Monday, February 27, 2006
Twice in the past couple of months I have heard it said that dogs do not love. That they are animals and animals have no sense of such things.
As a child, my sister and I were unwanted by family and shunned by neighbors because our Mother was not only divorced but worked as a
bartender. We were to quote the neighbor lady 2 doors down, “White trash”. At the time I was seven and my sister 4. We didn’t know what
white trash was but got the idea quickly enough that it was not a good thing to be. Most especially when you are not allowed to play in the neighbor’s yard with the other children.
Our mother worked a split trick. Which meant she was gone day and night. We had family in the neighborhood but none of them wanted two extra kids to look after. So at 7 and 4, we were left to look after ourselves. My father had disappeared to parts unknown. Occasionally he wrote. Mostly he didn’t.
Yet, we were not alone. We had the most amazing dog. Every day when I
got out of school she’d be there in the school yard waiting to walk me home.
Every night when we tucked ourselves into bed, she’d climb in with me and
cuddle. At the slightest sound she would raise her head alert for any
danger. And the one night when danger did come by way of a peeping Tom,
she made it clear enough that she would protect us with her life. Hackles
raised, teeth bared, she ran toward the window where the man’s face peered
in at us. Apparently he wanted no part of her because he quickly left.
Later we found out the peeping Tom had broken into a house down the street. I don’t know
what occurred after the break in because this was something discussed by my
Mother in whispers over the phone.
After a couple of years my Mother was forced to sell our home. We would
have to move in with my grandmother who just happened to have an aversion to
dogs in her home. A lady came to take Tippy away. She tied a rope
around her neck and began to pull her out the gate. My sister and I stood
sobbing for all we were worth as that big black dog, the only love we had
ever known, pulled against that rope for all she was worth trying to get back
to us. Her cries were hauntingly sorrowful and I carry them with me still.
She was my playmate when no one else was allowed to play with me. She was
my parent. My protector. My friend. And years later I learned that
she grieved herself to death weeks after she’d been taken from us.
Never question a dogs love. They love unconditionally. And sadly, sometimes
better than humans.
I know this has been a long story but please continue to read.
Tia was beaten in the head with a baseball bat. The blows devastated her face, blinded her in one eye and destroyed her teeth. She was left at the farm house to die along with her unborn puppies. Somehow she lived, gave birth to the puppies and kept them alive until a neighbor told HUA about her. HUA went immediately to rescue this amazing girl. She watched as each of her puppies was carefully loaded into the shelter van. Then she was gently lifted inside. Although she had every reason to fear people, she was trusting and grateful for the kindness.
In the state of Ohio animal abuse is still a misdemeanor.
If you have a dog, go give him a hug. And never, NEVER take for granted that wagging tail. These creatures have so much to teach us. The question is not "Do they love?" But are we so pompous that we might think otherwise.
As a child, my sister and I were unwanted by family and shunned by neighbors because our Mother was not only divorced but worked as a
bartender. We were to quote the neighbor lady 2 doors down, “White trash”. At the time I was seven and my sister 4. We didn’t know what
white trash was but got the idea quickly enough that it was not a good thing to be. Most especially when you are not allowed to play in the neighbor’s yard with the other children.
Our mother worked a split trick. Which meant she was gone day and night. We had family in the neighborhood but none of them wanted two extra kids to look after. So at 7 and 4, we were left to look after ourselves. My father had disappeared to parts unknown. Occasionally he wrote. Mostly he didn’t.
Yet, we were not alone. We had the most amazing dog. Every day when I
got out of school she’d be there in the school yard waiting to walk me home.
Every night when we tucked ourselves into bed, she’d climb in with me and
cuddle. At the slightest sound she would raise her head alert for any
danger. And the one night when danger did come by way of a peeping Tom,
she made it clear enough that she would protect us with her life. Hackles
raised, teeth bared, she ran toward the window where the man’s face peered
in at us. Apparently he wanted no part of her because he quickly left.
Later we found out the peeping Tom had broken into a house down the street. I don’t know
what occurred after the break in because this was something discussed by my
Mother in whispers over the phone.
After a couple of years my Mother was forced to sell our home. We would
have to move in with my grandmother who just happened to have an aversion to
dogs in her home. A lady came to take Tippy away. She tied a rope
around her neck and began to pull her out the gate. My sister and I stood
sobbing for all we were worth as that big black dog, the only love we had
ever known, pulled against that rope for all she was worth trying to get back
to us. Her cries were hauntingly sorrowful and I carry them with me still.
She was my playmate when no one else was allowed to play with me. She was
my parent. My protector. My friend. And years later I learned that
she grieved herself to death weeks after she’d been taken from us.
Never question a dogs love. They love unconditionally. And sadly, sometimes
better than humans.
I know this has been a long story but please continue to read.
Tia was beaten in the head with a baseball bat. The blows devastated her face, blinded her in one eye and destroyed her teeth. She was left at the farm house to die along with her unborn puppies. Somehow she lived, gave birth to the puppies and kept them alive until a neighbor told HUA about her. HUA went immediately to rescue this amazing girl. She watched as each of her puppies was carefully loaded into the shelter van. Then she was gently lifted inside. Although she had every reason to fear people, she was trusting and grateful for the kindness.
In the state of Ohio animal abuse is still a misdemeanor.
If you have a dog, go give him a hug. And never, NEVER take for granted that wagging tail. These creatures have so much to teach us. The question is not "Do they love?" But are we so pompous that we might think otherwise.
posted by Crabby at 7:26 PM | 27 moos from the field