Dr. Barton Goldsmith: Who rescued whom?

The next couple of days were spent on the computer looking for a rescue pup on AdoptAPet.com, and I actually saw a picture that touched me. This little one looked a lot like Mercy and was only two years old, and I thought she might be the one.

When I got to the shelter, the dog I came to see was no longer there, and I was sad. However, there were several other little dogs that needed some love, so I thought I’d get to know a couple of them, as long as I was there. I never got the chance, however, because the second I sat down, a little blonde dog jumped into my lap, curled up and went to sleep, so I just let her be. After about an hour, I decided to foster her for the night. I needed to make sure that she would get along with the cat and didn’t have any (or many) bad habits. That night, she slept on the bed with Phoenix and curled up in the crook of my neck with her head on my pillow, and that was it. People do say that our animals pick us, and “Foxy” certainly did.

I didn’t think I’d find another dog so quickly, but I have to say that it was the best emotional healer I could have asked for. The pain of missing my Mercy is still there, but it has been made so much lighter by this new little life in my world.

I returned the empty crate to the shelter the next day and filled out the paperwork, making sure she would be found if anything were to happen. She was already microchipped, and I got her pet insurance that same afternoon. Making the new baby safe was my first priority.

The next step was learning about her habits and discovering that she needed to go for a walk twice a day, but then so do I. For the past year Mercy really couldn’t take walks anymore, and I spent much of my time making her comfortable. Going for walks with my new companion animal was the perfect way to get me back into the world, and she is helping to make me a healthier as well as a happier person.

I have spoken to many people who have lost and replaced (or chosen not to replace) their pets. For me, it was the right thing to do. Waiting would have only made the sadness worse. I remember falling into a depression after my eighteen-year-old cat passed three years ago. Getting Foxy, training and walking her, as well as having many cuddle moments and playing, has helped me greatly.

I also got to save another life, and this new fur-child is so deserving. Her story isn’t long, but it has been sad. She was surrendered by her owners on New Year’s Eve, then adopted by someone who got cancer and had to return her to the shelter. So Foxy wasn’t sure where she belonged until now. Currently, she is sitting on my desk helping me write this. Who could have asked for more?