A living dog

Lynn PittsUncategorized

But whoever is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NRSV)

I love dogs (no offense, Kitty Kat!) and always have. The first dog I remember was when I was about 3 years old. Spotty, who was aptly named, was pretty much face to face with me, if not a little taller.

In the intervening years I have had collies, Irish setters, a German shepherd, and assorted mixed breeds. I have loved and lost too many wonderful dogs, and eventually the heart just can’t take any more loss. It has been a long time.

So, on a recent afternoon, in our mountain fastness, I saw a black dog wandering up our road. I went out to see if he was with someone, if he had a collar and tag, or if he was hurt.

By the time I got there, a car had stopped and the driver was trying to coax the dog to come closer. The dog was wary (understandably) and no amount of sweet talk was going to change his mind. He didn’t run, however, which told us that he was accustomed to people, and that somehow he knew we were trying to help.

Thankfully, the oncoming cars saw the little drama, and slowed down and moved over to keep from harming all of us.

As it turned out, he did not have a collar or tag (or had lost it somehow), so we couldn’t call someone and organize a reunion of owner and pet.

It took time and patience, but eventually the dog allowed himself to be gathered up into the man’s arms, put into the car, and taken to a shelter in town.

I hope he finds someone to love him!

 

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