Even though most think of my story as being one about an abandoned dog, I would put forth that the story is equally about the people; if there had been no dog, there would have been no stories, but had there been no people, there would have been no dog. When dad and Zach first found me, they had no reason to think that they weren’t tackling this problem alone, only to find mom and Miss Tara waiting at the Casa to leap into action. Then Kat and Mr Duane, Hannah and Caleb, showed up, everyone wanting to be a part of saving my life.
For the first week, it was primarily friends and family of the Casa coming to my aid, which, come to think of it, is actually quite a formidable group when it comes to dealing with lost causes. Mom used her wonder concoction to nurse me back from the brink, and when Hannah started my FB page, dad honestly thought that would be the end of it, another goofy dog being assimilated into the general population of the Casa.
When it began to look like I would survive, dad scheduled a visit to the vet. I know that sounds bass ackwards, but you have to understand, this is just how things tend to work out at the Casa, and this wasn’t their first dog and pony show. What dad didn’t know was that the time and date of the visit had been posted on the FB page, and when we got there, the phone lines were jammed with people from around the country wanting to know if my story was real.
DO WHAT?!? People calling a small town vet to determine if my story was legit, to make sure it wasn’t some sort of scam? In what alternate universe does THAT really happen?
As it turned out, people are so sick of the barrage of bad news we are assailed with daily that when they find a legit cause where they can make can actual difference, not necessarily financially but by being a part of something much larger and as yet unexplainably organic, well, watch out.
So over the last year, the story has morphed from being primarily about a dog being rescued from a crate to the message that we ALL have our own crates, but we don’t have to be helpless inside them. Yours may be a cubicle at work, an abusive relationship, an addiction, a multimillion dollar mansion for that matter, all different forms of the same plastic crate to which I was confined, and all locked with the exact same key:
Fear.
And as helpless as we may feel in our own particular situations, we are NOT helpless to assist others in theirs; it took the actions of others to no only release me from my crate, but to also be willing to do it again and again. Until we realize that we are truly free, we’ll either return to that particular crate or even worse, go find another just like it. It takes a clear vision and steadfast faith to realize that there is always hope; when I was on my last legs and felt I had lost my mind to starvation and claustrophobia, that’s when I heard the bikes approaching; in the process of rescuing me, dad didn’t realize that I was actually rescuing him.
SO stand fast where you are now, as while you might be in need of rescuing yourself, we’re all in this together, and you are someone else’s saviour; we can’t fix it all, but we can all fix some.
Interspersed through this post are images of gestures sent by people who we didn’t even know existed a year ago, but now are as much “family” as if our names were listed together on the birth certificate; I want to list those names here, but I can’t, as there are too many and I fear (there’s that word again) that I would leave someone out. You know who you are; we’ve talked on the phone, exhaled emails, we’ve ridden together, you’ve visited and even spent the night at the Casa, but more importantly, we’ve bonded on a deeper level, all put into motion by the “chance” meeting of an emaciated dog and two guys on an unknown mission.
We be of one blood, ye and I.
Thank you for being such wonderful caretakers!! Hopefully more people will follow in your footsteps!!
“You can’t fix all, but you can fix some” ….my take away today…
I needed to hear this today. Thank you. 🙂
Charlie……you are getting better and better writing these missives. Dad should take lessons from you. (LOL) Thank you for your wisdom.
Well said……. We all have our own crate.
Calming words, thank you is not enough. I hope our paths can cross some day or maybe a visit to the casa, a hug for mom and dad and a good ole ear rubbin for CB. Until then, reading your messages will continue to inspire❤️
The latch string is always out at the Casa!
Charlie Bravo – The Motorcycle Rescue Dog Story Dad Mom Zach Tara and all the little furr babies at the Casa thank you for being a part of my life, your words inspired me to do more then i ever though i could, i can not wait to thank you personal for all that you have done…<3 hugs kisses and slobbers
i am sooooooooo glad i came across your page Charlie!!!! i def do feel like your mom and dad and i are family and i cannot wait to meet you when i come down ur way later this year!! 🙂
What a wonderful message on this rainy day.
Somebody can’t do everything, but everybody can do something 🙂
Awesome !! A lot to be taken in this today Charlie !!!
Yep!
Well said!!
Love love that CB and all at the Casa . How is Katania doing ?
Adopted out by friend, story to follow
I love this page and I love your posts ..I read all about all of the dogs you have and the ones you have saved ..you are a great person ..
No greatness here, but like to surround myself with those that are, and it tends to rub off