Meet King

Meet King! He will come to live with us this coming Saturday!!! He doesn’t look much like a Great Dane or Neo Mastiff does he? LOL, well that’s because he obviously isn’t either one. I’m going to sidetrack a bit so you will know just how VERY special this little “big” boy is!

I know I said that the Great Dane is my breed of choice…and it still is and I believe always will be. However, I have something interesting to share with you about King. It is a story of healing and God’s amazing provision.

This story is about love.

King came to live with my friend Mike Roberts, whose dog Diesel I featured here on Bark N Blog in the past back in 2009. Donnie and I met Mike at a Christian business networking luncheon. He came over to our table to ask me how he could help his dog Diesel with kennel cough since the veterinary protocol was not working (not surprising since they use antibiotics and kennel cough is viral). Anyway we chatted for a bit and then I shared some suggestions with Mike. Amazingly (to me since many will ask for the advice but never heed it), Mike followed through on ALL I suggested. Diesel not only got well but began to thrive, and he yet thrives today! Mike has been a natural rearing believer and advocate since. It didn’t take much for Mike to grasp the principles of natural rearing since he is a man that knows how to embrace the truth – it just makes sense of course!

Mike got King shortly after or right before Meshach died – I don’t remember which it was even though I KNOW he told me…maybe I need some gingko biloba or something lol. Mike was helping out a friend when he took in King and his sister – they were never going to be his permanent dogs. But he wanted to make absolutely certain both dogs went to good, loving and hopefully natural rearing homes. Both dogs have gotten permanent, forever homes.

Mike knew that our hearts were shattered over our loss of Meshach so he didn’t offer King to us right away. I felt like I was walking through mud every day, just going through the motions. In fact Mike waited almost FIVE months to the day Meshach died to offer King to us. Mike waited on God’s perfect timing.

Readers here, on Facebook, local friends/family etc., all did their best to encourage me to keep going after Meshach died. But my ego had died as I said in previous posts and articles, along with Meshach – that hurt too. It was a painful realization that NOTHING depends on my knowledge, abilities, skills, or training – they are but the tools God uses THROUGH me….and it ALL depends on my willingness to surrender the outcome of everything to Him. Some of you won’t agree – that’s okay. I know what I know.

Needless to say I have gone through a VERY dark time. I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to have another dog since it was just too painful to lose Meshach shortly on the heels of losing the dog that pushed me headlong into natural health and my career – Shadrach. My beloved boys, so very different but both such catalysts in my life to share/teach/promote natural animal health.

Shadrach was a broken, abused Neo Mastiff boy when he came to us. He taught me so much and he mended as much as possible. Even though he was broken, he was absolutely amazing: beautiful, strong, witty, fierce, and had a heart as big as he was. His brokenness made me love him all the more because his strength and tenacity amazed me. He showed me how to persevere. He showed me how to stay the course. He was such a Gift.

Meshach was a dream dog for me. But he too was broken, my sweet Great Dane baby boy. I was convinced that if I couldn’t fix him then God surely would. But it wasn’t to be. If I knew then what I know now would I have taken Meshach anyway? As hard as it has been I would have to say yes because 1) Meshach was absolutely a Gift, and 2) I would not have learned what I needed to learn without him. These dogs made me better for having known, loved and learned from them.

I can’t forget Fridge, my beautiful Golden Retriever boy, as he is the one who cracked open the door and my curiosity for natural animal care. I would not have peeked inside if not for him. What a special, amazing boy he was – also a gift. He too suffered from seizures (petit mal) which started shortly after his first rabies vaccine. You see, my journey began way back then even if I didn’t know it at the time. I know it now.

Did you know that every single one of these dogs have been GIFTED to me? Yes gifted. I am so truly, truly blessed!

So now enter King. A bull breed. He is small unlike my three previous “BIG” boys. The smallest prior to King was Fridge who weighed in at 112 lbs in his prime. Large and giant breed dogs always prior to King.

King was offered to us by Mike after he saw the post on Facebook about Stella my new little friend whom I blogged about last week – he knew we were FINALLY ready to love another dog. He told me he has been waiting for me to be ready because he KNEW King was our next dog. Imagine that King has been waiting for us ever since Meshach died!

We met him yesterday morning (February 17, 2013 – five months to the date Meshach died) and he is SUCH a sweet, loveable boy 🙂 I am smitten. He is small compared to what I am used to, in fact the smallest dog I’ve had as an adult. But when you look at him, doesn’t he just have the biggest presence? He has the kindest, most loving face. And he is fearless. He is strong. Bull strong of course haha!

He is just 13 months old. A happy, handsome, well-adjusted, confident, intelligent, fearless boy. I have many more adjectives for him, but my first thought when I think of him is: Kind. He cares. It’s all over him when you meet him. He is going to be my lap dog LOL! I am eager to see what God will teach me through King. I don’t have any expectations now. I just want to learn what I am supposed to. I want to enjoy and love him. I want to care for him and have him as my friend.

Yesterday he was outside in the yard watching and woofing at the hot air balloons going over the house – he had never seen them before. I called him over to me to whisper to him that they won’t hurt him. He got real close to me and then took a stance to let those hot air balloons know he’d take them on to protect me 🙂 He’s such a BIG little guy! That was the moment I knew he had my heart. I whispered to him as I rubbed his chest that I was going to love him, pamper him, hug and kiss him a lot. I asked him quite seriously, “Do you think that will be okay with you? You won’t be too sad leaving your friends and family to come live with us and bring us joy will you? To bring Stella the canine companionship she needs? To be a mentor to the next Great Dane pup and help him learn the ropes? To be the keeper of my heart for all your days?“

He looked at me and smiled in the way that only a bull breed can do – wide and big! With such tenderness in his eyes.

We can’t wait to have him join our family and bring us all the laughter, joy and even at times, yes, heartache that only a canine can bring – and they are ALWAYS worth it!

When I told my siblings and Mom about our new dog, we got a BIG thumbs up from everyone – all are eager to meet him! And my Mom said to me, “Kim, it’s nice to hear your real voice again. We had lost you for a while but you’re back.“

Stella opened the door and King stepped through it.

Thank you Lord for being so generous and for giving Donnie and I THE best dogs in all the world!

The journey with King has begun…hang on and let’s see where this one takes us all 🙂

Have a pawsitively tail waggin’, NATUROPATHICALLY healthy day!

DISCLAIMER – PLEASE READ

Kim Bloomer, V.N.D., N.D. is an animal naturopath as well as being certified in small animal nutrition, with years of experience in animal wellness. Dr. Kim is a published author, writer, blogger, host of the DOGgone Truth podcast. Dr. Kim offers Animal Naturopathy Mentoring and Courses. Subscribe to her DOGgone Newsletter for updates or to her blog via email. Copyright ©2005-2024 Aspenbloom Pet Care, Dr. Kim Bloomer, All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the Author/Publisher. This article is intended to be educational. However, it is not intended to be a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified animal health professional. Dr. Kim Bloomer and Aspenbloom Pet Care, do not assume any legal responsibility for misuse of the products discussed in this article. The only essential oils referenced on this website are Young Living.