We were fortunate to receive much needed rain without any damage, but are thinking of those affected by storms this weekend.

The images coming out of the Midwestern and Southern states impacted by the storms this weekend were horrifying. Like many of you, we thought of family and friends as well as the many towns we’ve visited in the region. We hope for the best of outcomes, but know that many people lost their lives.

For us, though, the storms ended up being less violent and brought us much needed rain to quench wildfires in our area. We even worked our afternoon walk in between the rain events. Well, mostly in between. We might have gotten the humans a little wet.

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EDIT: I posted this on Facebook this morning:

Back in August of 2006, we had just lost the great Nikita, the Siberian Husky who started it all, and were looking to add to our small pack. We visited Sidney Helen Sachs to see some of the rescued Siberian Huskies.

As often happens, the one we went to see wasn’t a good fit, but this wooly-coated, shy, scared, and skinny girl kept checking us out. Sidney told us she had been found wandering the streets of Waverly, Tennessee, so her rescue name was Waverly. She had obviously been abused and scared of people. She would need a lot of love, care, and patience.

We said we weren’t sure we wanted to take on such a project. We wanted an easier dog to adopt.

Sidney looked at us and said something I’ve never forgotten—”Sometimes, you don’t get the dog you want. Sometimes, you get the dog you need.”

Waverly came home with us, renamed Kiska, Russian for Pure. She did take a lot of work and wasn’t sure she trusted us.

A few days later, I was sitting on the back porch reading a book while letting Kiska explore. She wasn’t ready yet for pets or scratches and watched me warily.

She walked up behind me, sniffed, and hesitated. I waited for her, to see if she was ready to build a bond. After a few minutes, she rested her head on my shoulder. We sat like that while I read as Kiska learned to trust again. Once that trust was built, she became our fierce protector, our Chief of Security who yelled at anything who got near our fence and her safe life.

I tell that story because I woke up this morning to find several posts that Sidney was impacted by the devastating tornadoes. She lost kennels and, crushingly, a cherished dog was killed and another injured.

I know many of you involved with the Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute breeds will know Sidney. You will know how great she is with dogs, how much care she gives her dogs, and how much she means to the rescue dogs she finds homes for.

A friend of hers has set up a Paypal donation for her at [email protected] . I have no connection to it, but wanted to share it.

Please keep Sidney and all the victims of the storms in mind.

And, yes, Sidney, we did need Miss Kiska. And she needed us. Thank you.