Splat
Lieutenant
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2008
- Messages
- 1,366
I think someone is trying to tell me something. Around thanksgiving I had to put my beloved black lab Morgan down. I still to this day miss her companionship dearly. There's times I come home and still expect to hear her familiar jingle of dog tags racing through the house to greet me, I still look in the spot where her bed was as I'm turning out the lights for the night, making my way to bed.
I miss my furry pal.
Last week, with some moderately warm weather, spending time outside more, I found myself longing for the companionship of a wet nose as I went for my nightly walk, or as I worked in the garage. It was especially rough.
I came home from work Last friday to find a baby beagle scampering across my driveway. An unusual, but not unwelcome sight. She quickly disappeared behind my pole building. As I made my way back there I found her in a spot that it looked like she had spent the day in, perhaps the night too. Under my outside stairs, protected from the wind. No collar, and pretty clean she was obviously well taken cared of, but shaking with fear. Poor thing.
Next thing I know I find myself, laying on the ground trying to coax her out of her spot. A few gentle pets of the head, and a scratch of the ears later she decided I was safe enough to approach. Finally with my arms around her we made our way to the garage where I still had some towels that I used to wipe my labs paws, 'wet paws just won't due' I gently assured her as she offered them one by one to be cleaned.
Once inside, out came the old dog bowls, poor thing was thirsty. A quick phone call to the local PD, offered no missing reports... The dispatcher asked me "is she clean, well cared for?" "In good shape, just scared" I replied. "Someone will call looking for her" the dispatcher told me. She then asked me if i could care for her over night, as Mike, our local animal control officer had already gone home for the night. Those eyes now growing with trust, and looking for guidance made that decision all to easy.
With dinner plans at my mom's already made, it was off to dinner, furry passenger in tow. A quick stop at the local vet revealed no micro chip, but did yield many awwwww's, a proper fitting pink collar, and several interrogations of "what are you going to do with her?" My answer, "I'm dog people, she'll have a home if we can't find her family."
Trust growing, she eagerly followed me into mom's doorway and was greeted by another welcoming pair of open arms, complete with hands for more ear scratching. We are dog people. My dinner yielded home made pirogi, hers was some boiled chicken breasts to fill that undoubtly aching belly. After dinner it was off to the recliner to catch up on some gossip with the parental unit. Mom declared she needs a name, with a agreeing perk of the ears, "she looks like a Lucy" I declared, and so it was.
Lucy, obviously someones pet, knew all to well what a recliner was for. With a few whines of dissaproval I finally agreed to let her up, she quickly settled in the little crook between the arm wrest and fell asleep. I'm such a sucker. I'm dog people.
The night went off without incident. There was more paw wiping and potty breaks, and resting on the couch. There was tug of war, and movies and popcorn snacks offered up from the girlfriend. Lucy had settled right in, and pretty much solidified her place, if her family couldn't be found.
The lazy Saturday morning came and went. There was sleeping in late, some more chicken for breakfast, and a trip to the pet store for a few cans of proper food, just in case.
About 4pm the phone rang. A mans, voice full of hope and desperation came through the other end "ummm hi, my name is James, I think you have my pup?" We arranged a time to meet. I grabbed Lucy and headed for the door, a quick potty break, and in the amount of time it takes to drive a half mile a silver car pulled into my driveway. Lucy recognized it immediately. She wagged her little tail a million miles an hour and let out a howl, only a baby beagle could. The reunion at the car door was emotional for James and his companion and her kids. "Oh lucy! Hiya puppy!" The kids exclaimed! Wait, "lucy!?" I questioned in astonishment. Yes, Lucy, I guess she really does look like a Lucy.
He thanked me so many times, and offered to pay me. I couldn't accept any money, her companionship over night, filling that void i still felt from my Morgan was payment enough. I could only ask he takes better care to keep her safe. The story would have it, he was involved in a serious traffic accident and was hospitalized for a few days. His wafe had also fallen ill, and had been hospitalized. He had a friend of the family stopping by to look after her, apparently in his absence she became skittish, and pulled out of her collar that Thursday. With the frigid temps that night he had feared she didn't make it through the night.
We got to talking a bit more, and there's yet another twist to this story. This gentleman, lives directly across the street, from a man who lost his blue Heeler pup on thanksgiving night about 6 years ago. These houses, about a half a mile away down a busy road. That pup, Sadie, found her way into my garage on a cold blistery night, was likewise welcomed into my home, and quickly suedo adopted by my family. After a few days, was returned home.
They can smell a sucker all right, apparently a half a mile away. I really am dog people.
I miss my furry pal.
Last week, with some moderately warm weather, spending time outside more, I found myself longing for the companionship of a wet nose as I went for my nightly walk, or as I worked in the garage. It was especially rough.
I came home from work Last friday to find a baby beagle scampering across my driveway. An unusual, but not unwelcome sight. She quickly disappeared behind my pole building. As I made my way back there I found her in a spot that it looked like she had spent the day in, perhaps the night too. Under my outside stairs, protected from the wind. No collar, and pretty clean she was obviously well taken cared of, but shaking with fear. Poor thing.
Next thing I know I find myself, laying on the ground trying to coax her out of her spot. A few gentle pets of the head, and a scratch of the ears later she decided I was safe enough to approach. Finally with my arms around her we made our way to the garage where I still had some towels that I used to wipe my labs paws, 'wet paws just won't due' I gently assured her as she offered them one by one to be cleaned.
Once inside, out came the old dog bowls, poor thing was thirsty. A quick phone call to the local PD, offered no missing reports... The dispatcher asked me "is she clean, well cared for?" "In good shape, just scared" I replied. "Someone will call looking for her" the dispatcher told me. She then asked me if i could care for her over night, as Mike, our local animal control officer had already gone home for the night. Those eyes now growing with trust, and looking for guidance made that decision all to easy.
With dinner plans at my mom's already made, it was off to dinner, furry passenger in tow. A quick stop at the local vet revealed no micro chip, but did yield many awwwww's, a proper fitting pink collar, and several interrogations of "what are you going to do with her?" My answer, "I'm dog people, she'll have a home if we can't find her family."
Trust growing, she eagerly followed me into mom's doorway and was greeted by another welcoming pair of open arms, complete with hands for more ear scratching. We are dog people. My dinner yielded home made pirogi, hers was some boiled chicken breasts to fill that undoubtly aching belly. After dinner it was off to the recliner to catch up on some gossip with the parental unit. Mom declared she needs a name, with a agreeing perk of the ears, "she looks like a Lucy" I declared, and so it was.
Lucy, obviously someones pet, knew all to well what a recliner was for. With a few whines of dissaproval I finally agreed to let her up, she quickly settled in the little crook between the arm wrest and fell asleep. I'm such a sucker. I'm dog people.
The night went off without incident. There was more paw wiping and potty breaks, and resting on the couch. There was tug of war, and movies and popcorn snacks offered up from the girlfriend. Lucy had settled right in, and pretty much solidified her place, if her family couldn't be found.
The lazy Saturday morning came and went. There was sleeping in late, some more chicken for breakfast, and a trip to the pet store for a few cans of proper food, just in case.
About 4pm the phone rang. A mans, voice full of hope and desperation came through the other end "ummm hi, my name is James, I think you have my pup?" We arranged a time to meet. I grabbed Lucy and headed for the door, a quick potty break, and in the amount of time it takes to drive a half mile a silver car pulled into my driveway. Lucy recognized it immediately. She wagged her little tail a million miles an hour and let out a howl, only a baby beagle could. The reunion at the car door was emotional for James and his companion and her kids. "Oh lucy! Hiya puppy!" The kids exclaimed! Wait, "lucy!?" I questioned in astonishment. Yes, Lucy, I guess she really does look like a Lucy.
He thanked me so many times, and offered to pay me. I couldn't accept any money, her companionship over night, filling that void i still felt from my Morgan was payment enough. I could only ask he takes better care to keep her safe. The story would have it, he was involved in a serious traffic accident and was hospitalized for a few days. His wafe had also fallen ill, and had been hospitalized. He had a friend of the family stopping by to look after her, apparently in his absence she became skittish, and pulled out of her collar that Thursday. With the frigid temps that night he had feared she didn't make it through the night.
We got to talking a bit more, and there's yet another twist to this story. This gentleman, lives directly across the street, from a man who lost his blue Heeler pup on thanksgiving night about 6 years ago. These houses, about a half a mile away down a busy road. That pup, Sadie, found her way into my garage on a cold blistery night, was likewise welcomed into my home, and quickly suedo adopted by my family. After a few days, was returned home.
They can smell a sucker all right, apparently a half a mile away. I really am dog people.
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