I wanted to share a paper I wrote for a class I took a couple of years ago. We were asked to write a narritive essay on an experience that has left a lasting impression on our life. It did not take more than a nano-second for me to know my topic.
Forever Home
When you think of adopting a new dog, most people will envision finding the perfect pet: long walks, wagging tails, happy kisses and never-ending play time. For many families this is a reality. But what about the abandoned, abused, unwanted and neglected animals, who would want to take on the responsibility of rehabilitating these damaged animals? This seemed like a challenge my family was up for, however, we had no clue what was in store for us. Heartache, patience and determination are just a touch of what I felt in the beginning. Love, loyalty, trust and respect are what I received in the end, making every heart-wrenching second worth it. The emotions I would feel over the next two years will stay with me forever. I now appreciate the simple things in my life. I have learned the true meaning of the word patience and have a complete new understanding of the word love.
From the time I was young I had always loved animals, although I had never considered adopting. I first heard about Safe Harbor, an animal rescue and hospital located in Jupiter, FL, on a radio show which was raising funds and supplies for the shelter which had recently experienced a devastating fire. Safe Harbor had numerous cats and dogs needing foster or permanent homes. I had wanted to get a dog for some time now and thought this would be a great opportunity to help out. This is where I found our first dog Maggie, a beautiful light brown girl with short, stumpy legs, a big square head, weighing about 35 lbs and was exceptionally cute. Maggie and about 10 other dogs were at the shelter because they had been rescued from a dog fighting ring. Maggie was a challenge for us to say the least; she lacked human contact so she did not know how to play or show affection. From our first days together I would pick her up and hold her on my lap. The look on her face was pure panic: eyes bulged, forehead crinkled, legs stiff and ears at high alert. Soon I felt like I could not get away from her; moments after I would sit down she would quietly appear and place her head on my lap as if she was asking me to pick her up. Over time she blossomed and became the most loving snuggle bug I could have asked for.
From time to time I would visit Safe Harbor’s website to see the progress of their rebuilding. As I sat at my desk browsing through the images something immediately caught my eye: a handsome young man with a white face, pink and black nose and two big black eyes that sparkled like marbles. I felt my heart sink and a rush of excitement, the same rush of excitement I felt when I had seen Maggie for the first time. Anxiously I clicked on the picture to open up his profile which read, “I am a sweet boy who is terrified of everything and everyone.” My heart sank further into my stomach and I would soon find out that terrified was putting it lightly.
On the day we meet, I must say, it wasn’t love at first sight. As we patiently waited for the shelter worker to bring him out. I had a flood of emotions ranging from excitement to nervousness and the big question I kept asking myself, “What am I doing?” Moments later before me stood a weak, frightened and insecure dog. My first thought of him, awkward. He moved very slow and hunched down, avoiding all eye contact. He had no tail, noticeably uneven cropped ears and multiple scars on his legs and body. To myself I thought, if this poor guy could talk he would have many stories to tell.
Two days later he would be delivered to our house and introduced to Maggie. The introduction went well and the Safe Harbor van drove away empty. We decided we would call him Duke. The following year would be filled with many ups and downs. I had no idea the challenge I was getting myself into, and at this point I didn’t care. What I did care about was the tiny signs of improvement, and the overwhelming joy I felt knowing I was helping this sad and frightened soul. This is something that I could not have done alone. These two have helped each other with their rehabilitation. Maggie has shown Duke through her interactions with us that it is ok to be touched, there is no need to wince or run away. Duke has helped Maggie with her social skills and has taught her what it is like to play with another animal. This has not been an overnight transformation, and we are still nowhere near completion.
These two rescues have made me understand that the simple things in life can and usually will bring so much joy. Social status, job title or fancy things cannot give me the feelings of happiness, fulfillment or achievement that I have received from these dogs. These are dogs that would have been overlooked and not wanted due to their past, some may consider them dangerous or a liability. I have learned to never judge a book by its cover and I am reminded this daily when I am greeted with happy tails, or happy butt shakes by Duke, sniffs, licks or even head tilts. These have been lessons that will follow me throughout life.
The Simple Life 2012 