WROTE THIS LAST WEEK AND I REALLY WANTED IT TO BE THIS HAPPY GO LUCKY POST.  THEN THE REALITY HIT ME..  so 'fair warning' it's kind of sad but REAL with a good message..


Hey everyone..  wanted to write an update on these three crazies currently residing in my house. And to talk a little about Rescues.
 They have their own Instagram acct and they are starting to get a few followers so follow them there to see weekly photos I post of their crazy antics.  https://www.instagram.com/rockywheatonandlucyshow/

THE THREE AMIGOS (or crazies or goof balls) 

Before the history and update on these three let me tell you how this all started.

Listen.. I didn't always take on animals that others didn't want, or couldn't handle or just simply abandoned. I always got purebreds and had raised purebreds myself for a very short time. I didn't know then what I know now. And then by accident really or maybe by God's design that all changed with a search for a job.
It changed when I applied for a job at Hillsborough County Animal Services.
Naively I was thinking I could go in and make difference and not be affected.  WOW was I wrong.

When you go for an interview they tell you all about what you will be doing. How the whole operation works.  Ask you about yourself and why you are applying and so on. BUT toward the end of the interview they take you on a tour.  The first thing is they show you all the animals up for adoption.  then the medical area.  then you come by these rooms filled with animals.  Cats. Dogs. Exotics. Each door was labeled by each day of the week. ( I swear after all these years it still makes me cry to think about it) I remember turning to the person taking me on the tour and asking "what do the days mean?"  She looked at me for a second and then turned away as she looked into the room marked Wednesday (it was Tuesday BTW) and she says, "this is the day they will be put down" WHAT??!!!
I wanted to run right then, but she took me to the final stop on the tour. The euthanasia room.  If I live to be a million years old I will NEVER get those images out of my mind.  I won't go into detail but trust me, it was horrific.  I was screaming inside.  I was about to have a complete and utter meltdown and this woman was watching me to see my reaction.  A mere few minutes went by - IT SEEMED LIKE ETERNITY - and I finally said "Please can I go."  So back I went to finish the interview.  The sweet woman who interviewed me asked how I was.  Of course I was a hot mess.  I told her so. I told her that I wanted to be a light in pets lives before something bad happened to them. But even as I was saying it I knew I would never EVER be able to be that large of a light for so many.
She starts throwing statistics and numbers at me.  It was staggering.  in the slow months of winter, 75 to 125 are euthanized EVERY SINGLE DAY!! 7 days a week.  In summer.. the busy months.  125 to 250 EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!   I just remember thinking how crazy this was.  How can this be?  How did I not know this info.  How had I been so completely unaware.  WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN!
I went home from this interview, curled up in bed and cried for what seemed like days.  I couldn't stop crying.  I couldn't get out of bed.  And when she called two weeks later to offer me the job.. I started bawling the minute she told me who she was and I told her I couldn't do it.  To forgive me for being a coward and not taking it but that I knew it would ruin me inside.  She started crying and said "it's not a job for the kindest and most compassionate hearts.  Don't ever apologize for that."

So I started researching and reading how bad of an epidemic this was across the country. And I decided right then and there I will not buy another purebred dog.  Listen I want to sometimes.  I want to get another lab puppy or get a baby boxer or maybe try out a little dog.. you know something I picked out and raised and made my own. But I don't think that is something I will ever be able to consciously do again.  Do I think that there is a place for pure bred in society? Maybe.  Just not in my house unless they are no longer wanted by someone else.

So here I am now.. with three dogs for different reasons.  And three cats for different reasons and 2 rats for a different reason.  They all have their issues when they come into my life and yes some days I look at them and think "what the hell am I doing?" I get overwhelmed taking on someone else's issues manifested in these animals. And honestly..not gonna lie... the first few months are pure HELL!! You are trying to convince these animals that don't know you at all, that you - YOU aren't going to hurt them.  That they are safe with you finally.  Do I get ticked at my pets. Yes!! Do I scream some days because they just pooped all over the floor or chewed up my fav pair of boots or ate a whole chicken off the counter when I walked outside for 1 minute.  YES!! But what I am really learning is patience.  Compassion.  Empathy.

It tears me up when a dog I have hears something or sees something that reminds them of their past. Like a child or a child's laughter.  A baby doll or a baby's cry.  An angry voice.  All of these little things remnants of the life they use to have.  It breaks me on those rare days that I may yell at them for some offense and I see a certain look in their eye.  And I am immediately remorseful and I hug them and reassure them that they are safe.
I have learned so much from these previously unwanted now members of my family in there forever home.  I have learned about longing and loss.  But mainly I have learned about LOVE.  Unconditional, unbridled LOVE.  They love me no matter what.  If I am having a bad day I can watch them play or see them do something silly and immediately my day is better. If  I cry they comfort me. If I dance... they join in.  If I am sitting on the sofa.. they come and lay next to me. Heck.. if I take a pee and forget to shut the door all the way.. they join me there too.
THEY ARE MY LIFE!!
I can't imagine never having these animals that need me.  And there is always another one waiting. But for now.. this is what I have.  This is what I can handle. This is what I am hopefully giving back to the universe.

Here is a brief story of each of the dogs I have now.

Rocky we have had for almost three years now.  He is a full blooded boxer. He came through a friend of a friend.  He was living in a crate 12 hours a day and they just didn't have time for him. It was hard for him at first.  I think he kept waiting for them to come get him.  BUT now - He is my baby although he is the eldest.  He is never NOT by my side. His on going issue is he is terrified of loud noises.  Thunder, fireworks.. you name it.  It's very challenging.. but we are working on it.
He is the sweetest soul ever.  And his hop.. well it's something to see.

ROCKY OR AS I CALL HIM RO-RO

Wheaton, a mixed breed, we got after our first rescued boxer Sadie passed away suddenly almost two years now.  Rocky was so lonely so I went to animal services 2 years ago this coming December.  Wheaton was on limited time there.  He had already been returned twice I think she said.  When I brought him home he and Rocky were best buds immediately.  I imagine Wheaton came from a home with a baby.  Although he was found running the streets I am pretty sure it was a situation of -new baby in, out goes the dog. We love him.  He is reserved but funny.  Standoffish but then so loving. Quiet but vocal.  His ongoing issue is his eye problem.  Nothing life threatening just uncomfortable. A very expensive surgery might be in his future. But according to my vet it is not going to hurt his eye permanently.. it's just uncomfortable.  He has medicine for that.  His fav thing to do is lay in the sun.  And when he wants to love on me.. he lays on me completely.  He weighs 100 lbs

WHEATON - every single worker at Animal Services took selfies with him as we were leaving. One of them even said "thanks for saving his life."

And last but not least our third and newest addition is Lucy.  She is a Bull Mastiff and we have only had her since the end of February.  She has been a super big challenge for me.  She is BULL headed as most mastiffs are. BUT she is learning.  I will admit. There was a lot of OH MY GOSH WHAT HAVE YOU DONE NOW?  going on when I first got her.  She LOVES the boys though.  They play so well together.  She plays a little rough and there have been some mild dog fights that I have had to intervene on.  But that is settling down and her other issues, which were quite disgusting, are working themselves out. I realized that once I calmed down and dealt with her on an individual basis and watched and listened to what she was telling me.. things started working out better.  She spent a long period out of the crate today while I was gone.  almost two hours.  Nothing destroyed and no poop or pee. This is good. (she's never in the crate when someone is home)    I looked at her today and realized how much I love her. She's 115 lbs. Her ongoing issue is- She's stubborn as heck. But she is sweet and gentle and kind and when I walk her she LOVES everyone.  She especially loves little kids.  She came from that.  I can tell every once in awhile she misses them.  But it's still early in her life with us.  When I took her to the vet the other day she whined all the way home and bolted to the door.  She missed the boys. And they were right there licking her and smelling her and they were all genuinely glad to see each other.  It made my heart happy.

LUCY BUT I CALL HER LULU BELLE

So this is my life.  I love it.. some days it's completely overwhelming.  But what I get out of it is LOVE.  They never judge me. They never expect anything from me really.  they just want to be loved and fed.  I may sacrifice other stuff to have them but really?  What sacrifice gets this kind of love and loyalty in return.  Rescued animals will always be the way at my house.  I will ALWAYS rescue animals.  I can't see that ever changing.

Hugs, love and WOOF everyone.
Love Constance

and a side note  -  I am not JUDGING anyone who buys a dog wherever they buy it.  All I ask is that if you are shopping for a dog give a rescue a chance.  No matter what pet you get..   PLEASE keep it till it naturally has no LOVE and life left to give you.  Make it a member of your family not just a possession. Be there holding it when it passes on.
Love it like your family because in reality.. it is your family.

here are some links to some rescues locally.  I am not affiliated with any of these rescues in any way.

http://www.petango.com/pinellas
http://www.petango.com/hillsboroughcounty
http://heidislegacydogrescue.com/
http://humanesocietytampa.org/
http://spcatampabay.org/
http://flbr.org/