Rescue Me....

You see them wandering the streets...thin and gaunt as though they haven't eaten in weeks. Maybe a cat showed up on your doorstep looking at you with those sweet almond shaped eyes hoping for a morsel to fill their belly.
Maybe you go to an animal shelter and you see their faces behind cages and wonder what happened. How could they wind up in these circumstances? How could someone turn their back on them? Did they leave on their own as if ending a bad relationship?

In my shop I hear so many stories that tug at your heart...

Here is one:

I was working at an animal shelter as a kennel attendant. I arrived at work at 6:30 am and it was terribly cold. I checked what is known as the "drop box". I find two large dogs huddled together in the same cramped cage. I open the door to the cage and talk to them gently and quietly assuring them that they are in a safe place. They each lean toward me and sniff my hand. The large orange colored chow mix gently licks my hand but declines the treat I am offering. The cream colored dog comes forward and steps out of the cage. The Chow follows. I leash them both up and take them into the heated kennel area and get them into a kennel and place food and water inside. These two really seemed bonded, and probably for quite sometime as they are both pretty old judging by the looks of them. There was plenty of room for the two to share the large kennel run.
They relax during the day as I go on about my duties. I checked in with them as I was closing for the day and assure them I will be back in the morning and hopefully someone will have called looking for them.
I went home that night and thought about my new guests at the shelter. What was their story? Is someone missing them tonight? Did something terrible happen to their owner and they were brought to our shelter for safekeeping? Did I remember to turn the heaters on? I knew it would be cold again tonight...February usually is. Yes; I remind myself I did. The four footed kids will be warm and dry. I breathe a sigh of relief and go to bed.
The next morning I launch into the usual routine and head to the shelter. I flip on the lights to the kennel and with treat bucket in hand I say "Good Morning" to each and every dog and offer a biscuit. I get to the kennel with my two new guests and say "Good Morning you two! Maybe there will be a message on the machine with your owner looking for you!" I notice that the orange Chow mix is visibly shaking and sitting in the corner next to her roommate that's laying down. I ask out loud: "What's wrong, girl?" I step into the kennel and kneel next to the white dog and check her over. It doesn't take long for me to realize she had passed away. I look up into the Chow's eyes and she meets my eyes then turned away. I was overwhelmed by the sorrow that this dog expressed for her fellow canine friend.
In the coming weeks no call ever came, volunteers spent time with who has now been named "Maggie" by one of the volunteers. Still Maggie seemed so lost without her friend. I knew that getting an older dog adopted was going to be difficult if it was to happen at all.
One beautiful sunny day one of the regular volunteers came back with Maggie after their usual walk and wanted to talk to someone about her.
I step up as I know this volunteer really well and ask "what's up?"
"I want to adopt Maggie"
Now...as I said, I know this volunteer really well. She's not a dog person, she's not a cat person....she's not that into animals and I should know. She's my mother, and every stray that I brought home was met with the usual disdain and wanting me to find it another place to live. This is not to say that she didn't like them, she just wasn't that into them.
Something about Maggie changed all that. Maggie had a tough beginning, she was reserved and yet lovable. Her eyes spoke of a certain sadness that made you want to be a better person. Made you want to give her the best in life.
My Mom did that. Maggie is treated to the finest food, regular vet check ups, vacations in Mexico on a sandy beach, many new canine and feline friends.