Natures Corner

I watch my young mistress from where I lay now, "Liebchen, Liebchen." she was sobbing five feet in front of me (Liebchen is German for Little Darling). I want so bad to console her but I my legs won't lift and carry my body to her side. I would give everything that I have left in my wilted body to place my muzzle on her lap one more time. To feel her small hands on my face would be enough to give a thousand Angels flight. I hurt inside for her and I hate that I can't make her troubles go away. Father comes out again though and my young mistress is whisked into the house and out of my sight.

As I lay alone in the midst of moldy sheet rock, rancid foods and other garbage from the inside of my home I have to ponder what brought me to this trash pile. I've had eight long weeks to consider this, strange that it just now comes to mind. I thought I was a good girl for my family. I guarded my home with pride and never allowed strangers in the yard. I followed the rules my family set for me without fail. I watched the young mistress grow for many years and was always there to clean up spilt milk, dropped cookies, and to caress her hands when they had a free moment.

I suppose in the end there's no sense wondering why you've landed where you are. In my solitude these last weeks, I held out hope that my loved ones were coming back soon. Each long day turned into another and then another. Soon weeks had passed and as my body began to give out due to hunger and thirst I never once gave up on my family. At this point though, I'd have to say they've given up on me.

Now, so close to my spirit running across the green pastures to the Rainbow Bridge, all I ask for is release. Please let my body be rejuvenated, let me run free of pain and suffering. As I feel the end nearing I sense that someone is leaning over me, peering into my sunken dry eyes. I feel a warm hand lay upon my head; kind hands through which I feel hope pouring into my soul. Soon, I feel my body lifted from the trash pile and I'm gently wrapped in a warm blanket and placed in a car. There are human whispers around me; whispers of sorrow and fear for my life. I can't listen to them now, all I want is to focus on the comfort of this one soft blanket and doing so ushers me into my first peaceful sleep in many weeks.

I wake at a vet's office and I know this place well for I've made trips here in the past. Usually I'm not happy about coming here but this time I know with all my heart this is my only chance at survival. I'm tended to quite frequently by smiling faces with teary eyes. I hear the people say to each things like "Why would that guy throw away his dog" and "He knew she was still alive when he put her in the trash". There are other things said that a respectable lady such as myself would never repeat. So I lay here quietly in a soft place, surrounded by pillows and blankets and try to think of brighter days just a few months back.

Today I'm a just a shell of the lovely lady I once was. I have shed most of my beautiful coat and have many sores on my body. I'm not able to walk or to take care of necessities such and eating, drinking and relieving myself on my own. I have IV fluids and medications constantly flowing to make me stronger and healthy again. I feel with each kind touch the possibilities for a new future and I have something to live for now. I'm told that I have a foster home making preparations for my arrival and I look forward to going to a home again. I hope they have a new Mistress for me to tend too - children bring me so much joy.

I've learned over the past few days that I am a Hurricane Katrina victim first, and as if to add insult to injury - the victim of cruel human intentions. My humans will be prosecuted for throwing me away like the old food and broken items from my home. While my past may be sad there are a few things that I can now say for certain, there was only one human that didn't care enough about me to do what was right. There are/were many others who have spent all their time making certain I'm on the road to recovery.

As many of you already know, and my previous family is learning now, I am not disposable. You cannot throw me out like yesterdays garbage. When I'm healthy and begin my foster stay, I'll be ready to start looking for a permanent home. My recovery will be long and hard, remember though, if eight weeks of loneliness and hunger can't break my spirit neither will the road back to health. If you feel in your heart that you can give this ol' New Orleans Lady a loving home I'll be here waiting for you. I think my best years still lay ahead of me!