When our retriever Dexter died shortly after we returned to Bisbee, we vowed we wouldn't get another dog, at least not for a very long time. But then about six months later I was walking with Carole in the Farmer's Market in Bisbee, a block behind our house, and passing the Border Animal Rescue (BAR) stand, I noticed this small puppy sort of cowering under a chair from a group of playful children trying to lead her around with a short leash. For just a moment I caught her dark, mournful eyes---eyes that had seen too much in her short five months of life, as we found out later.
I turned to Carole and said, "We're screwed. I think I've just seen our next dog."
Three days latter we brought Callie home. She was frightened, spooked, anxious, suspicious and fearful.
She had been raised in a "hoarder" house in Douglas with as many as 20 or 30 dogs at a time. She likely never had a moment when she felt secure and safe. And then she was adopted by an older man who abused her and BAR took her back.
She will be a year next month. She's still nervous but she has grown from 15 pounds to almost 40. She's happy, playful, and a little manic. She has gone a long, long way to fill the empty place in our hearts when Dexter died.
The things we miss about Dexter we still miss, but when we turn, we see Callie, part retriever, part Australian shepherd or Border Collie, and totally tubular joy.
Thanks for the introduction to Callie, Dan. If you have never read Pablo Neruda's "A Dog Has Died" I would recommend it as you and Carole remember Dexter. Bill Beery
Posted by: bill beery | February 12, 2010 at 03:10 PM