01/13/2026
💔❤️🩹After coming home from the market yesterday, my neighbor Krisi came over bearing gifts, along with the heartbreaking news that she had found our golden angel that morning. The sight of her was devastating and traumatic, as she clearly lost the fight of survival in a wilderness so unforgiving. Two neighbors helped Krisi lay our precious pup to rest in a beautiful and peaceful spot. They prayed over her, told her how loved she was, and placed symbolic objects with her, including an ivory dog figurine and Native American stones. Three guardians gave her the rest that she desperately needed.
I thought she would come back like she always did, but she didn’t. It was clear when these two arrived how deeply they feared humans, so getting them inside was going to be very hard. It turned out that that was the case only for the older, more self-reliant, and distrustful of the two. I couldn’t believe how many times I got her to come inside, though, I just couldn’t get the door shut in time with her in here. And after being missing for a week, with us all fearing the worst, little foxy brownie returned (wounded) and was inside my house with the door closed in less than 3 minutes — she hasn’t shown any signs of wanting to go back out. She was more vulnerable and in need of help for her survival since she was attacked, and I believe Salami mami knew this and brought her back here — a non-threatening, safe-haven where food and warmth were accessible. I’ll never know why she didn’t return herself, but I’ll miss her, I’m sad for her death, and I’m grateful that she brought me her precious sibling to love and care for.
This experience was life-changing and I’m still processing it. I don’t know how rescuers do it. There are many layers that I’ll be reflecting on for a while and I’ll be much more prepared the next time this happens. What I wasn’t expecting was the outpouring response from others. I was blown away that so many people had also fallen in love with these two pups and wanted to ensure their safety just as much as I did. It rapidly became a collective mission of love, rooting for the lives of these two perfect, vulnerable, little creatures. (Continued below)