Sometimes you don't know who your Momma is...

So...this might be a difficult post for some of my ruff-ers to read...but stay with me. It'll get better.

You see. I'm motherless.

As far as I can remember, I was in a shelter for the first 3 years of my life (in Turkey). I've obviously had a mother at some point, or I wouldn't be here...I'm really grateful that Uncle Pete came by that day and chose me, out of all the other dogs that were there...making their pleas to encourage him to take them home (too)...but I don't know where my mother is now.

Perhaps this is a plight that all dogs have. Being motherless. I personally don't know many dogs whose mothers are still with them after their human-families have taken them in. But it's sure got my dog-brain thinking...

How have I survived? How do any of us dogs survive? I mean, don't get me wrong - I'm really, super-dog grateful that I have a wonderful family - but where's my mom now? And how have I survived without her? Have I just 'stopped remembering' that I don't have a mom around any more and depended on my human-parents now?

Then I really start to think: who else in in the same predicament as me? Maybe there's more than just us dogs that have learned to move on or be grateful with what we have. Maybe, the less-furry of us have had to learn to live without their moms as well. Maybe there's more out there that understand me than I think there are...

There's hope. I can honestly say that I'm very grateful to have my human-parents in my life now (though I call them Uncle and Aunt, as they have a child of their own that will call them Mom and Dad; these titles are reserved for their kids). They'll never replace my mom. Ever. But it's pretty interesting to me that though my mom isn't in my life anymore, there's others that can help fill the void. I don't feel alone any more. I don't worry about where my next meal is coming. I don't have to care about whether I'll need to do 'my business'. These human-parents of mine have taken care of all that stuff for me so I can just 'worry' about being a dog.

As I said, they won't ever replace my real Mom, but I'm grateful for the love that I do have. Though some times it's hard, I am glad that I have good memories of my mom and great memories of love and calm that I can pass on to others that I've met since I've been born.

So...until next time, this is Sakin the Dog...

Be thankful for all the mother-figures in your life! They are precious gifts!