Why I Kept a Dumped Puppy

We all have those days that change the course of our lives, and for me, one of those days was January 2nd, 2014. The events leading to that morning really started the night before. It was a cold winter in Arkansas with a storm of freezing rain outside when the sound of a dog crying was heard outside the front door. We live in a good size town on a residential street not far from an intersection of two main roads. My husband went out to look and said he thought the neighbor's small black dog was in our open storage area. It was common for the dog to escape their fenced-in yard, so we decided to leave him because we figured they would be looking for him. So we went to bed without a further thought about it.

The weather the next day was the same; rain that was falling as small pieces of ice. Oddly, we heard a dog again that morning and wondered why the neighbors did not notice he was out there. So my husband went to investigate. When he came in, he told me it was not the neighbor's dog. Instead, it was a small puppy. We could not leave it out there, so I went out to get it. At first, it growled, but it was not deterring me from my mission; I was going to wrap it up, get it warm canned food, and a bowl of water. And that's what I did after I scooped it up.

Through the Years...

"It" turned out to be "she," a little lab mix baby. I tried to figure out if she was lost by going to local swap shops on Facebook and asking people in the neighborhood, but it quickly became painfully clear that someone cruelly dumped a puppy who was no more than a few months old. We already had quite a few rescue animals in the house, but I could not further traumatize her by turning around and dumping her at a shelter or with people I did not know. It was an easy decision to keep her, even though we had other rescued animals. It has been four years now, and she is the most grateful, loving, and loyal dog ever.

It was not easy, because labs are known for chewing things up; however, it only lasted about a year and a half. Sure, some things were ruined, but those are replaceable. The joy and laughter she has brought to our lives cannot be replaced, and for that reason, I am beyond happy to have kept her. She changed my life because she showed me love simply for having let her stay. I named her Athena because her eyes are full of wisdom and a lot of curious wonders. She is truly my sweet Athena, my beautiful mess. Through the years, I have watched her transform from a sweet, playful puppy, to a mature, loyal dog—a journey I have enjoyed.

What Athena Loves...

What does my Miss Ma'am love? Well, her people, for starters—so much so that she still wanted to ride in the vehicle even when she was often carsick (She did get used to it!! Do not shake keys around her!!). Next, she really loves her "babies," the cats, and even cleans them regularly. The black cat, not so much, but the other two are her babies. Although, he does enjoy laying with her, just not being cleaned or played with. She also really loves camping and hiking in the woods and in the mountains. She's smart, funny, and a drama queen who can be incredibly grouchy when she's sleepy.

She lives with other rescues, and each one has impacted my life. Rescued animals are extremely grateful and show it with unconditional love. Athena had nightmares and is afraid of the broom, mop, and even water hose. She has even had a few episodes which seem like seizures, and we wonder if she was abused on top of being dumped like trash. I do not take in rescues in order to brag about "how great I am," and I write this with the purpose of encouraging others to rescue or adopt a pet. I take them in because it is a cruel world when people just dump animals, and I know in my home they will be treated with respect and be extremely loved. Every pet deserves to feel loved and respected, but not all humans give their pets that kind of life. If you will, then you should. Save a life and adopt from a shelter instead of buying from stores or breeders. Thanks from me and Athena!!