Brenda loves Mabel can't live without her, (c) Kinship Circle — World Away

Mabel and Brenda, a love story (c) Kinship Circle — World Away

From The Other Side Of The World ~ A Love Story By Brenda Shoss. She is a “Thai Soi Dog Mix,” maybe a wee bit beagle with the fawn-like build and pointy ears of a Basenji. Rescuers found her on a bridge over floodwaters with a dislocated pelvis, possibly from swift debris as she paddled to higher ground. The dog cried out in pain. She could not move much and would have died from starvation and dehydration if not found. I met the skeletal girl in Thailand with Kinship Circle for animal flood aid. She stared through crate bars into a crowded shelter, her eyes fixed on volunteers who walked, fed, watered, medicated and cared for hundreds of animals. Her chart said “dislocated pelvis” and “do not walk.” Her thin body revealed an asymmetrical pelvis. A Thai veterinarian manipulated her head of femur bone back into its socket. But it quickly dislodged. She endured chronic pain. The dog and I negotiated the least painful position for carrying her out to pee. She told me in growls and snaps: “Do not put pressure on my back legs.” With her head relaxed against my shoulder one day, I thought she needed a name. “Mabel” came to mind. I whispered the name in her ear. It seemed to fit. Soon I noticed “Mabel” penciled in over the ID number on her chart. And so, Mabel she became. Love comes in many forms. People prefer to compartmentalize it as romantic, parental, frienship. The love between a human and nonhuman animal is marginalized. How then, can it be so powerful? I don't know exactly when I began to love Mabel, but do recall that I gave her extra walks and a Thai tea cookie at bedtime each night. When in the field on food and rescue runs, we sometimes returned to the shelter late at night. I worried about Mabel's bedtime ritual as tired volunteers craved food and showers. Everyone wanted to get the day's rescues settled and head back to the hotel. Meanwhile, I scrounged for tea cookies in the dark. Eventually I kept some in my pocket at all times.

Mabel gets extra love from Brenda, (c) Kinship Circle — Falling in love: Brenda slips Mabel Thai tea cookies, love and attention whenever she's on duty at the emergency flood shelter in Bangkok.

© Kinship Circle, Thailand

Thai tea cookies and kisses for Mabel (c) Kinship Circle

Brenda stabilizes Mabels pelvis in hold, Kinship Circle — Kinship Circle director Brenda Shoss stabilizes Mabel's dislocated hip to carry the dog out on pee runs. Mabel, emaciated at rescue, must build fibrous muscle to support her fragile head of femur area.

© Kinship Circle, Thailand

Brenda, veterinarian Emma and Mabel, (c) Kinship Circle — Lead vet Emma Sant Cassia adjusts an ID tag while Brenda gently holds Mabel so that her legs can dangle without pressure on a dislocated hip. Each day, Brenda carries Mabel to her favorite “do business” spot by the volunteer food tent.

© Kinship Circle, Thailand

Brenda gives pee support to injured Mabel, Kinship Circle

Pee run for injured Mabel (c) Kinship Circle

During my last few days in Thailand, I noticed Mabel's face brighten. The listless look gave way to an alert countenance, as if she finally saw a chance for something better in her hard life. When I approached, she got all wiggly and waggy-tailed. On departure day, I'd planned to stop by the shelter on the way to the airport. I never made it. Business matters — a driver and lodging for incoming teams, funds for the rest of the deployment — stole every minute. We had to leave or risk a missed flight. I felt unusually sad. In the last two years, Kinship Circle has deployed to Chile, Brazil and Japan. We always align with a local rescue group for international animal aid. In Thailand, we worked with SCAD (Soi/Street Cats and Dogs Bangkok) Foundation and Save Elephant Foundation. These folks are among the nicest, most sincere, skilled and devoted we've met anywhere in the world. And very funny. Lots of laughs and bonding. It keeps you going. So I assigned my tears to all the leaving — Mabel, new friends and colleagues, the disaster itself and so many more animals in need. I cried from Bangkok to Hong Kong. Then I realized: I miss Mabel. Too much. A second thought occurred to me: My husband will go ballistic if I bring a seventh animal into the home herd. So I waited until his plane headset blocked sound and phoned Matt, SCAD Operations Director and head of the flood shelter. “Matt, I am in Hong Kong and really sorry we couldn't stop by for goodbyes. Is Mabel okay? Has she asked about me?” I blubbered. “You know,” Matt replied, “SCAD does adoptions to the states all the time.” In that moment on the tarmac in Hong Kong I knew one thing. When love is real, take it. Corny, yes, but valid nonetheless. If I fell for every animal encountered as an animal rights activist and rescuer, I'd be a hoarder. Caring for four dogs, three cats and a young son while running Kinship Circle is intense. But Mabel is, well, Mabel. A tiny heart from the other side of the world — a love I can not live without.

Mabel undergoes spay surgery (c) Kinship Circle — Basenji-mix Mabel, adopted by Kinship Circle director Brenda Shoss, is spayed before her 9000-mile journey to the U.S. a month later.

© Kinship Circle, Thailand

Brenda with Mabel at emergency shelter, Kinship Circle

Mabel export papers at Thai Agri Dept, (c) Kinship Circle — Coming Home

Coming Home

Leaving The Only Land She's Ever Known. Mabel had much to do before a nearly 9,000 mile journey from Thailand to the U.S. She accompanied SCAD's Matt and Lindsay to the vet for health certificates. Days later she got export papers with Sister Michael Marie from the Department of Livestock Development airport office. Sister is a Kinship Circle disaster responder and vet tech on her second trip for Thai animal aid. Sister writes: “At the airport, Mabel was a bit nervous and I carried her down the hallway. The rest of the time she pressed into my leg and somehow folded herself into my habit! The Livestock Export Division head examined her briefly and asked about her breed. I used the term in her papers, mix. The vet grinned knowingly, Ah! Thai Soi Dog Mix. To Americans, this sounds quite grand. Eventually Mabel fell asleep on the waiting room floor — even dreaming, with her legs and ears twitching.”

MABEL IS HOMESister and Mabel departed from Suvarnabhumi Int'l Airport in Bangkok on a typically hot, sunny day in Thailand. At their first layover in Narita, Japan, an earthquake shook the ground, perhaps an aftershock from the 7.0 quake here on New Year's Day. After the longest in-flight stretch, Sister greeted groggy Mabel in customs at Chicago O'Hare Int'l Airport. Then Mabel experienced a first-ever: A blast of frigid, wintry air. Fortunately, SCAD Foundation sent a fleece-lined doggie vest decorated with an Australian flag, General Manager Wendy Edney's home country. Mabel is so fashion-forward! By 6:30 that evening, Kinship Circle director Brenda Shoss and her son Elijah eagerly waited for Sister in baggage claim at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Several sandwich cream cookies were stashed in Brenda's pocket. Not the exact Thai tea cookies, but close enough thanks to Three Dog Bakery. Mabel was disoriented when wheeled in from United Airlines freight area. The rush of smells? Elated to hear Sister's voice? Surprised to see Brenda? Whatever the reason, Mabel began to scream. A loud, skinny dog with a big pink bow (courtesy of Sister in honor of Brenda's birthday). People gathered as Brenda said, “She's from Thailand. Never seen America or felt cold weather, rescued from floods, doesn't speak English.” Ah, onlookers nodded, as if this were cause to shriek. Brenda's vet believes she is mostly Basenji, a breed with unique Scooby-Doo style vocalizations.

Mabel waits to leave for her new home, Kinship Circle

Mabel gets ready for journey overseas, (c) Kinship Circle

Mabel at Thai Agriculture Department, (c) Kinship Circle — Mabel spent her last Thailand weeks at SCAD's shelter, where rescues moved after the flood shelter closed. Anxious (and still underweight) Mabel takes cover in the folds of Sister Michael Marie's habit, while they await export papers at Thailand Agriculture Dept offices.

© Kinship Circle / Sister Michael Marie

Mabel gets USA export files, Kinship Circle — Mabel spent her last Thailand weeks at SCAD's shelter, where rescues moved after the flood shelter closed. Anxious (and still underweight) Mabel takes cover in the folds of Sister Michael Marie's habit, while they await export papers at Thailand Agriculture Dept offices.

© Kinship Circle / Sister Michael Marie

Mabel in USA on Brenda's birthday (c) Kinship Circle — Mabel and Kinship Circle director Brenda Shoss reunite at the airport when Sister Michael Marie arrives with her from Bangkok.

© Kinship Circle / Sister Michael Marie

Mabel feels cold air for first time, (c) Kinship Circle — Mabel feels her first cold temps outside Chicago O'Hare airport. A leg that extends from a dislocated pelvis bears no weight. She is in pain from flood trauma. When stronger, Mabel may have surgery to remove her femoral head.

© Kinship Circle / Sister Michael Marie

Brenda and Mabel in University City, (c) Kinship Circle

Brenda and Sister Michael with Mabel, (c) Kinship Circle — Sister Michael Marie and Mabel arrive from Thailand on Brenda's birthday. They spend the reunion evening in University City Loop in St. Louis.

© Kinship Circle / Grady Ballard

Mabel Means:
I Matter

Mabel is held due to dislocated hip, (c) Kinship Circle — Mabel Means: I Matter

Mabel: I Matter

How am I here? This strange barking place. Canopies and bamboo. Table after table. Strange stuff, these bottle, needles, rolls. So many people. Serious but kind. They are at my cage. Gentle hands. Ouch! It hurts. My back leg doesn't work. Wobbly. I remember running fast. I dodged cars. Canvassed streets for the high parts over water, the bridges. Didn't think about my legs then. But now pain shoots out my right hip. And the leg doesn't fit. Like it's stuck to me, but not mine. The hands that help me are friendly and careful. I hear words: “Dislocated pelvis. Veterinarian popped back into place Now it is slipping. There is not enough muscle, fibrous tissue, to support the leg” One lady who comes here a lot calls me “Mabel.” No one ever said that before.

It makes me happy to hear Ma-bel wedged into all that noise. Cries, barks, whimpers, voices then: Mabel. It means she'll open my cage door. When she first tried to lift me, I was mad. It hurt too much. I had to show her. So I growled and got snappy. That way, she knew what positions hurt. Now, she cradles my upper body against her chest so that my legs dangle freely. No bending or pressure. We figured that part out. She carries me to the grass so I can do my business. And she kisses my face while we walk. Weird. No one ever did that. But it makes me feel good. At first pee-poops were quick. Now she stays with me longer each time. She lays me down in my cage, but strokes my chin from noise to ears. Just right. I fix my eyes on hers. This is my way to thank her for attention in this busy, loud place.

I ran from the water. I had to then. And I looked for food. But I am small, so the bigger dogs got most of the scraps. There wasn't much to begin with. The people are gone. The old food places are soggy. Dark water everywhere. I just kept moving. Until the back part of me finally caved. So hard to get up. I dragged myself along, best I could. I am away from the water now. At this place with so many dogs and a few cats. Most cats are at a different shelter, which is perfectly fine with me. Dogs look hungry, tired, sick or hurt like me. The voices seem to be about us. Each day: Food, water, walks, medicines. They write on paper that hangs from our cages. Voices, footsteps, containers open and close, trucks, cars. A hum that never stops.

And then, Mabel. A bump in the noise. Mabel. The sound feels warm like food in my belly. I lift my head when she speaks to me. Mabel means I matter.

Mabel's kennel at flood shelter (c) Kinship Circle — Mabel rests in her Thailand shelter kennel (far left) after rescued from a bridge over floodwaters with a dislocated hip. Brenda began to call the nameless stray *Mabel*, because her wide, soulful eyes inspired the name. And so, Mabel she became.

© Kinship Circle, Thailand

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