Love Is Given, Love is Returned, by Heather Gregson
Tuesday, March 31 2009 @ 12:00 AM MST
Views: 299
Views: 299
A new narrative nonfiction piece by one of our regular contributors. This is both a great tribute to the love animals can show both their human companions and their four-legged compatriots, but also a warning for dog owners -- pay attention to those harnesses. Fiction Editor
Love is Given, Love is Returned, by Heather Gregson
I found my first dog, Belle, in a mall parking lot. It was a freezing Veteran's Day weekend and she was chasing seagulls. I opened the car door, whistled and she ran straight to me and jumped into my arms. Fun as it was playing with seagulls, Belle was ready to go to a new home. She'd been abandoned at the mall because she was sick. Several vet visits later, Belle was healthy and I had a great new companion. Belle was four months old when I found her and it hardly seems possible that she has been a part of my family for over twelve years.
Belle is a cocker spaniel mix and her name suits her. She is a beauty. She has soft, expressive eyes and a sweet, pretty face. She's smart, sensitive, playful and always ready to be silly in the name of fun. It's because Belle is such a great dog that I decided to open my home to another one.
I adopted Littleman from a local shelter. He was an elderly Miniature Pinscher. Littleman had been abused by his previous owners. Due to the abuse and his advanced age, Littleman lacked Belle's vibrancy and spirit. But he was a happy, sweet old dog who truly relished living in a safe, loving home
Belle was less than enthused with the new arrival. While she'd welcomed every cat that entered my home, welcoming another dog was a different story. Belle treated Littleman with open disdain. She quickly realized Littleman was almost completely blind and exploited his disability. When she would finish her food, she would snatch Littleman's plate away and run. I had to stand guard while he ate to ensure Littleman was allowed to eat in peace. Another of Belle's antics was to block the stairs so Littleman couldn't go up them. Thankfully, he was small and I could carry him. Also, Belle would repeatedly smack Littleman in the head with her toy. I was sure I could see her laughing after doing this. She would push him out of the way when it was time for treats and if I wasn't vigilant, she would steal his.
Littleman's health was fragile, and one day I heard a strange noise from my dining room. When I looked to see what was going on, there was Littleman having a seizure. I yelled and ran to him. When I reached him, Belle was at my side. She pressed her nose to Littleman as I picked him up, and his seizure stopped. I carried Littleman to the living room and sat with him in my lap. Belle stayed right by my side, her nose resting on Littleman's. She stayed by him for the rest of the day.
Belle softened toward Littleman after that and never did try to steal his plate, eat his treats or block his path on the stairs again. She knew Littleman wasn't well and to me it appeared that Belle knew there was no fun in teasing a sick, old dog
One day Littleman's blindness caused him to stumble and take a hard fall outside. When he fell, he hit his face and cut his mouth. I carried him inside and held a warm, wet cloth to the cut. Belle had been inside at the time of Littleman's fall but she knew something was wrong. Again she came to my side, and stayed with him. Perhaps she could smell the blood from his cut, or perhaps she just knew it was his mouth that was sore because instead of pressing her nose to his she pressed her nose to the side of his neck.
When Littleman's health failed completely, I placed him in a carrying case for the final trip to the vet's office. Belle came over and sat in front of the box, her paws pressed to the door.
After Littleman's passing, I waited a while and then adopted my pug, Reggie. Those who have read "Annoyances" are already acquainted with Reggie and his Brahman Bull attitude and stature. Belle had her paws full trying to harass and tease Reggie as he was no frail Littleman
Belle decided to act as if Reggie had never moved in. If she couldn't harangue him, she'd ignore him. The two have lived together for several years now and neither pays the other much mind. It seemed Reggie was as indifferent to Belle as she was to him.
This was a long, miserably cold New England winter. I thought winter would never end. Belle and Reggie's trips outside were brief and there were few long walks or play sessions. Finally it seemed warm weather was coming and we had a 60 degree day. I took both Reggie and Belle outside. While Reggie was content to sit in the warm sun, Belle ran, romped and rolled in the grass. Actually, Belle didn't just roll. She kicked, wiggled and flailed back and forth, as only a dog denied months of this heaven could.
Back inside, I removed their leashes but left their harnesses on as usual. Belle coughed quite a bit that afternoon but I wasn't concerned. It wasn't unusual for her to get the coughs after rolling in the grass.
The next morning Belle's cough was worse. She began having a terrible coughing attack and collapsed. I ran to her and Reggie was right next to me. Belle's eyes rolled back in her head and she stopped breathing. My beloved, beautiful girl was dying in my arms. Reggie began barking hysterically, bumping Belle with his head and licking her. I rubbed Belle's side and that was when I noticed how tight her harness had become. The type of harness Belle wears has straps that slide to tighten. During her vigorous rubbing and rolling in the grass, the straps on Belle's harness had tightened and I never noticed.
I immediately unclipped the harness and began rubbing her sides. Belle started breathing and stood up. Reggie continued barking and leaning his head on her. Belle was okay. Reggie stopped barking but followed Belle everywhere she went. Belle coughed several more times that day and each time Reggie would run to her side, barking hysterically and wouldn't leave her side until she stopped coughing
Belle had teased Littleman until she saw one of his seizures. During that seizure, she showed him the same gentle love that she has always shown me. She continued to show him that same love until his death. Belle had the same returned to her by Reggie when her life was threatened.
It's as true for animals as it is for humans -- when love is given, love is returned.
Love is Given, Love is Returned, by Heather Gregson
I found my first dog, Belle, in a mall parking lot. It was a freezing Veteran's Day weekend and she was chasing seagulls. I opened the car door, whistled and she ran straight to me and jumped into my arms. Fun as it was playing with seagulls, Belle was ready to go to a new home. She'd been abandoned at the mall because she was sick. Several vet visits later, Belle was healthy and I had a great new companion. Belle was four months old when I found her and it hardly seems possible that she has been a part of my family for over twelve years.
Belle is a cocker spaniel mix and her name suits her. She is a beauty. She has soft, expressive eyes and a sweet, pretty face. She's smart, sensitive, playful and always ready to be silly in the name of fun. It's because Belle is such a great dog that I decided to open my home to another one.
I adopted Littleman from a local shelter. He was an elderly Miniature Pinscher. Littleman had been abused by his previous owners. Due to the abuse and his advanced age, Littleman lacked Belle's vibrancy and spirit. But he was a happy, sweet old dog who truly relished living in a safe, loving home
Belle was less than enthused with the new arrival. While she'd welcomed every cat that entered my home, welcoming another dog was a different story. Belle treated Littleman with open disdain. She quickly realized Littleman was almost completely blind and exploited his disability. When she would finish her food, she would snatch Littleman's plate away and run. I had to stand guard while he ate to ensure Littleman was allowed to eat in peace. Another of Belle's antics was to block the stairs so Littleman couldn't go up them. Thankfully, he was small and I could carry him. Also, Belle would repeatedly smack Littleman in the head with her toy. I was sure I could see her laughing after doing this. She would push him out of the way when it was time for treats and if I wasn't vigilant, she would steal his.
Littleman's health was fragile, and one day I heard a strange noise from my dining room. When I looked to see what was going on, there was Littleman having a seizure. I yelled and ran to him. When I reached him, Belle was at my side. She pressed her nose to Littleman as I picked him up, and his seizure stopped. I carried Littleman to the living room and sat with him in my lap. Belle stayed right by my side, her nose resting on Littleman's. She stayed by him for the rest of the day.
Belle softened toward Littleman after that and never did try to steal his plate, eat his treats or block his path on the stairs again. She knew Littleman wasn't well and to me it appeared that Belle knew there was no fun in teasing a sick, old dog
One day Littleman's blindness caused him to stumble and take a hard fall outside. When he fell, he hit his face and cut his mouth. I carried him inside and held a warm, wet cloth to the cut. Belle had been inside at the time of Littleman's fall but she knew something was wrong. Again she came to my side, and stayed with him. Perhaps she could smell the blood from his cut, or perhaps she just knew it was his mouth that was sore because instead of pressing her nose to his she pressed her nose to the side of his neck.
When Littleman's health failed completely, I placed him in a carrying case for the final trip to the vet's office. Belle came over and sat in front of the box, her paws pressed to the door.
After Littleman's passing, I waited a while and then adopted my pug, Reggie. Those who have read "Annoyances" are already acquainted with Reggie and his Brahman Bull attitude and stature. Belle had her paws full trying to harass and tease Reggie as he was no frail Littleman
Belle decided to act as if Reggie had never moved in. If she couldn't harangue him, she'd ignore him. The two have lived together for several years now and neither pays the other much mind. It seemed Reggie was as indifferent to Belle as she was to him.
This was a long, miserably cold New England winter. I thought winter would never end. Belle and Reggie's trips outside were brief and there were few long walks or play sessions. Finally it seemed warm weather was coming and we had a 60 degree day. I took both Reggie and Belle outside. While Reggie was content to sit in the warm sun, Belle ran, romped and rolled in the grass. Actually, Belle didn't just roll. She kicked, wiggled and flailed back and forth, as only a dog denied months of this heaven could.
Back inside, I removed their leashes but left their harnesses on as usual. Belle coughed quite a bit that afternoon but I wasn't concerned. It wasn't unusual for her to get the coughs after rolling in the grass.
The next morning Belle's cough was worse. She began having a terrible coughing attack and collapsed. I ran to her and Reggie was right next to me. Belle's eyes rolled back in her head and she stopped breathing. My beloved, beautiful girl was dying in my arms. Reggie began barking hysterically, bumping Belle with his head and licking her. I rubbed Belle's side and that was when I noticed how tight her harness had become. The type of harness Belle wears has straps that slide to tighten. During her vigorous rubbing and rolling in the grass, the straps on Belle's harness had tightened and I never noticed.
I immediately unclipped the harness and began rubbing her sides. Belle started breathing and stood up. Reggie continued barking and leaning his head on her. Belle was okay. Reggie stopped barking but followed Belle everywhere she went. Belle coughed several more times that day and each time Reggie would run to her side, barking hysterically and wouldn't leave her side until she stopped coughing
Belle had teased Littleman until she saw one of his seizures. During that seizure, she showed him the same gentle love that she has always shown me. She continued to show him that same love until his death. Belle had the same returned to her by Reggie when her life was threatened.
It's as true for animals as it is for humans -- when love is given, love is returned.