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The man and
woman kept the puppies in the backyard with their mother.
The father
had been a free roaming mix and belonged to a neighbor.
Six weeks after the mother gave birth to the seven pups, the couple put
out signs in the front, along the road: "Free Puppies".
They had given no more attention to the dog when she was pregnant than
they had before. There was nothing special about the sandy-colored mix
breed in their eyes. She was valuable only to deter folks from
trespassing on the couple's property. When the pups came along they were
more a nuisance than anything, and the couple wanted to get the pups off
their property as soon as possible.
Days and evenings folks dropped in to pick out one of the free pups. But
the black and tan boy was overlooked each time. He was the largest pup
and his mom had experienced difficulties delivering him. He had a long
body, short legs, and a head that looked too big and disproportionate to
his wiry-haired longish body. And he looked nothing like his soft-furred
siblings.
After his mother weaned him he ate what was left out for his mom, but he
wasn't growing like he should. After a while he wasn't feeling so good.
His mom tried to play with him but he felt too poorly to join her. Soon
he was vomiting and his stools had turned yellow and bloody. It got so
bad; most of the time he couldn't perceive where he was or what was
going on.
One morning the woman came out, wrapped an old towel around him and laid
him roughly in a cardboard box. The woman dropped him off at a place
where many animals were kept in pens and cages.
A young man at the new place took the pup into a room of steel and tile.
A woman in a white outfit quickly looked the puppy over, and then shook
her head.
"His Parvo has progressed beyond any treatment options." She caressed
his head, while looking into his large eyes. The pain from his sickness
was etched in the fur boy's expression.
The lady looked at her assistant. "Does he have a name?"
The young man shook his head, and then turned his gaze away from the
poor pup. This was a part of his job he found soul bruising. He took in
a deep breath and steeled his heart.
She continued to stroke his head and the gravely ill pup's eyes lost
some of that edge the pain had instilled - so wonderful did it feel to
be caressed so. Her voice was soft and soothing - the pup's breathing
became less erratic and the look of illness stored in his eyes faded a
bit with the pleasure of her ministrations.
The vet asked her assistant to fetch what she needed. The young man
winced. He didn't think he'd ever get used to this -- another innocent
soul to be put to death.
He turned, quickly clenched his eyelids shut to stop the burning of pent
up tears. He gathered the shaver, syringe, and the vial of liquid.
As the vet shaved a spot on the pup's forearm and prepared the solution,
the attendant held the boy pup close, talking softly, petting him
gently. In moments it was done. The attendant felt the last breath the
pup in his arms gave up - just as the frail body went limp.
*~*
He awoke and found himself in tall green grass. He sat up and looked
around. He saw dogs and puppies, cats and kittens, playing and relaxing.
All of them appeared healthy and happy. Next to a large bridge of many
colors he noticed others sat watchfully, eagerly, and he wondered what
they were waiting for. Was there something coming across the bridge?
He stood, then padded over to the bridge to see what the others were
looking for . . . Humans!!! Long lines of them behind a misty rainbow
veil. As soon as the humans came into view, the pups and older dogs ran
forward to meet them and there was much happiness.
The dogs whimpered of their joy and the humans thanked God for taking
such good care of their beloved fur kin. When all the fur kin had joined
up with their humans, the shimmering mist enveloped them and bore them
away.
In a short time cats and kittens had gathered at the bridge. As the
rainbow mist swirled to life, the felines became watchful.
The black and tan pup walked slowly away. He knew no human would come
over the bridge for him.
"You are right, small one. You have no one to wait for . . . yet."
The pup was startled by the voice and he turned a full circle to see who
was talking to him. He saw no one, but the air all around him pulsed a
silver-gold.
"You will be put to life. To be loved and spoiled. That is what happens
to dogs who didn't have that their first time on Earth. Those of you who
had no human spirit-mate, no heart partner. But you will now! A woman
and her son. May you be a blessing, each to the other."
The pup wagged his tail.
"You will also have a name - Benjamin. Whisper it to them when you are
first together and that is what they'll call you."
The pup barked and his eyes lit up with hopeful anticipation. Before he
could bark again, he was gone.
"I'll see you later, Benjamin. And you will come back happy, for I know
you deserve it!"
~*~
On Earth a litter of puppies was born, and one of the boys was named
Benjamin.
Copyright 2006 Kathy Pippig Harris
kappi00@gmail.com |
