Thought this was so touching. It make me cry, but also smile
a little.
My Foster Dog is Beautiful
Written by: Martha O'Connor, Corgi and Corgi-mix Rescue---Missouri
My foster dog stinks to high heaven. I don't know for sure what breed
he is. His eyes are blank and hard. He won't let me pet him and
growls when I reach for him. He has ragged scars and crusty sores on
his skin. His nails are long and his teeth which he showed me are
stained. I sigh. I drove two hours for this. I carefully maneuver
him so that I can stuff him in the crate. Then I heft the crate and
put it in the car. I am going home with my new foster dog.
At home I leave him in the crate till all the other dogs are in the
yard. I get him out of the crate and ask him if he wants `outside'.
As I lead him to the door he hikes his leg on the wall and shows me
his stained teeth again. When we come in, he goes to the crate
because that's the only safe place he sees. I offer him food, but he
won't eat it if I look at him, so I turn my back. When I come back
the food is gone. I ask again about `outside'. When we come back, I
pat him before I let him in the crate. He jerks away and runs into
the crate to show me his teeth.
The next day I decide I can't stand the stink any longer. I lead him
into the bath with cheese in my hand. His fear of me is not quite
overcome by his wish for the cheese. And well he should fear me, for
I will give him a bath. After an attempt or two to bail out he is
defeated and stands there. I have bathed four-legged bath squirters
for more dog years than he has been alive. His only defense was a
show of his stained teeth that did not hold up to a face full of
water. As I wash him it is almost as if I wash not only the stink and
dirt away, but also some of his hardness. His eyes look full of
sadness now. And he looks completely pitiful as only a soap-covered
dog can. I tell him that he will feel better when he is cleaned.
After the soap, the towels are not too bad, so he lets me rub him dry.
I take him outside. He runs for joy. The joy of not being in the tub
and the joy of being clean. I, the bath giver, am allowed to share
the joy. He comes to me and lets me pet him.
One week later, I have a vet bill. His skin is healing. He likes for
me to pet him. I think I know what color he will be when his hair
grows in. I have found out he is terrified of other dogs. So I
carefully introduce him to my mildest four-legged brat. It doesn't go
well.
Two weeks later, a new vet bill for an infection that was missed on
the first visit. He plays with the other dogs.
Three weeks later he asks to be petted. He chewed up part of the rug.
Eight weeks later his coat shines, he has gained weight. He shows his
clean teeth when his tongue lolls out after he plays chase in the yard
with the gang. His eyes are soft and filled with life. He loves hugs
and likes to show off his tricks--if you have the cheese.
Someone called today and asked about him. They saw the picture I took
the first week. They asked about his personality, his history, his
breed. They asked if he was pretty. I asked them lots of questions.
I checked up on them. I prayed. I said yes. When they saw him the
first time they said he was the most beautiful dog they had ever seen.
Six months later, I got a call from his new family. He is wonderful,
smart, well behaved and very loving. How could someone not want him?
I told him I didn't know
He is beautiful.
They all are.
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