In the News: A Karma Cocker Spaniel Story

[manuel]

I found this story online. It's a cocker happy ending. Thought I would share:

Author: Nancy Bailey
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/pawsfurthought/archives/159078.asp?
1/9/2009

A bad day was made a little brighter when I received this email, reprinted with permission:

Hello and good morning, Nancy. My name is Mary and even though my maiden name was Bailey, I don't think we're related. I promised myself before Christmas that I'd write and tell you about my story with a piece of your art.

October, three years ago my beloved cocker spaniel died at eighteen years of age. At Christmas I still put all her ornaments on the tree and was sad I didn't have a new one. My son had a set of twins that were almost two that year. I put unbreakable ornaments on the lower half of the tree. Since they were very fond of my dog, I put some of the unbreakable ones down low for them to look at. As I was putting the ornaments away, I realized one was missing. It was never found, our house was scrubbed and searched up and down and it never showed up. A little heartsick, I decided to look for a replacement on ebay. My search resulted in buying a beautiful cocker spaniel painted on a ceramic oval (see attachment below) from you. The portrait did not look like my dog at all, but I really loved it and was very pleased when I recieved it. I was very touched to see that you had my same last name and that you love Northern Michigan as I do. My daughter lived in SSM for several years and my husband and I took our favorite vacations all over the north.

Even though it's never really a "convenient" time to get a dog, the time finally came. On my birthday in August, I found a cocker spaniel (the details are quite magical and I truly believe I had spiritual help). I love this little girl, but she is VERY different looking than my old cocker. My grown children were a little dissapointed at this, but imagine our delight when I pulled out the ornament this year and realized - you had painted her! That's right, my new dog looks like the dog on the ornament I bought three years ago. I love miracles and I feel that this was a little sign that yes, I have the right dog and the universe would never let me make a mistake.

Thank you for using your beautiful gift of art to enhance this wonderful world and bring joy to people like me. Thank you also for being part of my happy little message from heaven.

All the best, Mary Bailey Fitzgerald

 

[Diane NC]

I love that. And it's so true. I really believe that once we give our hearts to these babies, there's some furry angel paws involved in our lives. When I lost my first cocker Samantha I was heartbroken. That was the first part of November almost 19 years ago.

Christmas that year I received the most wonderful Christmas present you could imagine- my best friend gave me Cassie on December 21, 1990. I discovered a week later that Cassie had been born almost exactly 12 hours to the minute of Samantha's death.

15 years later, I met Nancy at a dog show. Nancy is Bertie and Chesnee's breeder. And it turned out she was Samantha's groomer those many years ago. She became Cassie's groomer after that meeting. This meeting also coincided with my decision to add another cocker to my family.

After a discussion with her about who might have a cocker available she asked if I would consider rehoming one of her adults who'd just had babies and was going to be retired from the show ring. And Bertie came to live with me on December 21, 2005.

I lost Cassie on June 20, 2007. On July 7th, thanks to Nancy, Chesnee came to live with us. Chesnee is Bertie's littermate.

If I hadn't had Samantha, I would have never gotten Cassie. If I hadn't had Cassie, I would never gone searching for cocker groups on the internet, met all my online friends, I would never have gone to that dog show and met up with Nancy again. If I hadn't met Nancy I would have never had Bertie or Chesnee.

I've learned from these precious babies that all of life is a circle and we're all connected in ways we will never fully understand.

 

[Juanita]

I believe that God has a hand in our lives for healing our hearts.

Thank you, Manuel and Diane, for proving this to be true.

 

[Polly]

I'm sure many know my story, but, I will repeat it here for those that don't. I also believe in these lovely little souls having so much to do with our hearts. I have had rescue cockers for 20 years. I have lost some and grieved for them. When I lost my mother several years ago, I was a mess. Linny has a wonderful tribute to my mother on her website. She named a litter of rescue cockers after my Mom. During the time of her death I took in a cocker for Cockers In Need.. His name was Pogo. When I would sit in my chair and cry with the grief, Pogo would climb in my lap and lay on his back and just look at me. The rest is history. During that time I put down my paintbrushes. I'm one of those that paints when I'm happy, I don't escape. My escape is in books. I had just started to paint again but starting in Feb of 2008, I lost my 3. My heart dog Bunkie, Patrick our gentle alpha, and, Pookie our little english girl of 19 years. Then I put down my paintbrush again.

Michael and I were bubbling up from the grief a little when Robin mentioned wanting to rehome her Champion Girl Carmen. A lot of you were involved in this with me. I didn't know Robin then. So lots of you emailed Robin with recomendations for me. Robin decided that Michael and I would provide the perfect home for Carmen so Robin had Carmen spayed getting her ready to come to California. Two days later Carmen died in her sleep. Robin and I were devistated and became fast friends trying to support each other in our grief. Then Robin kind of backed away from me a little. This all happened around Halloween of last year. I figured she was busy. Robin is a master groomer and is always busy around the holidays. But Robin was doing some soul searching. She contacted me with an offer of Stormy. Her wonderful foundation dog. I nearly fell off my chair when she told me. At first I was hesitant because I was afraid my boys wouldn't accept him. I thought taking a girl would be easier on them. Of course I talked to Linny. She made me see the light and the rest is history. Stormy came to live with us 2 months ago. Robin said that Stormy would be MY therapy dog. And, Stormy is. He loves with his whole self. And what is so wonderful is that he loves Michael so much also. Stormy just loves. Now Stormy is our gentle alpha and gave me back my painting. I have not painted so much in my life!

From my vacation the week after Christmas I have painted 8 portraits!

 

[manuel]

...She made me see the light and the rest is history. Stormy came to live with us 2 months ago. Robin said that Stormy would be MY therapy dog. And, Stormy is. He loves with his whole self. And what is so wonderful is that he loves Michael so much also. Stormy just loves. Now Stormy is our gentle alpha and gave me back my painting. I have not painted so much in my life!

From my vacation the week after Christmas I have painted 8 portraits!

Thanks for sharing Stormy's whole story. To have your little girl Pookie live to 19 shows what wonderful care you give your babies. Dogs sense when we are troubled and do their best console like Pogo. Now, Stormy has helped you through another difficult time. Dogs are so wonderful.

 

[Polly]

Oh yes Manuel.. oh yes they are..