Champ,
My Story...
When I was young I had a family who said they loved me and treated me with kindness but then something happened. I don't remember the exact words, something like a new baby, moving or no time for me and this family said that a farm would be a wonderful place for me to romp, play and explore. The people from the farm told my family that I would be loved, forever. I wasn't sure about leaving my people but these new humans where kind and gave me treats while in my home so off I went and I hoped that I would play in the sunshine everyday.
When I arrived the humans put me in this large wire cage, it smelt like a brother lived here before me but I could not see him nor hear his bark. I wondered why I was in this cage and why it smelt of pain. The people told me I was their dog now and then they walked away, without me. I cried loudly at first but no one came, I cried softly begging for companionship, a warm bed and good food, but no one heard and finally I cried no more for no one answered my pleas.
Weeks turned into months, months into years and I remained in this wire cage, my world was small and so very lonely. Is this what humans call Hell? At times it was very hot and I wished for a cool bowl of water to help me cope and at times it was so cold I dreamed of a space that was warm so I could rest my tired body, but this was not to be.
Soon my elbows hurt and were bleeding, my feet burned from the urine that was never washed out of my cage and my skin began to harden, flake and crust. My ears hurt so badly, my eyes were becoming cloudy and my spirit was dying. Every day I hoped that someone would touch me and feel the pain I was in, see the agony of my walking with nails that curled or smelt the infection that burned through my body, but no one cared.
I often thought of my first family, the ones who said I would be happy on the farm and I wished every day that they would sense I needed them to find me and take me away from this existence of agony but they did not hear my message and I cried, silently because no one would listen.
One day I left that cage on the farm but I cannot remember how. A man found me and put me in another cage, in a building that had many brothers and sisters barking their stories of pasts filled with loss, of pain, of searching for those who once loved them. Again, I had no bed, no blanket, no toy and no medicine to help me feel better. I wondered if I had been a bad dog and this is why my life was not valued. As I lay on the cement with cries coming from every corner, I knew I was waiting for my death, which I heard the people say would be Friday.
I learned that the Pound is a place where lost souls live, sometimes brothers and sisters die there, sometimes their families find them and sometimes new families or gentle humans look into our eyes and say, you are coming home with us to experience all that you should have.
As I lay in pain, a kind woman who works in rescue saw me and quietly put out a desperate plea of help. Her note said, a dog was in horrific condition at the Pound and needed help. I understand now that many gentle hands came together to release me from my cell so that I could live again.
The vet is a kind man and the ladies that took care of me there told me I was a good dog, that I would feel better soon and that I would be loved because I was forever safe now. I didn't understand but it felt so good to be washed, to have some of my pain relieved, to have my nails trimmed, my ears cleaned and to sleep on a blanket. Oh Yes, I had a blanket and what joy I took in the feeling of softness and warmth.
The blood tests came back and said that I was filled with cancer and that was part of the reason I felt so bad. The tumour on my anus was so large that it was hard for me to defecate and the other tumour in my tummy made me feel awful but really I felt better because I had my very own blanket to treasure and sleep on. This is what love is and I was told that my new family was coming to take me home where I would feel warm arms around me and sunshine on my face. I had heard this before, remembering the day I left with the other people and as my new family member put me in his car I thought, will I really feel the sunshine or is another cage awaiting me.
After a very long journey I arrived at home, my family joined together and welcomed me. They did not notice the putrid smell of decay, they did not see a broken soul but they did embrace a graying face with gentle hands.
I knew then, at that very moment that I was truly home, no more cells, cages, starvation or pain. I have found what I had waited a life time for, my true family. The family who would never let me go and no matter what I was part of a pack. I walked into my backyard and smelt the grass, oh it was so very fresh. I looked into the sky and it was blue with beautiful clouds, then I sighed with delight at the feeling of the warm sun on my back.
My people welcomed me inside the house and showed me my bed, a huge comfy bed to call my own. Quickly I laid my weary body on the soft cloth and my heart soared because I was HOME.
Is this really what peace feels like? What other brothers and sisters have felt? It must be true or am I dreaming? I learn from my new brothers that it is not a dream. They tell me how my life will be, that we get to play with toys, eat regularly, have treats and live inside the house. They say I never have to worry about being locked out again, that I won't have to cry to be heard and that I will be cherished.
Every day I was rubbed with a warm towel to help my skin, my medicine was put inside treats, I slept beside my new Mom and I wagged my tail when I woke, when I walked, when I took a breath. My very own family touched me, kissed me, felt me. I was seen and heard, I was important and I felt contentment.
The days passed quickly and happiness stayed with me every single moment. The only struggle I had was the ability to defecate and my anus tumour grew with each bowel movement. There was no magic medicine that could make this go away and no answer to help remain with my loving family. My Mom knew she had to help me say goodbye to my new life and that she would keep me safe as I began a different journey where I would meet those who had gone before me.
So, the other morning we spent hours together and Mom told me how much she loved me, that she was sorry that our days were not longer but how grateful she was for every single minute I was part of her life. I listened quietly, sleeping on and off until the moment when my eyes closed forever .. and yet I could still hear her voice .... you are a good boy Champ and you are loved.
You are so greatly missed dear Champ by all the gentle hands who helped you find your home.
With love,
Mom and family
Contact Big Heart Rescue for more information.
