I found your dog today
By: Bonnie L. Jennings
I found your dog today. No he has not beem adopted by anyone. Most of
us who live out here own as many dogs as we want, those who do not own
dogs do so because they choose not to. I know you hoped he would find
a good home when you left him out here, but he did not.
When I first saw him he was miles from the nearest house and he was alone,
thirsty, thin and limping from a cactus burr in his paw. How I wish I
could have been you as I stood before him. To have seen his tail wag and
his eyes brighten as he bounded into your arms, knowing you would find
him, knowing you had not forgotten him. To see the forgiveness in his
eyes for the suffering and pain he had known in his never-ending quest
to find you.....But I was not you. And despite all my persuasison, his
eyes beheld a stranger. He did not trust, he would not come.
He turned and continued his journey, one he was sure would soon bring
him to you. He does not understand you are not looking for him. He only
knows you are not there, he only knows he must find you. This is more
important than food or water or the stranger who can give him these things.
Persuasion and pursuit seemed futile; I did not even know his name. I
drove home, filled a bucket with water and a bowl with food and returned
to where we had met. I could see no sign of him, but I left my offering
under the tree where he had sought shelter from the sun and a chance to
rest.
You see, he is not of the desert. When you domesticated him , you took
away any instinct of survival out here. His purpose demands that he travel
during the day. He doesn't know that the sun and heat will claim his life.
He only knows he has to find you.
I waited hoping he would return to the tree; hoping my gift would build
an element of trust so I might bring him home, remove the burr from his
paw, give him a cool place to lie and help him understand that the part
of his life with you is now over. He did not return that morning and at
dusk the water and food were still there untouched. And I worried. You
must understand that many people would not attempt to help your dog. Some
would run him off, others would call the county and the fate you thought
you saved him from would be prempted by his suffering from days without
food and water.
I returned again before dark. I did not see him. I went again early the
next morning only to find the food and water still untouched If only you
were here so you could call his name. Your voice is so familiar to him.
I began pursuit in the direction he had taken yesterday, doubt overshadowing
my hope of finding him. His search for you was desparate, it could take
him many miles in 24 hours.
It is hours later and a good distance from where we first met, but I have
found your dog.
His thirst has been stopped, it is no longer a torment to him. His hunger
has disappeared, he no longer aches. The burrs in his paws bother him
no more. Your dog has been set free from his burdens, you see, your dog
has died.
I kneel next to him and I curse you for not being here yesterday so I
could have seen the glow, if just for a moment, in those now vacant eyes.
I pray that his journey has taken him to that place I think you hoped
he would find. If only you knew what he went through to reach it....and
I agonize, for I know, that were he to awaken at this moment, and I were
to be you, his eyes would sparkle with recognition and his tail wag with
forgiveness.
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