Nirvana… a state of perfect happiness; an ideal or idyllic place.
Dogs always show me the way to proceed on this project. This week I’ve been looking after two girls who have made me realise that I need to build a doggie Nirvana…
1. Minnie
I met Minnie a couple of weeks ago. She has an infectious smile and is instantly loved by everybody. After getting her fixed up and neutered I was able to find her a wonderful home in Ireland yesterday. That means 4 months of vaccines and tests and some tricky logistics but she is going to have a happy life.
The problem I have short term is that she needs somewhere safe to live while she gets ready for her big journey and I don’t have anywhere for her right now. She’d have to stay on the streets.
2. Donatella
I got a message about her this week from a visiting tourist. She was in a bad way on the other side of the island living in a petrol station. She had badly infected private parts, lots of open wounds and was so weak she was struggling to stand.
I was able to get her fixed up slightly myself, take her to the vets, feed her and get her on the road to recovery with injections and medicines. She is however 15km away and still living on the streets. Again I have nowhere for her to go at the moment while she recovers. It really isn’t ideal for her.
The Solution…
Solving problems like Minnie and Donatella (and the dozens of others) were whirring through my head today when I took the photo below in the jungle between feeding dogs. I’m a big believer in visualising the future and I just thought wouldn’t it be amazing to have a doggie Nirvana in a spot like this. A place where you could…
Allow dogs to recover
Cook healthier food for the dogs en masse
Show the dogs to visitors
Sterilise the dogs
Get dogs adopted
Educate people about dogs
I visualised little trucks pulling in to get food. Volunteers walking dogs around the jungle. Happy people taking photos. A family picking a puppy. School classes visiting and learning about animals. And most of all little dogs like Minnie waiting to go to a forever home and Donatella recovering in a much safer place.
At the moment I am juggling everything out of my jeep, moped and a small apartment. I do everything myself. That isn’t sustainable. Everything I need to do from food through to medical care needs a physical space. The 2 dogs taught me that this week.
After taking that photo and thinking about it a little I did the only sensible thing and arranged to meet people to start seeing some plots of land.
I also find it helps writing these things down here. Once they are written and everybody knows about it then I have to go and actually do it no matter how hard it might seem.
Doggie Nirvana here we come. Maybe I’ll see you there one day!
Niall
Hello Niall! I see your beautiful vision and promising future with the needy dogs! You have made so much progress already in such a short time. Watching you do all that you do, feeding, removing stiches, and even rescuing from snares, touches our hearts.
My husband and I are making plans to come to Thailand and when we are able to get there, we will definitely look you up to see what we can do to help.
Thank you to you and your helpers!
Sheryl Gergen
Niall, I just read the lovely 100 days celebratory postings. Funny to think just moments ago you posted these very interesting photos and synopses of your daily adventures in caring for the dogs. You are thousands of miles from us here, and yet only a plane ride away. I do not tire of these accounts. Every day is an event, and upbeat, as you help each special dog move from hunger and suffering, to being fed and having his/her joy manifest openly, and above the present situation. Quite extraordinary. You have also bared your heart and soul, and I am sure you give courage to others. I spent this afternoon with one of my cats, Marinka, at our Vet in Glendale, California, for her respiratory problems from allergies. She is at home tonight and already feeling better. Tomorrow, Fiona-Bronwen, my Border Collie, and I will be spending time at another Vet's in Highland Park, NE Los Angeles. Her allergies are acting up very badly. She will have relief tomorrow. The medical bills for the kiddos, alas, are always a worry. You are not an old guy on the Internet. I am still young and older than you. You are a young man still who has found a wonderful new calling. It seems divinely inspired. Glad to see you had friends participating today. You cannot run yourself ragged, or you will be exhausted and depression can set in. I know, because that is my tendency that I have to balance every day, on a smaller scale.
Yesterday I wrote that I would choose a different name than Nirvana. Hope you take it in the spirit it is given. I would not choose Beyonce or Jay-Z for a dog's name, either, because they might be talented, but not nice people. Buddhists may be offended because of the true meaning of the word, Nirvana. But in Buddhism itself one meditates/ practices not to anticipate/seek joy, to be empty, more or less. To me, that is not real living. Of course we don't wish to have suffering, especially not for dogs; but we feel joy more when we heal suffering. And part of joy for dogs is anticipation, of food, treats, being with those they love. Their tummies become empty again, then there is the excitement of anticipating next meal, next playtime.
Good night. Good week-end.
Barbara Briodin, City of the Angels USA