"Pick them turds up."

-Tales from Operation Kindness-



Yes. That is what I did this morning. I picked up turds. Lots and lots of them. I went in to Op. Kindness early this morning around 7. I didn't realize that it is around this hour that all of the dirtiest jobs need to get done. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I awoke and got dressed in my pink volunteer t-shirt, applied the face, grabbed a polo sweater, and hit the road heading towards operation kindness for what I thought would be a relaxing morning of dog walking in the crisp and chilly weather. Wrong wrong wrong. This morning I worked with Trina, a 50 something lady with a bunch of nervous ticks (nothing against her, just observing), cleaning out 20+ kennels. Around kennel # 3 I threw caution to the wind and decided that there would be no half-ass effort on my part. I was all in, baby. Poop on my clothes? No big. Trina is a funny character. She set me to work pretty quick and gave me instructions like "Pick them turds up" and "don't slip in all this urine, honey." At one point I could hear her muttering "Shit, shit, shit...I can't believe this shit" under her breath and it made my chuckle. Trina was right though....I have never seen so much shit and piss in all my life. However, it was a job that needed to be done and I done did it.(without the least bit of fecal slurry spattering my pretty pink volunteer t-shirt. Brav-AH!)


Had I been allowed or had the proper accommodations I would have totally adopted a dog today. His name is Bugsy (I prefer to call him Mr. Bugsy Malone) and he is a mutt/stray. He somewhat resembles the dog from one of my favorite childhood Christmas Eve reads- The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy (tear jerker). He was abandoned at the shelter in the middle of the night- let behind in a pet carrier outside the back door. He may be slightly stinky in addition to being stricken with a terminal case of halitosis.... he may not be the most attractive dog (i.e those little tiny toy dogs that a certain breed of gal likes carrying around as an accessory)but he is the sweetest dog that I have come across. He is so dear and so trusting. I took him for a walk this afternoon and we took a break on one of the benches in the memorial garden. He jumped up and sat beside me with his front leg resting on my leg. He pushed his head underneath my arm and just rested there for a little while. I wanted to take him home and love him forever. When it came time to return him to his kennel it nearly broke my heart. I had to gingerly push him back in because he wasn't willing to go in on his own. As I locked him in he gave me this look that seemed to communicate "You don't want to keep me?" and I just about couldn't take it. Dogs really do have so much heart and personality and such a serious need to be loved and appreciated. I guess that's why I love them so- because I can totally empathize with all of the above. Mr. Bugsy will find a good home soon I'm sure. I don't see how someone couldn't want such a sweet and lovely stinky pup. <3