Can't Save them all :(

So this morning I stopped at QuikTrip for gas on my way into work. It was early morning, but Front St was already packed with traffic, semi trucks and minivans, everyone racing to where they needed to go. Through the chaos a group of three dogs carefully crossed five insane lanes of traffic and headed across the Waffle House parking lot beside QT to the industrial area where my job's located by the Missouri river. They were all scruffy and underfed mutts, but the leader walked confidently with his head held high while the others calmly followed. No one but me seemed to even notice them.

It was hard for me to watch them, knowing their chances in the feral dog world. Tears filled my eyes as I pulled away, wishing I could help them. But sadly I know I can't. We're beyond capacity with our current two foster dogs. Sure, I could have grabbed them and taken them to the local pound, but then what? Honestly, these dogs weren't adoptable. They weren't cute or sweet or willing to give their heart to a human. And who can blame them? I'm sure they all belonged to someone sometime and were lost or thrown away. At least in their current situation, regardless of how horrible it is, they have each other, they have a leader to show them the way through traffic, and they have the sunshine on their noses. That's more than so many doggies (even people!) have in this messed up world we live in.

As they migrated away from me, I said to myself the same mantra I always repeat when an animal crosses my path that I can't help. I thought "Go with God and be protected" I'm not a religious person, but I hope God or Mother Nature or whoever keeps an eye on them.