Tiny Dogs Will to Live Inspires Thousands

Photo courtesy of Sue Rogers

On April 11, 2012 the Facebook animal community and the world mourned the loss of a tiny Chihuahua named Mia. If you haven’t followed Mia’s story, you might wonder why the passing of a dog would garner so much media attention and such an outpouring of love and loss from around the world.

Mia was no ordinary dog. She was born June 26, 2010 with a cleft palate, a disability that prevented her from nursing from her mother. Unable to ever eat or drink, she required tube-feeding five times a day throughout her 22 months of life. Despite the recommendation of doctors that she be euthanized at birth, her owner, Sue Rogers of Hilton, NY, chose to give Mia a fighting chance at life, and the world is a better place for her decision.

Photos courtesy of Sue Rogers

Mia weighed a mere 1 pound 6 ounces when fully grown; so small some of her outfits were fashioned from children’s socks. She underwent six surgeries in an attempt to repair her cleft palate, all of which were unsuccessful, and all of which doctors said she would never survive.

But survive she did. She had an amazing will to live and what she lacked in size, she more than made up for in strength, smiles, and sheer tenacity. Her two year fight for survival was perhaps a more difficult fight than any of us will ever experience.

When doctors said she was out of options, her owner never stopped searching for them, just as Mia never stopped fighting for life. Mia was on a mission and clearly had her own plans. She enjoyed helping her owner supervise the foster dogs and cats in her home, and her numerous trips and adventures touched thousands of human hearts and lives.

Photo courtesy of Sue Rogers

Her smiles, animated expressions, and sheer joy of living are a testament to a life well lived in the face of astounding adversity. To smile in the midst of struggle, to find joy in the gift of each day, and to never give up are ideals we should all aspire to.

A famous Zen proverb states: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” It’s not so much about the physical form of the teacher as it is about the message, and clearly, Mia had a message to share with the world. Her owner said: “I have no words. How one little dog could bring so many people together from all over the world. Mia is here for a reason.”

A history of respiratory infections that weakened her lungs led to a severe case of pneumonia in early April 2012. Mia continued to fight but her prognosis was disheartening. She left the hospital for home on April 11, 2012 where she passed in the arms of her owner, surrounded by those she loved most.

It was Abraham Lincoln who said: “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Although Mia passed away ten weeks shy of her second birthday, she filled those 22 months of life with more joy, hope, and determination than many will ever equal.

But Mia’s passing is not the end of her story or her message. Her web page contains a host of information along with pictures and videos, while her Facebook page has swelled to 7,241 likes, composed of thousands of fans from countless countries. Her owner continues to post updates to the page as Mia’s message clearly did not leave with the passing of her physical body.

Photo courtesy of Sue Rogers

Her legacy is The Mia Foundation, an organization created by her owner, Sue Rogers. The mission statement reads as follows: “The Mia Foundation was developed to give animals born with birth defects a fighting chance. So many animals born with birth defects, such as cleft palates or missing limbs, are euthanized at birth. With a little work and a lot of love, these animals give back so much more than anyone could possibly imagine.”

The Foundation is committed to helping breeders and owners with support and care of animals born with birth defects, educating the public on special needs cases, and assisting with costly surgeries, care, and treatment that might not be affordable for the owner.

Sue is auctioning many of Mia’s belongings on eBay to raise money for the foundation, and fans around the world are donating items for auction in support of the cause. Through the legacy of her life and the foundation established in her memory, Mia will continue to inspire, educate, and save the lives of countless others who might not survive otherwise.

Hebrews 13:2 tells us: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Who is to say some of God’s angels don’t come to us with four paws, fur coats, and cleft palates?

Photos courtesy of Sue Rogers

Senior Dogs: A Gift for Life

Photo by Ken Gantz / Flickr

When people decide the time is right to add a dog to the family, usually the first thing that comes to mind is a fuzzy ball of fur and the sweet smell of puppy breath. But before you buy or adopt, take time to consider your lifestyle, work schedule, and future plans. A dog should be considered a family member and lifetime commitment, not a fashion accessory or an impulse buy.

Photo by Kathy Doucette / Flickr

Millions of dogs are destroyed each year in shelters because their owners don’t take this commitment seriously. They’re abandoned for many reasons, but the most popular are: moving, having a baby, allergies, children leaving for college, can’t afford the expense, new significant other doesn’t like the dog (or vice versa), or they’ve grown too old.

Senior dogs are not broken or defective. They’re the innocent victims of people who have no regard for a sentient life they’ve chosen to cast aside. No dog will love you more or show more appreciation than an abandoned shelter dog.

Before you grab the cuddly puppy in the first kennel, walk the aisles and look in the eyes of the adult and senior dogs. They are the eyes of wisdom, hope, and joy remembered. These dogs have been around the block and if they could talk and write, they’d be the Hemingway’s of the canine world.

There are many advantages to adopting an older dog over a puppy. The following are just a few:

• Older dogs no longer have sharp baby teeth or the constant need to chew (whether it be on bones or the leg of the kitchen table).
• Most older dogs are already housetrained and know that indoors is for relaxation, and outdoors is for exercise and elimination.
• The majority of older dogs have already been socialized and are easier to introduce into an already established pack or household with other pets and/or children.
• Most adult dogs already know the meaning of the word NO.
• Older dogs are more predictable. You don’t have to guess how big they’ll grow or what their personality will be like.
• Senior dogs don’t require as much exercise and know the beauty of nap time. They also enjoy sharing it with their favorite human.
• Adult dogs are actually easier to train as they have longer attention spans.
• Dogs are ambassadors of forgiveness. Those that have been abused, abandoned, or neglected are oftentimes more loving and appreciative than their pampered counterparts.
• Adult or senior dogs are more mellow, laid back, and a what-you-see-is-what-you-get proposition.
• They make great therapy dogs and excellent companions for the elderly.
• Older dogs have already learned most of life’s lessons and if you’re receptive, are eager to share them with you.
• Senior dogs are like an old bedroom shoe: a good fit, easy to love, and impossible to part with.
• Make a statement for caring and compassion. You will have saved a life that most likely would have ended far too soon and your adult or senior dog will more than repay you with a lifetime of love and devotion.

Never underestimate a dogs ability to teach, guide, and instruct. Senior dogs are canine zen masters; the embodiment of wisdom and soul. They’re elder statesmen and survivors of all life has thrown at them. If you take time to find a quiet place and connect, an old dog may have a few important life lessons to teach you.

Have you ever learned new tricks from an old dog? Please share in the comments section. I’d love to hear about them!

DOGTV: Leave a Little Love On

Are you away for long periods of time during the day and feel guilty leaving your dog home alone? Does your dog suffer from separation anxiety and creatively redecorate the house in your absence? Are pet sitters and doggy day cares just too expensive an option?

Leave the stress at the doggy door. There’s a new breed of television in town called DOGTV. Now airing on channel 2635 on Cox and channel 148 on Time Warner, DOGTV is designed just for dogs.

Developed through years of scientific research and endorsed by leaders in the pet industry, the channel has dog approved content that provides the right kind of company for your home-alone canine.

In a recent article from Life With Dogs, the channel is said “to cater to a dog’s unique sense of sight, hearing, and movement detection.” Both visuals and audio tracks were selected for the optimal canine experience.

The article also includes several videos of program samples, and further segments can be seen on YouTube. There was no mention of age appropriate content so I’m guessing it’s all good for puppyhood to seniors.

DOGTV provides three types of programming: stimulation, relaxation, and positive behavioral reinforcement. Like their human counterparts, dogs respond to what they see and hear.

It seems DOGTV is committed to providing the necessary visual and auditory stimulation dogs require to remain happy, healthy, and hopefully out of the doghouse.

Do you have a dog that hates being home alone? What creative redecorating ideas have you come home to discover? I’d love to hear about them!

Maru Moments

Animals are master teachers of living in the moment. So much of life is about doing, we sometimes forget to just be. May you find delight in the simple things that make time stand still, fill your heart with happiness, and make you jump for joy.

What simple things in life bring you the most joy and happiness? Are you gifting yourself with any Maru Moments this weekend?