I don't think this is a new story. I think it's been around awhile. But, it bears repeating and applauding. Toby Bloomberg, proud parent to Max, sent it along to me and I can't resist sharing it here. Jasmine's story just fits in so well with everything BlogPaws is about.
With much thanks to Toby and her friend, Kathy Hawkins, who sent her the story, it goes like this:
In Warwickshire, England, police opened the door to a garden shed and found a scared, whimpering dog that had been locked in there and abandoned! She was dirty and malnourished and had clearly been abused. (yes, it even hurts to write this)
The police took her in - how could they not? She turned out to be a female Greyhound they named Jasmine. She was taken to nearby Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, which was run by a man named Geoff Grewcock. He was well-known as a willing haven for abandoned or orphaned animals, and those in need.
Geoff and staff worked hard to restore Jasmine's health and to win her trust. This took several weeks, as you can imagine. As time went on, they began to think of finding her an adoptive home. Here's where the story gets interesting...
Jasmine had other ideas. Jasmine started welcoming all animal arrivals at the sanctuary, whether a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit, or any lost, hurting creature. Jasmine would find a way into their box or cage and deliver a welcoming lick or two.
Geoff tells this story, "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 (oh my!). They were tiny when they arrived and Jasmine approached them, grabbed one by the scruff of the neck and put him on thye settee. Then, she fetched the other one and sat down with them cuddling them."
They say she is like that with all the animals. She "takes the stress out of them" and helps them to feel close to her and close to their new surroundings. She's done this with a fox and with badger cubs and she licks the guinea pigs and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose!
Jasmine has become the animal sanctuary's resident surrogate mother. She has even mothered a 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 full foster mum role. Jasmine the Greyhound showers Bramble with affection and makes sure she is not matted.
Geoff says they are inseparable. Someday, Bramble will need to return to the wild. But, until then, Jasmine will care for her. Surely, when Bramble moves on, Jasmine will be busy mothering and loving other orphans or victims of abuse. The story ends thusly, "Jasmine, with a Mother's heart, does best what a caring Mother would do...such is the order of God's creation."
Would that we could all be like Jasmine. (with thanks to Caters News Agency LTD for the pic here)
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