Who is Saving Who?

My story begins with Rosie. She was a Maltese that my son had brought to me when he found her being horribly abused. She became my baby, hiding beside me and refusing to allow anyone other than me to touch her.

I had her a few years when my father passed away and I had to move to take care of my mother. My mother's neighbor got a large dog that had problems with it's temperament, and did not like Rosie. Even though she was being kept in a fenced in yard when she went out, I did not feel she was safe. As time passed by , the neighbor's dog came across the fence and attacked a second neighbors small dog. The next time it jumped the fence, animal control was called and the battle began. Over the course of the next year, I filed several reports getting no help from authorities.

The day came when I had let Rosie out to use the bathroom and was distracted caring for my mother. Rosie was grabbed and shook like a rag mop by that dog and my baby girl was gone. I still cry when I think about it.

Like many people who are suffering the lose of a beloved pet, I swore I would not put myself through losing another pet. After a few months I started to soften and decided I would go to the pound to see if they had any small dogs like Rosie. I missed her so much! Just a little baby to cuddle and hold! Little did I know what lay in store at the dog pound!

The dog pound was set up with the large dogs up front and the small dogs in the back where the public was not allowed to go. I explained what I was looking for and the attendant went to take pictures of the dogs that were available at the time. That is when it happened!

I could feel her eyes glued on me! We locked eyes and I could hear her speaking to me through the sadness that filled them. She was sick. She was hurting. She was begging for her life! I could not look at her without crying, but I could not take my eyes away! When the woman returned I asked about her and she said she was going to be put down the following day! That broke me!

I had to try to save her! I would name her Hazel! I took her home and was cuddling with her when she sneezed. Blood went everywhere. I was horrified knowing that this is often a symptom of leukemia. I rushed her to an animal hospital where she was examined and I was told that it was a severe sinus infection. After a three day hospital stay ( and $1800.), I brought my new best friend home.

As time passed my mother's health deteriorated and she was diagnosed with dementia. I watched my mom slip away into a person I no longer knew. With every tear I shed my Hazel was right there to comfort me. At times it seemed she knew what I was feeling before I did.

You may ask what the point of this story is and to that I would answer, I really thought I was doing a good thing saving this dog. What I didn't know was that she would be the one saving me in the end!

My mom is still with me after ten years of caring for her and so is my Hazel. I don't know how I would have made it through this without her. When you think about adopting from a shelter I want you to remember that that animal you are saving may be the very thing that saves you in the end!