Month: November 2025

The Beauty Within

The garden is increasingly grey and brown – beginning its descent into winter slumber.

The lens finds little of the magnificence of our spring, summer, and fall. We were spoiled this year with temperate weather while most of the country suffered through heat waves, hurricanes, floods, and more.

The garden bears the telltale signs of a glorious season now gone. Every gardener knows to accept the decay and leave it until spring…

to find beauty in its unsightliness. For underneath, awaits a rebirth and a spectacular first bloom.

Lou came to us by way of San Francisco Animal Control Services. He had been found wandering the beach alone. It was hard to see the photo they shared, but we could not look away. We also could not turn him away.

His face was covered with old war wounds; his ear partially torn off. Whatever happened to Lou occurred some time ago. These wounds were long healed. And, as we would soon discover, so was the dog inside.

Affectionate and friendly, a confirmed ball dog who loves a good game of fetch – Lou is the epitome of a Lab with a loyal heart and love of people.

He surprised all with his acceptance of other nice dogs and even his indifference to cats. He soaks up attention and kindness and shares it back. This boy was loved by someone once.

Lou has no idea and doesn’t care that his appearance is different from other dogs. Neither did the people who saw straight through to his heart and took him home last weekend.

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.” ~ Kahlil Gibran

Lou’s heart could not be more beautiful or filled with golden light.

You Can Almost See Forever

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees them. A man walking down the middle of the street holding a dog. Moments later, she looks again. The man is gone; the dog stands in the street – alone. She goes to investigate. There is no sign of the man. The dog stays in place – unsteady, but unmoving. The dog is blind.

He could have safely left her at our door. Our rescue is only a few miles away. Perhaps he had no way to know or to get her to us. The Good Samaritan does. Her gait is wobbly. Within a couple of days, the reason becomes clear: seizures.

How frightening the world must be for Betsy. Unable to see, her body and brain wracked with quaking.

We have to try. And we do, despite experience telling us that this will not end well.

On a good day, Betsy enjoys the safety of our company, immersed in the scents and sounds of the garden. She runs zoomies in the wide-open park. On a good day…she can almost see what forever looks like.

But it is not to be.

Betsy’s forever is at the Bridge. Perhaps someday reunited with the man who knew not what else to do. Or perhaps with all those whose hearts she stole when the goodbye came.

Run free, sweet girl. Run free.