if I had a hammer

and a few extra bucks and some land, I'd build a foster kennel. Our local rescue has 14 new resident puppies, seven of them seen here after they'd been retrieved from a drain pipe and dry creek bed out in the country. The rescue director posted a note on facebook about the adventure and suggested that if we had any time, the pups could use some loving. I left five minutes later to go pay a visit.

These sweet babies range in present disposition from "let me play with you!" to "please go away and leave me alone." Two are especially timid and fearful. I spent about half an hour sitting with them in their digs, where they have shade, water, food, and a fan blowing a constant breeze so that they don't succumb to the heat. A few of them were interested in company and play, though most slept. My goal was to offer non-threatening human presence and love.

The rescue effort, with resulting medical treatment for all of them, ran about $2000. I've already emailed the director to offer to do a PC fund-raiser. Wish I had the money to write them a check. In the meantime if you're in the market for a rescue pup, these will be ready for homes in a few weeks. Mostly boys.

I can think of something else I'd like to do with a hammer, but instead I'll pray for the likes of people who mistreat and abandon dogs (and animals).