A Desire to Know River's Beginning

River passed away 15 days ago. She was adopted in Fayette County about ten years ago. Her temporary name at the time was "Jewels". 

I post this because of a desire to know River's entire history, even though I know it's impossible to find this out; additional information is usually confidential. She was brought to the shelter with two other dogs, supposedly, and on a website, it read that she was close to a year old, though a worker said she felt she was two years old. 

In River's early life, was she an inside dog? What was the breed of her mother and father? She has some Border Collie, perhaps husky, too? Did she have siblings that looked like her? Where are they now? Why was she given up? Did she have a good life in her first one or two years? Are there photos of her in her first year or so of life? Are any of her siblings still living? If not, from what did they die? What was River's name before it was Jewels? 

It would be like finding gold to know River's early history and to see photos of her little life, and even now, to see one of her siblings in person. We miss her. 

 River always had sad eyes, and they never really changed in all the years of her life. If River could have talked, however, she certainly would have said she was thrilled to have had so much land to run and roam and enjoyed the excellent food she was given, along with so much love, attention, and companionship. It was the main reason to adopt her, to free her from a cage and give her the best life possible, in nature and at home with her family.

This post is for anyone who gives up a pet for whatever reason. Consider giving the shelter or adoptee as much of the animal's history as possible, and include photos, name, age, tidbits, no matter how silly, etc., so that a new caregiver will know everything there is to know about the animal's past. It is essential and valuable to those of us who love our adopted pets more than words can express and want to know their pets, beginning from the very moment they were born. 

So many missing pieces in River's puzzle, but with us, her life was whole.

 And Missing River.