Books have been written and movies have been made about all the wonderful things a dog can bring to our lives. Any pet owner knows there is a value in the animal that goes beyond a pet. They are…family.
Dogs bring an unconditional love to our homes, and for people who struggle with loneliness, that unconditional love cannot be overlooked. I got my Sadie at a time in my life when I didn’t really need a pet, but struggled with many other issues when my focus was not on work. She was a rescue from the pound. 6-8 weeks old and already on death row. Her life could’ve gone a myriad of ways from being euthanized, to adopted by a family with children, to someone that would keep her chained outside, but she got stuck with me.
I only opted to get a dog after a good friend bought a book called, “Nubs, a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle.” This short book detailed a dog that followed a Marine Corps unit through Iraq after receiving a little love and affection. Eventually she was adopted and sent stateside to live the rest of her life as a valued companion. That did it for me, it was time for a dog. I didn’t want just any dog though, I wanted a working dog of some kind.
I searched petfinder and the local pounds because I wanted a dog that was unwanted by everyone else. No $300 dog, but a dog like me. Kind of a mutt but loveable, loyal, and trainable to do anything… a dog who just needed a chance. I found a beautiful boxer and emailed the pound the Monday before Thanksgiving 2009. I told them, “I want this dog, in cage #*, and I’ll be there Wednesday morning at 1030 sharp.” I never heard back. I emailed Tuesday with the same message. Wednesday morning I walked in with a mission. I went straight to the cage but no dog! The cage was full of toys and food, so we thought he was playing in the yard, but no dice. One worker said, “He went this morning.” “Fantastic!” as I assumed he was adopted out of doggie jail.
I explained what I was looking for, and they dropped Sadie into my lap. We instantly bonded. She curled up and slept on my belly for 10 minutes, licked my face as if to say, “If you choose me, I’ll never leave your side.” It was at that moment that another worker informed me that the boxer I was after was put down at 1000am. They couldn’t even wait to see if I showed up. I was belligerent and beside myself that they could do such a thing. Then I looked back at Sadie. Already named, and already loved. She was going to pull me out of a dark place, and I was going to do the same for her.
For 10 years now, she has been a loyal “child.” Spoiled beyond reason, and seldom left behind. She got a job as a Hospice visitor for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s, and she left an impression at every facility we visited. The patients never remembered my name, but would always shout, “Sadie’s here!” when we walked in the door. So many nights, I wish she would curl up on a pillow by my head so she could be cuddled and loved, but she knows her place. This is when my religious background kicked in and I noticed something fascinating. A dog is a loyal, loving servant with unconditional love and compassion. A dog knows its place is at the feet of its master. A dog cannot fully appreciate man’s desire for a cuddle at night as much as they know the most reverence it can show is to be at the feet. When needed, they’ll come up for a lick and a hug, but out of respect, back down they go.
So many lessons can be learned from an animal. People without pets can never fully understand the intimate bond that is shared. They are family, they are life savers, and they have a purpose. Sadie is a dog with a purpose, and I appreciate her giving me a chance and rescuing me the same day I rescued her.
Blessings,
Troy
Troy P Zehnder 