A year ago on this date, we were walking our dogs in the afternoon & a tiny animal - pictured above - wandered toward us. He was not frightened nor threatening - he weighed less than our dog Yoko - he was sweet & friendly & he let me pick him up. I gave him a treat & I looked around for his owner - but there was no one around to claim him. So I walked him home & eventually we gave him a bath & fed him & I went through all the channels that I could to find his owner. I posted on Next Door & I also posted on Facebook.
Almost immediately I got a message from someone who wanted to adopt him. I was cautious & said I'd wait a bit. I can't recall if I waited for twenty-four hours but that sounds like me, but I did despair that his owner(s) weren't looking for him. But right before our afternoon walk the next day, I received a message from someone who knew who he was & to whom he belonged.
This means that he spent a day with us. He was a sweet, sweet fellow. Not overly concerned with food - very different from our pack - but with a need to be close to someone. I think we made him sleep in the garage overnight so as not to either cause any issues with our dogs nor give him any sense our home might be permanent. He was very chill. He was cool with whatever. Look at that sweet face!
This means that he spent a day with us. He was a sweet, sweet fellow. Not overly concerned with food - very different from our pack - but with a need to be close to someone. I think we made him sleep in the garage overnight so as not to either cause any issues with our dogs nor give him any sense our home might be permanent. He was very chill. He was cool with whatever. Look at that sweet face!
The message was from someone who lived in a halfway house in our neighborhood. Bojangles belonged to a woman there who was beside herself with worry. We said we'd bring him by - & that's how we learned his name. When we returned him to her, I knew he was home - he showed such affection to her that I was convinced this was her owner. I was glad to see him home but sad to see him go.
One of the people who had wanted to adopt him followed up with Bojangles' owner. She was retired military with many issues. She was a recovering addict & believed that someone in her house had deliberately set Bojangles free. (I should note we found him several blocks from the house - he certainly had gone a-wanderin'.) This person attempted to help Bojangles' owner but was rebuffed until, I assume, she just gave up.
At some point, my wife & I went back to the halfway house & clipped the nails of some of the pets there. (We had bathed & clipped Bojangles' nails when he was with us.) But we didn't stay in contact with any of the residents & it was not on our normal dog walk path. I have not seen Bojangles since the day I handed him back to his owner.
A couple of days ago, we happened to walk past the halfway house & it appeared to be undergoing renovation. I couldn't see if it was occupied but there was a giant dumpster in front & people wandering about in work clothes. Perhaps it's no longer a halfway house. Perhaps Bojangles & his owner no longer live there.
Here's what I know: when his owner took him from me, she expressed the joy I feel with my animals. I had no doubt he was hers, & she his. I can't begin to imagine what she has experienced & continues to go through. I can only hope she has Bojangles to help her, wherever she may be.
One of the people who had wanted to adopt him followed up with Bojangles' owner. She was retired military with many issues. She was a recovering addict & believed that someone in her house had deliberately set Bojangles free. (I should note we found him several blocks from the house - he certainly had gone a-wanderin'.) This person attempted to help Bojangles' owner but was rebuffed until, I assume, she just gave up.
At some point, my wife & I went back to the halfway house & clipped the nails of some of the pets there. (We had bathed & clipped Bojangles' nails when he was with us.) But we didn't stay in contact with any of the residents & it was not on our normal dog walk path. I have not seen Bojangles since the day I handed him back to his owner.
A couple of days ago, we happened to walk past the halfway house & it appeared to be undergoing renovation. I couldn't see if it was occupied but there was a giant dumpster in front & people wandering about in work clothes. Perhaps it's no longer a halfway house. Perhaps Bojangles & his owner no longer live there.
Here's what I know: when his owner took him from me, she expressed the joy I feel with my animals. I had no doubt he was hers, & she his. I can't begin to imagine what she has experienced & continues to go through. I can only hope she has Bojangles to help her, wherever she may be.
No comments:
Post a Comment