Doggy In the Window

I wrote about not judging people until you know their story a little while ago. It is easy to ‘jump the gun’ and make hasty judgments about people.

Everyone has a story.

I was reminded of this when I came across this wonderful tale of a boy who badly wanted a puppy. It teaches us a very valuable lesson. It went something like this:

A small boy is eyeing puppies in the window of a pet shop. He desperately wants a puppy to be his companion. He goes into the shop, where a nice lady with a warm smile greets him:

“Hello, young man, what can I do for you today?”

"I would really like to buy a puppy, but I am not sure that I have enough money. Can you tell me how much one of those puppies in the window is?" he replied.

“Well,” the lady said, "the ones in the window are quite expensive. They are $600 each.” (they were cheap puppies by today’s standards, but bear with me!)

“Oh dear,” said the shopkeeper. “Look, I do have some other puppies that have just come in today, but I only took them in because they were from a stray dog. A friend of mine rescued the mother and her pups from a sack at the side of the road. I can sell you one of those for less.”

The little boy’s eyes lit up. “Could I please see them?”

The shop owner called out, “Lady, lady!” A small mother came around the corner. Four little bundles scampered after her. One of the puppies trailed behind the others, limping badly.

The boy pointed to the puppy and asked:

"What's wrong with him?"

The shop owner explained that he seemed to have a hip problem and that he would likely walk in that manner for the rest of his life.

“How much are they?” he asked.

“I can sell you one of those for $200,” she replied.

The little boy’s heart sank as he realized that he didn’t have nearly enough money. He emptied his pockets and said to the lady,

“I have been saving for over a year for a puppy. I have just over $100."

"Would you give me a discount on the one that has a problem with his hip?” he asked in hope. “I would like to buy him.”

The boy lit up and said with great joy in his eyes: “This is the puppy I want to buy!“

"No, you can't buy this. But if you want to have it, I'll give it to you because it's worth nothing," replied the shop owner.

The boy was silent ... he looked at the shop owner and said:

"I don't want you to give it to me because that puppy is worth as much as the others. I will pay for everything.

I will give you $100 now, and I will bring you another $10 every month until I have paid for him in full. If I did that, would you let me buy him?"

Surprised, the shop owner said:

"But this puppy will never be able to run, jump, and play with you.”

The boy slowly raised his trousers, revealing his left leg and showing off his prosthesis.

"You see,” he said, “I don't run very well either, and the puppy will need someone who understands him. We will make a good pair because I can make him feel comfortable. His heart is just as big as the others, and he can love just as well as the others."

The Sentiment Behind the Story

I love this because of the hidden messages.

The shopkeeper presumed that the boy was normal. He looked normal because he had disguised his prostheses under his trousers. In that respect, they were a perfect pair for each other.

Too often, we wrongly assume that because someone is different from us (abnormal), they must be less of a being. The shopkeeper assumed that because the puppy did not have full use its legs, it was “worth nothing.”

Many people with a disability have heightened feelings. We should not assume they do not or cannot feel normally.

Puppies love with their hearts, not with their feet!

Till next time,

Calvin