~ Looking Back, Going Forward ~
“…Remember a few weeks ago…” (Pause for loud barking to subside) “…Can you hear me?…So remember we talked about getting a dog for Tommy, wait hold on one…, the Kennel Tech is coming, its going to get noisy.”
A full third of the kennel’s current population spotted Man With Leash(!), and the first howls of recognition rose, and grew to a cacophony of declarations and heartfelt requests that filled the air.
The Tech stopped midway and knelt down at an opposite pen from the woman. Opening the gate he reached in to scoop up an eager Shih-Tzu to secure the leash for her morning walk.
Once the pup was placed gently back on the ground, her little legs trotted with excitement and a dash of urgency. Morning sun rays filled the walkway as the door opened and with a, “C’mon Sadie,” Tall and Tiny disappeared into the glare.
Muted protestations of disappointment and jealousy eventually faded.
The woman adjusted her hand toward her other ear and resumed talking into the air while looking over the young beagle in the kennel at her feet.
“So, what I’m trying to say is, I’m at the shelter and I think I’ve found the perfect dog for Tommy…a Beagle…no, he’s young, and I don’t want to get Tommy a high-powered dog…I know your preferences, dear….”
The woman grew silent as she tapped her foot while staring up at the ceiling. “…It’s just, it’s just that at this stage I need a dog that I can handle…AND…and… a dog that will slow Tommy down a bit. Fall is coming, and with school, I’ll be the primary dog handler…OK, OK, YES, you get to pick the next dog.”
With that said, the woman brought down her hand and headed around the corner where the other workers are, flip-flops slapping the cement walkway with a determined rhythm.
The sun rays returned with the responding chorus as Sadie was brought back up the walkway.
I watched her being returned to her pen, and the canine shouts of “Me! Me! Pick me!” followed the Tech.
When he got part way up the walk, a different woman’s head appeared at the end of the hall asking for Riley, and the Tech turned back around and deftly managed to get a loop around a very wiggly Beagle. They disappeared together up the walkway.
I changed my alert posture to a proper thinking-sit. Before I could accurately access what all the morning events might mean for me, a highly motivated and fast-approaching beagle shot past me to the gate next to mine, behind which was a female Frenchie, Justine.
Whines, murmers, and longing looks of a young and fervent devotion were exchanged until the talk-to-the-air woman quickly rounded the corner yelling, “Riley! Riley, come here!”
In her pursuit, one of her flip-flops flew upward and sailed in an arc to land just inches away from Safecracker’s gate.
Safecracker, was nicknamed due to his uncanny ability to open the latch to his gate. No matter what alteration was made, or what parts, clips, bits of chain, duct tape were added, within a day—if not a few hours—I’d hear a series of clicks, and down the hall he would paddle past us. Calmly, and with quiet purpose, he would place himself in front of the back door and sit in unwavering hope that the door would be opened and he would leave to find his home.
At the other end of the kennels, the loop went back around the errant Romeo’s neck, and goodbyes were quickly shared. Riley somewhat reluctantly followed the now listing-to-port woman.
The woman spied her errant footwear further ahead, just…in…time…to see a chocolate Doberman’s paw quickly draw it through the space below his gate and into his domain. Rustling and growling noises punctuated the launching of flying bits of flip-flop up and over the top of his gate.
With a sigh and a gentle encouragement to Riley to leave the falling bits alone, they both left.
Riley was the first to leave since I had been brought there. When I got a chance to think more about it in the evening, (when it was quiet), I had an epiphany.
I was in a temporary place, not a new kind of home. My tail swept back and forth a couple times at the thought, and I fell asleep.
A few days later, a different woman came in with a man following. She scanned the faces in the kennels, looking for a specific dog, and stopped in front of my gate. The man, looking around and slightly distracted, almost ran into his companion.
“Not too bright, that one,” I remember thinking, but I liked the woman right away. I liked the way she spoke to me.
A kennel Tech came and got me, and off we went to the outdoors. I think the woman just kind of wanted to watch me being walked, but I just wanted to learn more about her, so I abruptly came about and sat right in front her, looking up at her hoping she would talk to me some more. At the time, I never would have imagined that I would be her night watchman, sleeping at her feet every night.
Seems like this time of year, I’ll wake up in the middle of the night, while all my charges are fast asleep, and I’ll recall my path to where I am now. Even though Hazel and Keira (on occasion mind you), can make me wish sometimes I was somewhere else, it’s only a fleeting thought. There are too many things to be grateful for…way too many.
I hope Safecracker, Riley, and Justine have found the same thing.
~Tucker Oso~
