Barclay

Please view large. Barclay, a border collie rescue dog, is our newest

family addition. This little guy had a rough life before entering our family,

hence the lack of a big smile. That will be coming - we hope. This post is

also a tribute to our PN friend, Gail Harmer, for her interest, and love for

dogs. This is the first of what I hope will be several images of Barclay.

Thanks in advance for taking your time to comment.

With a lot of love and attention, Barclay's eyes will light up and he will smile--good for you for rescuing him!  And it's a nice photo too.

Becky,  Thanks for visiting with Barclay and I.  He is smiling more each day.  We've had Barclay four months now.  I appreciate your kind words.  Larry

He's a handsome lad.  Good for you and good for Barclay that he's joined your family.  I've only known a few rescue dogs but they have all been very appreciative of their good fortune...  A heart warming portrait...  Mike

Excellent portrait of poor Barclay Larry. I expect he can look forward to being very well treated now! Our last Husky was a rescue dog and had been in 4 homes prior to ours. It took over a year for him to settle down and enjoy his new home. he ended up spoiled rotten for the remainder of his life!

All the best,
Neil

Mike and Neil,

Barclay and I thank you both for visiting him.  Your remarks are sensitive and appreciated.  Barclay continues to make daily progress.  Neil, you are right, we make our dogs our family, and they do get spoiled with love.  Thanks again to you both.  Larry

Nice dog with the details, texture and contract.  I am sure you love it. Best Regards,

I am sorry I did not see your email sooner Larry-they are redoing the Email program, so I just saw your mail today. I is so good to hear that Barclay is doing much better. His physical state was so 'delicate' and you both dedicated yourselves to nursing him back to where he was physically well, and also emotionally. I am sure your tender loving care has made such a difference. I was so touched when you told me that when you lost your last dog, you decided to take 'Barclay' into your home. Then finding out the care he needed and your dedication to giving him that care, well, it did bring me to tears.

I have watched so many programs of late of animals that are mistreated, and it is so heartbreaking to hear what humans can and will do to an animal, and I am not just mentioning, plain old 'neglect'. The cruelty is sickening. Barclay looks pretty good, I think he will soon be 'smiling' - actually I am sure he has smiled before, perhaps he is a little camera shy. Thankyou so much for letting me know about this posting, I will be back to see more images of him and  his new 'journey', one of a life where he is 'loved' so very , very , much.

My best wishes to you both, I am sure Barclay will be mentioned in the family prayers around the Thanksgiving table this year!!!!! Enjoy your time together, fond regards, Gail

Gail,  You are correct.  Barclay is smiling more, and we are too with him in our lives.  I also am sickened by how miserably animals are treated.  Our dogs - your dog is included in this - enrich our lives because they are loved members of our families.  They constantly give us back more than we give them.  You are right Barclay will be a Thanksgiving example of our thanks. When I e-mailed you I neglected to remember that Canada celebrates its equivalent of Thanksgiving on a different date.  What is the holiday called. and when is it?  Thanks Gail and the best to you and your family.  Larry

Hi Larry

I am so glad Barclay is 'smiling more'. The love shared in this animal/human exchange becomes the 'reward' at the end of each day. I know myself, that I am not at peace at night unless I feel my Abbey curled under my right arm, that holds her close. In the evening when we are all alone, often my husband retires before I do, and I just sit and watch a bit of TV with her curled up beside me. Often I'll gather her up in my arms and hold her like a 'baby' (this must sound so odd - she is about 15 ounds now) and she will lay there so quietly and stare into my face. If I shift my gaze from her to the TV, when I look back down into her face, it seems as if her eyes have not moved. So intently she stars up at me, with what seems like adoration in her eyes. I play little games with her like I did when she was a 'babe' pup, and she responds so joyfully. Often when she goes to scratch at her ears, I tell her that she will hurt herself and let 'Mommy' do it. She immediately lays down, and lets me rub around one ear with a 'tissue', then I say 'other !' and she flips over for me to do the other ear. This little game would go on forever if I didn't stop her.

I cannot imagine her not in my life now. Our animals help us 'connect' with our innerselves I feel, bringing us back to a reality that is necessary for us as human beings. At  night I don't just shut off the light when I go to bed. I have a very 'dear friend' who reminds me of my capacity to love, to care, and realize that this ability to show compassion to an animal is an integral part of a very real relationship, one that in return 'nutures me' in ways I do not think another human being ever could do. Cheers to you Larry as you and your wife continue on your journey with Barclay. Our THANKSGIVING is always around October 8th. This year my Dad celebrated his 80th birthday on our THANKSGIVING, truly the perfect day.

Kindest regards, Gail

Gail,  It seems we are both hooked on our dogs.  That's great - the love they give us and the place they have in our families cannot be replicated in any other way.  Happy Holidays and New Year to you and your family.  Larry