(no subject)
Day off again. My house definitely needed a cleaning, but cleaning my own house is just no fun. So i drove over to Angel's Gate, this animal hospice and rehabilitation center about a half hour away from me. it just looks like an ordinary house from the outside. and walking up the driveway, while you might hear dogs barking, there's no way of knowing how many. it's only when you open the front door that you discover that this is no ordinary house.... i'd estimate there are about 60 dogs. 100 cats, at least. a dozen parrots, give or take. and that's just inside. the yard is another story. ducks, pigeons, a pony, geese, goats, raccoons, and a bunch of doves. you might think that a place like this would be depressing. all of these animals have deformities, or were abused, or were diagnosed with some terminal illness. there are one eyed cats, dogs with burns covering 80% of their bodies, various animals with missing limbs, wearing diapers, pulling themselves across the floor with just stumps as balance. but it's the opposite of depressing. it's inspiring. 200+ animals living in one place, peacefully coexisting, living out whatever time they have left in the best possible way. i'm agnostic, and i have a lot of contempt for organized religion, but being in that house is a totally spiritual experience. i spent a good portion of the day there, mopping the floors, emptying litter pans, washing dishes, and of course, sitting with the animals. there are very few ways i'd rather spend a day off.
and just for the record, my house is a sty. maybe if i got some more animals over here, i could finagle some sap to volunteer their time and straighten out the place.
and just for the record, my house is a sty. maybe if i got some more animals over here, i could finagle some sap to volunteer their time and straighten out the place.