September 2011
by: Gudrun Jones --- phone 766-3813 from Lakeside

Paw Prints on my Heart
By
Gudrun Jones
President of the Lakeside Spay & Neuter Ranch/Adoption Center

IN MEMORY OF MAC

He had heard that there was a special place where dogs lived a happy life and the two legged creatures that took care of them were different from the ones he knew. At this special place there were no ropes that were used to hogtie you to a tree so tight that you could hardly breathe, there were no sticks to be beaten with or stones that were thrown at your body and left it so sore that walking was difficult. The two legged creatures there did not force you to fight with your best friend – tear into him and hurt him so badly that he could no longer fight.

Here in the place where he was, a dog had to earn his keep. Winning the fight was all that mattered and you were called a good dog if you maimed or better yet killed your opponent. Winning meant money for your Master and a full belly for the one who scored the victory. 

He had many scars to prove that at one time he was a “good dog”, but now that he no longer had the vigor or stamina of youth and knowing that his strength was fading, he began to fear for his life. That was why he had to find that special place – he needed to make a plan - a plan to escape.

By mid-day the dog compound became lively with barks and squeals and howls. It was feeding time. He knew that his ration would become smaller and smaller for he no longer was on the winning team. His skin had sunk between his ribs and there was the constant pain of hunger in his stomach.

“Well, look at you now; from a fine specimen to a bag of bones. To bad you have lost your usefulness, you‘re not even worth the food to keep you alive.  Might as well save the bullet I was going to use on you, it doesn’t look like you will last another day.”

He felt the kick, but didn’t move, he had to look weak, let them think he was on the verge of dying, that there was no need to tie him up since he most likely would be dead by morning anyway.

He waited until night fell. Then slowly, quietly, keeping away from the other dogs, he made his way to the boundary of the compound.  He knew where the earth was soft where he could dig a large enough hole and escape.

He walked a long time, slept often and ate little. He became weaker and weaker but his determination to find that special place made him go on. He stole food, ate garbage, beetles, grasshoppers anything that was easy to catch. He kept getting weaker and sometimes he could only take a few steps then rest awhile and then take a few more steps. He tried so hard to keep going, to find this special place, but his legs gave out from under him.   There was a pain in his heart and a wish that he knew would never come through.  Too tired to even hope he laid down in the tall grasses that edged the side of the road.

‘Dying isn’t all that hard if you have nothing to live for’ he thought and closed his eyes.

‘Wait…!’ He heard the barking of dogs, many dogs - happy barks. I’m here!  Oh God I’m here, I have found the place’.  He tried to get up but couldn’t find the strength, again he tried and again - so close and yet so far away. He raised his head and watched a car go by. He tried to bark but only a mournful sound escaped his throat. To weak to let his presence be known he laid his head back down and closed his eyes. ‘Good bye dream’ he thought ‘At least I was close.’

“Oh you poor baby” He heard a soft voice and felt gentle hands caressing him.

He wasn’t sure if he was dead or alive. Was this an Angel or one of the two legged creatures from the special place? He opened his eyes and looked into a smiling face.

“Let’s take you to the Ranch, get some food into you and let you know what love is all about.”

He loved the Ranch, his scars never faded, but his heart healed.  He had a place where he could run, in the hot afternoon he could find cooling shade; there was always food and kind words and gentle hands that let him know that he had found a home. He loved his two legged creatures and now knew that they were called people. It seemed as if his previous life was lived by someone else and only occasionally did he remember the pains that he had suffered. To him time meant nothing, he was home at his special place and knew that he would be there forever. Until one night the tumor that occasionally reminded him of the pains in his previous life exploded.

He lay so still on the examination table, feeling a marvelous peace come over him. One of his special persons was there bending over him. Her eyes were almost next to his and he could see the tears in them as she whispered sweet promises into his ears.  “It is time for you to go, we loved you with all our hearts and we will miss you so very much. When you get to that heavenly place you will see a Rainbow Bridge with many pets waiting for their Master. Wait for me there with the rest of the Ranch dogs who had to leave and when I get there my arms will embrace all of you and side by side we will walk into paradise.”   

For more information about the Ranch, adoption and volunteering
Call Gudrun Jones at 766-3813.