The Animal Control Officer led me down several hallways to a quiet area behind the main kennel banks. The echo of barking and whining faded behind us and all we could hear was the echo of our own footsteps. We came to a door with a small pan with an antiseptic-soaked towel, which we stepped in to remove any trace of contaminants from the soles of our shoes. Inside, the room smelled cold and sterile, all cement walls and floors, with few amenities in the kennels. Curled up in a ball at the back of the first kennel was a lanky brindle puppy, all bones, big eyes and huge floppy ears that stuck out at funny angles like the flying nun in a windstorm.

The ACO opened the door to the kennel and the puppy struggled to get up, head hanging low. Unfortunately his legs fell out from under him and he crawled quietly towards us on his belly. His eyes never left mine and I could feel the tendrils of his soul connecting with mine. I wanted so badly to reach in and pick him up, but he was timid and experience has taught me that he needed to make this journey through his own will or I would risk losing his trust. His painstaking crawl did finally end up in my lap where I could feel every bone in his body as he pressed up against me. His head tilted up and he continued to gaze straight into my heart, my soul, the core of my being. He seemed to want something from me and I swore at that moment , whatever it was, I’d give it to him. Once he was in my lap, he didn’t move and I consciously tried to will energy and health into his broken body. Continue reading »