The dog who adopted me

I just finished reading Indigo's entry, What Hurts the Most, and I have to say the video was very sad. Pet lovers, it will make you cry.

Indigo is an animal lover, to the core. It's not just because she needs a hearing dog to assist her and be her companion, but because she understands the plight of the abandoned, unwanted, neglected pet. She has rescued many animals that were abandoned in her neighborhood. She'd adopt many more if she could afford it. You should read her story.

It is disturbing to read about the loneliness and suffering of the most innocent of creatures in this world, those dogs and cats (or other pets) who are left behind or thrown out of cars on dark streets. I suppose folks who do this rationalize this horrible act by thinking "someone will take care of the animal better than I can" or even "if I drop if off in a neighborhood, it has a chance of finding a home, or getting run over. Either way, it's a better deal for the animal."

I can't even imagine how any goodness could be in the heart of someone who abandons a pet that they once had chosen to keep and care for. I'm thinking that some people don't think of pets as creatures who need companionship, love, care, and medicine when they get sick. In fact, I imagine some people don't even recognize animals as having any purpose in their lives at all. Quite possibly, ignorance is a factor. With some laziness and apathy thrown in.

We've had many dogs over the years, and all were chosen by us. All except one: she chose us. Her name was Lucky, and she was about the cutest/ugliest little thing you ever did see. She only had three legs, and when I first met her, she was about three or four months old. A terrier mix, we thought she might have been a cross between a pug and Shi-tzu, or some such breed. She was small, had a curly tail, black-tipped ears, and a flat face with large eyes. Her hair was wild in every direction. She shed all the time.

                             

But we loved her, and she became our first indoor dog. Of course, even without her left rear leg, she could run as fast as any dog with four legs, but one would only notice she was missing a leg when she walked. Then she'd have a slight sway to her back.

She taught us to let her sleep on the couch, to snuggle with her when she slept, and to let her in the house when she barked at us. We learned what she needed, and we made sure she got it. She taught us to take dogs to the veteranarian, even if they weren't sick, for shots and check-ups because that's what responsible pet owners do. She taught us to worry about her when she didn't come home.

        

Brandy, a beautiful Irish Setter was our first dog when we were newlyweds. Steve picked her.Then there was Dusty, a German Shepherd mix. She became Steven's first dog when he was four or five years old. Finally, Lucky came for me, and charmed all of us. Steven was in middle school by then. All three dogs have passed on, each one leaving her mark on our memories.

Now we have Max and Misty. We selected the miniature Schnauzer breed because we were missing Lucky's winning personality, and from what we'd read in the books, the schnauzer breed had it. Indeed, they do have it: alert, playful, excited, but easily calmed down, fierce home protectors, and friendly with people they know and trust. Curious, patient, and endearing. They are smart, and learn very fast, and best of all, Schnauzers don't shed.

Now who couldn't love those two faces? Had we never met Lucky, I doubt I ever would have considered buying a Schnauzer, let alone two of them. Indeed, she paved the way for Max and Misty. Those two have the best of both worlds: they get to live with us and have all their needs met, and they get to gooutside pretty much whenever they want to (when one of us is home to let them out, and if we aren't, there's the doggy door).

Well, two entries in one day. That is unusual.

 

Tags: blogplug, pets, dogs,