For several days, I've been sitting on this bittersweet tale of a good dog, written by Sheila Stroup in the Times-Picayune, because it makes me sad. Sheila writes beautifully about her menagerie, which has even included donkeys:
I worry about my little dog Harry. He is slowing down.
His muzzle is completely gray now, and he no longer comes running when I call him.
He is getting deaf. The one good thing about it is he isn't as terrified of thunder as he used to be. Sometimes, he'll sleep right through a storm instead of leaning his head against me and shaking while I pet him and say softly, "It's OK. It's OK."
Harry took up residence at Sheila's house when he followed her home one day, as she was walking her other dogs. Sometimes that's reason enough to accept a new member into the family. When one says in doggie talk, "Your house is my house," what can you do?
Later, when he needed an X-ray, we found out Harry was full of buckshot.
"No wonder he's afraid of loud noises," I said.
He'll be 14 in a few months, and I hope by now he has forgotten the first year of his life, when he was chased with brooms and shot at, unwanted and alone.
He has been a good dog. He has never bitten anyone, and the only thing he ever chewed up was my book of synonyms -- but only the words that start with w, x, y and z, and who really needs them?
Roger's (aka Lapinbizarre) rescue dog Becky was found to be full of buckshot, too. My Diana was rescued with an arrow in her leg. The cruelty of certain members of the human race toward God's other creatures amazes me still. I sent this story to Roger some days ago, but I haven't had the heart to post it until today.
I'm thankful that Harry, Becky, and Diana were rescued and welcomed into loving homes. Harry and Diana have had good, long lives with their humans. Becky, unfortunately, was diagnosed with lung cancer, but, as Roger says, she will spend what time she has left in a loving and caring home.
At least, thunder doesn't scare Harry so any longer.
Needn't feel that sorry for Becky. Just before she clawed me awake at 6:00 this morning, she crapped in one of my shoes. Fun way to start the day.
ReplyDeleteLapin, forgive me, but I laughed out loud. And it's Saturday, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say? Score one (or two?) for Becky.
Woke me up for sure.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in high school in Latin class we read something, who knows what, with the phrase "homo homini lupus" (man is a wolf to man) and my Latin teacher said "There is really no reason to insult wolves like that." Never forgotten that one.
ReplyDeleteI have the three greatest dogs on earth and I run across so many great dogs all of the time. And I look in their eyes and all I see is honesty and love. And I wonder why they trust us.
It is beyond strange that the upshot of evolution is that the monkeys wound up in charge with the wolves wearing the collars and being treated so badly.
After hearing of these poor dogs being chased and shot at I need to go give my three kids some hugs and treats now. Very sad.
I have a neighbour (English like D-P and M-P) He had a puppy. One day I found it playing in my fish pond. Very angry I picked up a large rock to frighten it away. The poor thing just crouched down and whimpered so I chased it out of the yard, no way could I hurt a dog. A few weeks later I asked another neighbour about the puppy which I had not seen recently. He told me it's owner had found it chewing the furniture so took it out and shot it. I was amazed and upset. I do not know how people can hurt animals.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, Brian, a dog which cowers or freaks out in that fashion in response to a threatening gesture has already been physically abused.
ReplyDeleteHints from Eloise time - have never known a case where a light application of Tabasco sauce to chair and table legs did not immediately cure furniture chewing. Thank you Louisiana.
What's with the "Principessa" business over at you-know-where, Mimi? In my day a "princess" was someone who badly wanted to be a queen, but didn't have the talent to hack it.
More tails:
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time, not very long ago, I went to see my auto mechanic...he had received a Old English Sheep Dog at his home late one night that had been badly treated for years...apparently the dog had been tied up and fed the occassional tortilla and chewed on rocks...Fido, quickly named, was totally matted with about 12¨ of filthy hair...Carlos and I retrieved Fido and stripped him down, got him his shots, dental work (extensive) and had him casterated (hate that part but had a new female in the house too that hadn´t had her operation yet...so it was a double). Fido is the most loving and loveable dog I´ve ever met...the Vet figures that Fido is about 7 years old and with x-rays it revealed that Fido has displaced back hips, lots of expensive medication is needed...so, Fido lives a great, and pampered lifestyle right here in the middle of nowhere...he´s quite handsome, jokes about it, frolics but is fully in charge...God help the unfriendly intruder...btw, Fido became the ¨head dog¨ the minute he felt better and the others like him very much (except for the Peekaneese/St Charles mix, Marcos, whom we inherited when a friend died, and who is jealous of his giant house and garden mate and finds it necessary to lift his leg wherever Fido has been...Marcos now has ¨no go¨ zones).
I love dogs. I wish I could pick up everyone of them off the street...there are thousands wandering around in little packs in Central America...there is one ¨shelter¨ supported mostly by Americanos with hundreds of dogs (some of which get adopted to chic places like San Francisco) living in the Countryside....if anyone wants to get ¨involved¨ please drop me a note and I´ll put you in touch with the wonderful folks helping the stray dogs and cats of Guatemala.
And I look in their eyes and all I see is honesty and love. And I wonder why they trust us.
ReplyDeleteDennis, ain't that the truth? Why do they still trust us?
Brian, why do people hurt animals?
Lapin, you're right about the Tabasco. Louisiana does some things right.
Leonardo, poor Fido. It's great that you found each other.
Lapin, about the "Princess". At one point, in context, I addressed Jonathan as "Princess MadPriest". I no longer remember the context, but he requested that I call him either "Mr MadPriest" or "Princess Maddie".
ReplyDeleteI was not about to go with "Mr MadPriest", (What's fun about that?) and I was eager to run with "Princess Maddie" or "Princess" for short. It's by his own suggestion. One day I may tire of it, but, for now, it suits.
One day, perhaps, a Queen.
ReplyDeleteBless a zillion times over every person who extends a kind hand and a home to other creatures.
ReplyDeleteRight now my husband and I are nursing ... and cleaning up after ... our three beloved cats, all of whom have some kind of bug that brings on lots and LOTS of runs ... There's nothing I wouldn't do for them for all the love and joy they give ... All are "rescues" -- our newest, Aja, was found by a kind soul, smushed up against a street curb at seven weeks of age with a big gash in his throat. That kind soul took him to our vet, whose practice is about a third concerned with rescue and adoption ... Our vet invited us to adopt him after a three-week convalescence ... and now he's our smushy boy, just over a year old, with a tail like a feather-plumed quill and a wild little zing of orange across his crown. We are besotted for life.
The way a person talks of and treats other creatures tells me all I need to know ...
Mmmrrrrrrrrrrrrooowwwww.
ReplyDelete+Maya Pavlova(who used to live in a cage in a shelter, after she was found abandoned, barefoot and pregnant at a very young age)
The way a person talks of and treats other creatures tells me all I need to know ...
ReplyDeleteJaliya, exactly. Welcome. We've only ever had rescue pets. They come to us, and we let them stay.
+Maya in a cage barefoot and pregnant? And look at her now!
+Maya, you've come a long way, baby.
This is Angel.
ReplyDeleteShe's my best (dog) friend (belongs to friends of mine).
She had surgery on her right rear knee on Monday. Her elderly owners are in poor health themselves, so I haven't wanted to call them, to ask how she's doing.
Please pray for her (and her owners, too).
I am glad all these dogs found love.
ReplyDeleteYour friend,
rowan
JCF, Angel looks like an angel of a companion. If I look very hard, I can see the faint image of wings.
ReplyDeleteRowan! Hello! Love to you, cher ami.
Well, I did call Angel's owners yesterday (had a little trouble talking to her, because she has Parkinson's---her husband's health is worse [lung problems: won't/CAN'T quit smoking]).
ReplyDeleteAngel came through surgery, and is doing well! Happy JCF!
Please continue to pray for her family, though.