Stepping into TaMara’s lane for a moment – while she’s hard at work editing her book – here’s a feel good story shared by hitchhiker.
Story by Kate Poss
There’s a whole lotta four-legged good juju at Ron Kerrigan’s home, which is a former Langley parson’s dwelling that was moved to Clinton years ago.
He shares his home with old dogs whose owners can no longer care for them, boards them for Dogs on Deployment and houses them for friends who can’t keep dogs where they live.
During an interview on Kerrigan’s porch, Qehua, Loki, Qoqo and Fenrir warmed themselves in the sun and occasionally asked for ear scratches. Kerrigan currently has five dogs staying with him — he’s had up to 10 at times; one of the newest is Qehua.
Kerrigan has kept a book, called the “No More Dogs” chronicle, which details the 69 dogs he’s adopted, fostered, boarded through Dogs On Deployment and had as guests “when friends go to Hawaii and don’t think to take me along,” he wrote in an email. Dogs on Deployment is a nonprofit providing a network of volunteers who care for the dogs while their owners are away serving the country. The numbered dogs do not include all the fosters and guest dogs, who are indicated by alphabet letters – all 26 – and now he uses the Greek alphabet to document additional dogs.
Kerrigan’s long-time friend Ela winters in Maui and volunteers at the Maui Humane Society walking dogs. Late last year, Ela stopped by to walk a blind dog, only to discover the dog was being walked by a friend. But another dog waited for a walk. Ela took one look and felt it was the reincarnated spirit of her beloved dog Stella who was killed 30 years ago when she lived in Alaska.
Click the link above to read the whole thing.
So many good people out there. I try to remember that, especially now with so much ugliness on display right now.
WaterGirl
At one point in my 30s, I decided to write a book called “To all the dogs I’ve loved before”. I never did it, but I kind of wish I had.
My mom would never let us get a dog, but we owned a neighborhood tavern and we lived upstairs. My first dog love was two boxers who would come to the tavern with their owner, and he would let me take them for walks. This tiny little girl being walked by two big dogs! I’m sure it was a sight to behold.
I remember that he would pour a little of his beer into the disposable plates my Dad served the tavern food on and the dogs would lap it up
My next dog love was King, a german shepherd that my uncle had.
After that, there were no dogs in my life until my sister got her cocker spaniel, and then a few years later I got my first dog when I was 20.
Raoul Paste
You still could.
There are a lot of small things, gestures of goodwill, that we can all do every day
Matt McIrvin
Deleted, wrong thread
Baud
It’s nice to read a title and be confident the post won’t be about me.
Thanks for all you do, TaMara.
WaterGirl
@Baud:
I did step into TaMara’s lane for a moment, but this is WaterGirl. :-)
Baud
@WaterGirl:
Oh wow. This totally read like a TaMara post. I usually check but I was sure.
Thanks for all you do, WaterGirl.
ETA: Maybe I subliminally registered the first line without reading it and just picked up the name.
NotMax
Weekend watch. Surprisingly interesting.
The Logistics of Fruit.
dearmaizie
Thank you for this lovely post. And if I weren’t an atheist I’d say god bless this man.
zhena gogolia
Thanks for the positivity
Kifaru1
Here’s another senior dog home. I’ve been supporting Marilyn for 20 years now. houseofpuddles.org/
hitchhiker
@Kifaru1: Love that, and love the name!
Layer8Problem
Thanks for sharing such a good story, and for its side effect of ungrumping me because of a good person doing good things for those who need.
WaterGirl
@Layer8Problem: I think of it as de-grumping. I wonder how many versions of that we have between all of us on Balloon Juice?
Josie
@WaterGirl:
You could still write that book. I started my first book in my seventies and am writing my second one now in my eighties. I’ pretty sure you are lots younger than I am. It’s never too late. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
Dan B
I’ve spent a lot of time on south Whidbey with three big projects. It’s great to hear about yet another good soul there. Clinton is a tiny place where the ferry arrives. Langley is an artsy town a dozen Mike’s north.
Jackie
What a sweet story, WaterGirl! We need reminding that in spite of all the shittiness going on consuming our world, there are pockets of caring and compassion also happening. Thank you for posting this <3
rikyrah
What a beautiful story😪