Dog Rescue: Found Dog, Found Joy

Published January 16, 2012 | By Jane

This even looks a lot like LoJack! Dog illustration by Jane Gates

This is the first time I’ve written about anything on my website that had nothing to do with the garden. But I feel so full of joy at this moment that I just had to share it.

This morning, just as I was about to leave the house at sun-up, a big, tan dog came limping out of the wild scrublands beyond my house. At first I thought he was a coyote, but he was too big. He seemed chary so I squatted and he slowly limped up to me. He was trashed: he looked like he’s been in a car accident, complete with black tire marks on his side an back. I couldn’t just leave him.

So I sorted out my own dogs in the house and led my new discovery into the back yard where I gave him some water and a little kibble, which I was gratified to see he was willing to eat. He had a collar and, happily, a city license tag. So I called animal control and was delighted when the fellow who answered put me on hold while he tried to contact the owner. I’d thought they’d insist on picking up the dog. Maybe the animal control officer was kinder because I told him it looked like the dog had been injured by a car, not neglected or left astray.

Within moments, sure enough, a call came in from a low, gruff voice saying “You have my LoJack??!” LoJack was a pretty ironic name, considering the circumstances! Anyway, apparently the dog had been hit by a car on Wednesday and bolted, disappearing into the hills. His owner had been desperately searching for him for two days. It’s remarkable the dog evaded the packs of coyotes in those hills for two nights, even if he was about 60 pounds. He was clearly hurt.

His home was a mile away, but it wasn’t long before the owner drove up. He was a grizzled guy, dressed in an army shirt. He had a low, gravely voice and turned out to be a retired cop. There was nothing soft and fuzzy about the guy until he and his pal LoJack locked eyes. It was like watching a slow-motion trailer from a romantic movie of reunited lost lovers. LoJack had already proved to me that he was a big softie when he repeatedly tried to bury his head in my lap. I swear the big cop’s eyes filled. I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. It was glorious.

The owner wanted to pay me, but this really wasn’t about money. Funny how, despite all my financial woes with this recession, I really didn’t care about money. What? Pay me for feeling better than I’d felt in months? This was a veritable high! We chatted a bit and owner and dog vanished into the sunrise, heading for some very important TLC from the local animal hospital.

I went out and completed my errands, returning to my house an hour ago to find a lovely bouquet of roses and lilies had been delivered to my front door — courtesy of LoJack and his human dad. And I just keep re-living the morning.

It’s fascinating how much energy I find myself putting into my career, finances, grousing about politics and hoping for work that will make me feel fulfilled and joyful. And then something like this comes along and makes me feel so validated. Found dog; found joy. Yep. Nothing like helping to reunite loving hearts — animal, human or both — to make you feel like the day has sure been worth living. There are many ways to experience wealth! I just wanted to share my joy, this high, with you.

Originally posted 2011-03-04 12:24:57. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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