Use it for good.
"Turn it around"
DIY: No matter what's happened, take the opportunity to turn it around and use it for good. Allow the worst things to transform you into your best. Only you can make that happen!
"Jasmine"
In 2003, police in Warwickshire, England, opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog. It had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished, and had clearly been abused. In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a Greyhound female, to the nearby Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, run by a man named Geoff Grewcock and known as a willing haven for Animals abandoned, orphaned or otherwise in need. Geoff and the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims to restore the dog to full health, and to win her trust. It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved. |
|
They named her Jasmine, and they started to think about finding her an
adoptive home.
But Jasmine had other ideas. No one remembers now how it began, but she
started welcoming all animal arrivals at the sanctuary. It wouldn't matter
if it was a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or, any other lost or hurting
animal, Jasmine would peer into the box or cage and, where possible,
deliver a welcoming lick.
adoptive home.
But Jasmine had other ideas. No one remembers now how it began, but she
started welcoming all animal arrivals at the sanctuary. It wouldn't matter
if it was a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or, any other lost or hurting
animal, Jasmine would peer into the box or cage and, where possible,
deliver a welcoming lick.
Geoff relates one of the early incidents. "We had two puppies that had
been abandoned by a nearby railway line. One was a Lakeland Terrier cross
and another was a Jack Russell Doberman cross. They were tiny when they
arrived at the centre and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the
scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee. Then she
fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them.
"But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits. She takes
all the stress out of them and it helps them to not only feel close to her
but to settle into their new surroundings.
been abandoned by a nearby railway line. One was a Lakeland Terrier cross
and another was a Jack Russell Doberman cross. They were tiny when they
arrived at the centre and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the
scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee. Then she
fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them.
"But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits. She takes
all the stress out of them and it helps them to not only feel close to her
but to settle into their new surroundings.
"She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs; she licks the rabbits and guinea pigs and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose."
Jasmine, the timid, abused, deserted waif, became the animal sanctuary's resident surrogate mother, a role for which she might have been born. The list of orphaned and abandoned youngsters she has cared for comprises five fox cubs, four badger cubs, 15 chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and 15 rabbits.
|
And one roe deer fawn. Tiny Bramble, 11 weeks old, was found
semi-conscious in a field. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jasmine cuddled up to her to keep her warm, and then went into the full foster mum role. Jasmine the greyhound showers Bramble the Roe deer with affection and makes sure nothing is matted. |
"They are inseparable," says Geoff "Bramble walks between her legs and
they keep kissing each other. They walk together round the sanctuary. It's
a real treat to see them."
Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be
returned to woodland life. When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely.
She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next orphan or victim of abuse.
Jasmine with a Mother's heart doing best what a caring Mother would do
. . . Such is the order of God's Creation.
This is what we should all do to those around us, especially those that are hurting.
they keep kissing each other. They walk together round the sanctuary. It's
a real treat to see them."
Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be
returned to woodland life. When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely.
She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next orphan or victim of abuse.
Jasmine with a Mother's heart doing best what a caring Mother would do
. . . Such is the order of God's Creation.
This is what we should all do to those around us, especially those that are hurting.
