Found: a Home
He certainly deserved a good home. Only a year and a half old, a good-natured and very well mannered dog. Part German Shepherd, part Collie, although he resembled neither. He looked, actually, more like a very lean, black Labrador Retriever. His owner, a young man driving a very expensive vehicle, brought him over. The dog rescue group instructed him where to deliver his dog, to a volunteer foster home. He stayed awhile, talking with the woman who was to look after his dog until a successful adoption could be arranged. The very real affection between the man and his dog was obvious to the woman who would be looking after the young dog's interests for the interim. And finally, he left. The dog positioned himself at the front door, where he last saw his owner, settled down to wait for his return.The woman wept to herself, relating to the animal's pain. She spoke softly to the dog. She encouraged him to approach her, so she could stroke him. He settled at her feet. Company there was aplenty for the dog. His good manners and gentle nature became swiftly apparent when he only sniffed curiously at the caged rabbits, then stood back. His interest in the other dogs belonging to the home was apparent. He was anything but aggressive. In fact, the alpha male of the pack belonging to the home, a very large German Shepherd spoke to him fairly sharply, repeatedly growling at him that he was welcome, but he had to know his place.
The cat now, that was another thing. The nice new resident of the house thought it was only right that dogs chase cats and he set about to do just that. He was gently chided, and for the next several days the cat made himself wisely scarce. The dog liked his new surroundings. He had been accustomed to living in an apartment, with his owner and his owner's girlfriend. They split, he was confused and unhappy. His owner moved from Toronto to Ottawa, then found he could no longer burden himself with his companion and so, took steps to disown him.
But here! he was living in the country, in a nice large house rife for exploration. And the property on which the house stood! A veritable paradise for a dog. Room to run, to explore, and a (sshhh!) wetland to indulge in on hot summer days. Food of a type he had never before been offered. And with it, a salad of fresh vegetables that he very quickly adapted to, in concert with the other dogs.
And there were children, and he loved children. There was the little girl who lived in the house, and then there were her little girl friends who often came over to spend the day, to stay overnight and through the week-end, so the house rang with the laughter of children, chasing the dogs, and the sound of dogs barking in delight, chasing the children.
A week or so later a chance encounter with a man who self-introduced in a public place, and indicated his interest in animals of the woman who had been shopping in the town and who had brought with her two of her very small dogs. Casual conversation led to his confession that he was on the look-out for a dog, having just lost one of his own, to old age. Such a happenstance, she just happened to have one ready for adoption. But, she warned, the rescue group she volunteered with had stringent rules for adoption suitability; character references were in order.
Finally, he arranged a meeting to assess how he and the dog presented to one another. He was attentive and interested and flattering, and spoke incessantly and endlessly. And none of this appeared to be related to the dog and possible acquisition, but rather to fluffing himself, ingratiating himself and arranging for another meeting. In the interim a character reference insinuated itself, since a neighbour knew the man and swiftly informed the woman that she had met an area predator, a known wife-batterer, and she divulged to the woman facts of the man's life which were completely at odds with what he had put forward. Big flunk.
But wait: only four days later a single mother of four children, 5 to 15 years of age, contacted the rescue group in response to their Web site presentation and professed interest in this dog. She came along with her children for an introduction to the dog, and she stayed for hours, talking about herself, her situation, her children. They already had one dog, wanted to have another for companionship; for themselves, for their dog. It seemed a perfect match; the dog would have a large backyard in a suburban area. He left, with the woman and her children, that very evening. Just settled himself down on the seat beside her in the family van. And off they went.
A happy ending. Almost. The little girl of the house felt bereft and cheated. She mourned the absence of the dog, her new friend. Her mother too, despite the relatively short stay, missed the companionship of the dog. For despite the fact that she had other dogs in the house, each of them is possessed of its own personality, and each is valued separately for what they represent. This dog had curled up beside the woman in her bed at night. "Finally" she had joked to her friends, "a male who wants to sleep with me".
This nice little story seems a trifle sexist. Like a metaphor for a larger societal apprehension of the genders. I trust not.
posted by Pieface @ Friday, June 30, 2006
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