The Pauls Valley Animal Welfare Society was founded as a charitable, non-profit organization focusing energies toward the improvement of animal welfare in our local area. The immediate goal in 2000 was to build a humane animal shelter. Today, we strive to provide compassionate care for lost and abandoned animals while they wait to find their new homes. As a no-kill shelter, we work diligently to give each animal attention, a clean environment, adequate food and healthcare prior to their adoption. When we create better spaces for these animals, we are creating better outcomes, too.
Evidently Pauls Valley, Oklahoma is the portal through which divine creatures enter my life.
I give you Harlow. I’ve considered the possibility of a new pet for quite some time since I lost Miss Molly (The Divine Miss M) in September 2019. She was nearly 18 years old.
The search took me to multiple destinations, and connected/reconnected me with some truly beautiful humans. But no pet.
A series of events took me back to P.A.W.S. (Pauls Valley Animal Welfare Society) which is where I found Molly more than seventeen years ago.
Although the world was beginning to shut down as madness reigned supreme, I made the ninety minute drive to this remote location. P.A.W.S. is way the heck out there. (Turn right onto the dirt road, then make a right onto another dirt road...)
When I arrived I realized the trip was in vain. As I began to leave I told Marjie (the fantastic volunteer) about finding Molly there in January of 2003, and how Timmie (another volunteer) had been my Angel and helped me connect with Molly.
“Timmie’s here. She’s in the back.”
I was floored. Seventeen years later. What are the odds? In a beautiful (and almost identical) moment of divine intervention, Timmie guided me back through the shelter where I connected with Harlow, who had literally arrived at the shelter moments before I did. I won’t lie. I resisted at first.
Harlow’s resemblance to Molly was too much for me. And, would you believe, Harlow was in the exact same run where I found Molly in 2003? I have since decided that some folks like schnauzers, so when their schnauzer passes
they get another schnauzer. Some like labs, some pugs, and so on. Clearly I prefer a Molly-Collie-Mutt pup with a black mask.
Harlow was the choice.
I have also decided that when divine intervention is at work, accept it, get the heck out of the way, and let the magic commence. Adopting Harlow has been a lesson in patience on so many levels. I’ve been waiting a few weeks with constant uncertainty.
Everyone is struggling in this difficult time, including shelters. They are in desperate need of assistance and donations. If you can foster a pet, please do so. Now is the perfect time.
Amidst all the madness, here we are.
Me & Harlow.
Harlow & Me.
Love in the Time of Corona.
Divine intervention. Divine, indeed.
