Rolling Dog Ranch - The Book Idea
Last week the girls and I, and our friend Mark, spent three days at Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary in Ovando, Montana.
I used to say that the Flying U Guest Ranch in BC was my favorite place on the planet. After this year's mule encounter, I no longer have warm feelings for the family operating it.
Rolling Dog Ranch has now become my favorite place on the planet.
Not only is it set in a beautiful and scenic location, nestled against the Rockies near the Bob Marshall Wilderness along the Blackfoot River, not only are Alayne Marker and Steve Smith wonderful people with whom I connect on so many levels (love of animals, political and social beliefs, sense of humor), but...they're doing so much for the blind, deaf and disabled dogs, cats and horses who would otherwise be euthanized that you find yourself immersed in an alternate universe where simple kindnesses and care giving mean everything.
Check out their web site at: Rolling Dog Ranch Their home page also has a link to the Bark Magazine article I wrote about them a year ago. I hope you'll visit their site and be inspired by what they do, inspired enough to send them a donation, no matter how small.
Steve included my visit in his blog: Rolling Dog Blog
Make no mistake, Steve puts me to work when I'm there, feeding and watering horses, grooming dogs and scooping poop, lifting and installing heavy metal corral panels - whatever needs doing - all in near-freezing temperatures. At least there wasn't six inches of snow on the ground this year! And we had the help of Gloria and Jeanie, employees of the ranch. There's no end to the chores when you've got approximately 80 animals to care for!
Yet I love it, can't get enough of it. I come away from each visit invigorated and revitalized. Dead tired, sure, but renewed. And inspired - by all the incredible and amazing animals I meet and touch and hug while I'm there. As Alayne and Steve like to say: the animals at the ranch may be disabled, but they're not handicapped. And they don't feel sorry for themselves. You've never seen a more content and happy bunch of animals.
The primary purpose of my trip - at least this is what I told Steve and Alayne - was to gather background information and details to put together a book proposal. Mostly, I just wanted another "fix." They've had several supporters and readers of their blog over the years suggest they write a book. Lucky for me, they don't have the time. When I approached them this past summer with the idea of a book, they were enthusiastic about it and gave me the go ahead, promising to cooperate in whatever way they could. I'm excited about the prospect. It will indeed be a labor of love.
So two evenings, while there, Steve and Alayne provided dinner for me and Mark in their house. With tape recorder going, we peppered them with questions, and let them tell their stories in their own fun and funny way. It was a blast.
My girls stayed at the ranch, while Mark and I stayed in the town of Ovando. The girls were given the "isolation yard" which is made up of a small cottage with adjacent fenced yard. Apparently Maia was concerned I was leaving her to live at the ranch forever, because when I returned the morning after her first night there, you wouldn't believe the reception I got! I've never seen Maia so animated, so excited, so happy. While I worked at chores all day, they stayed happily in this area. I took them for walks every morning and evening. Still, it wasn't until I loaded the girls in the car to go home that Maia seemed assured that I wasn't going to leave her behind, to compete with all those other dogs for attention.
I'll create separate blog entries about the blind horses and the dogs. All photos were taken by Mark Ryan, including the ones accompanying this entry, showing; Steve working on a fence section; Alayne in the dog area; my carrying hay through panels similar to the ones they had me carrying and installing; me putting hay in one of the horse's corrals with the stunning natural backdrop of the ranch.