STRAY
Moderator: Excalibur Marketing Dude
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- Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:36 pm
- Location: Decatur County, Indiana
STRAY
His name was Stray. He came wagging into our lives last autumn. Boxer and Chocolate Lab. Full grown, but young. Bright of eye. Quick of foot. It was obvious someone had dumped him. It was just as obvious someone had beaten him.
Three weeks after our first acquaintance, Stray nuzzled my hand and danced away. A week after, he allowed me to pet him. Another week, and he'd come to my call. Two weeks more, and he was bouncing around at my feet like the barely grown puppy he was. In the months that followed, Stray never failed to escort me from the property; he never missed an opportunity to welcome me back. When I came through the gate, he was the first creature I'd see; when I drove away, his reflection was in the rearview mirror.
Stray went missing two Thursdays ago. I suspected thievery; I feared a car tire. Every nook was searched. All crannies were explored. No Stray. One day. Two days. Four. Eight. Sixteen. Yesterday.
After Easter dinner, I decided to search the woods west of the house, for vultures had wheeled in the sky on Saturday. I walked through the back yard and neared the timber, and--STRAY! It was Stray--Stray? Man has not seen more vivid a transformation than that which had overcome my friend. His eyes were dull and caked with pus. He staggered and reeled. His lips were shriveled. Each vertebrae and rib stood out in stark relief. His breath was wheezy and strained. His tail drooped--but slowly waved to and fro in greeting. As I petted him, he braced forward and jetted a bloody stream of thick urine upon the ground.
He would accept no food. A little water. I made him comfortable in an old chicken pen and rejoined my family. Thinking. Troubled.
The morning dawned bright but cold and windy. The shriek of the rusty gate hinge brought Stray struggling to his feet. I watched the feeble wag with a heavy heart. His back was hunched with pain. His breathing was shallow. He coughed. Blood on the ground.
We walked slowly. The morning woods was lively, but all was silent for a moment at the shot. I think my heart stopped for a moment too.
I buried Stray in a pretty little clearing. I believe he would have liked it. When I had arranged the blanket of loam over him, I restored the leaf litter as best I could. A large section of rotting log was set atop the spot.
The wind will breathe upon Stray's grave today, and the dew will kiss it in the moonlight tonight. Tomorrow there will be no sign that there in that glade was laid a dog once friendless--who found a friend--for a while.
No one who passes by will know.
But I will.
Three weeks after our first acquaintance, Stray nuzzled my hand and danced away. A week after, he allowed me to pet him. Another week, and he'd come to my call. Two weeks more, and he was bouncing around at my feet like the barely grown puppy he was. In the months that followed, Stray never failed to escort me from the property; he never missed an opportunity to welcome me back. When I came through the gate, he was the first creature I'd see; when I drove away, his reflection was in the rearview mirror.
Stray went missing two Thursdays ago. I suspected thievery; I feared a car tire. Every nook was searched. All crannies were explored. No Stray. One day. Two days. Four. Eight. Sixteen. Yesterday.
After Easter dinner, I decided to search the woods west of the house, for vultures had wheeled in the sky on Saturday. I walked through the back yard and neared the timber, and--STRAY! It was Stray--Stray? Man has not seen more vivid a transformation than that which had overcome my friend. His eyes were dull and caked with pus. He staggered and reeled. His lips were shriveled. Each vertebrae and rib stood out in stark relief. His breath was wheezy and strained. His tail drooped--but slowly waved to and fro in greeting. As I petted him, he braced forward and jetted a bloody stream of thick urine upon the ground.
He would accept no food. A little water. I made him comfortable in an old chicken pen and rejoined my family. Thinking. Troubled.
The morning dawned bright but cold and windy. The shriek of the rusty gate hinge brought Stray struggling to his feet. I watched the feeble wag with a heavy heart. His back was hunched with pain. His breathing was shallow. He coughed. Blood on the ground.
We walked slowly. The morning woods was lively, but all was silent for a moment at the shot. I think my heart stopped for a moment too.
I buried Stray in a pretty little clearing. I believe he would have liked it. When I had arranged the blanket of loam over him, I restored the leaf litter as best I could. A large section of rotting log was set atop the spot.
The wind will breathe upon Stray's grave today, and the dew will kiss it in the moonlight tonight. Tomorrow there will be no sign that there in that glade was laid a dog once friendless--who found a friend--for a while.
No one who passes by will know.
But I will.
Grizz
I am reading this post with my dog Buddy sitting at my feet. We rescued him from the pound last Monday. He too was a stray that found his way into our home. As you know, there is an amazing calm that seems to come over the dog as it enters a loving home.
It was great that he got to have a loving home to live in, even though it was far too short.
It was great that he got to have a loving home to live in, even though it was far too short.
Exocet 175
Boo String (Red&Black)
GT II's
2" Blazers
Slick Tricks
Dan Miller Mount
Boo String (Red&Black)
GT II's
2" Blazers
Slick Tricks
Dan Miller Mount
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- Location: North Carolina
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- Posts: 5701
- Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:36 pm
- Location: Decatur County, Indiana
I'm sorry my friend,you did the right thing.
I went throught the same thing as a boy and have never gotten over it.
I can still feel it.
He will always be with you.
I went throught the same thing as a boy and have never gotten over it.
I can still feel it.
He will always be with you.
Scott
http://www.myspace.com/saxman1
Take a kid hunting
They don't remember their best day of watching TV
Excalibur Equinox
TruGlo Red/Green Dot
NGSS Absorber by NewGuy
Custom strings by BOO
Groundpounder Top Mount
ACF Member - 2011
http://www.myspace.com/saxman1
Take a kid hunting
They don't remember their best day of watching TV
Excalibur Equinox
TruGlo Red/Green Dot
NGSS Absorber by NewGuy
Custom strings by BOO
Groundpounder Top Mount
ACF Member - 2011