Lessons Learned

"Be careful who you pick up and take out.  You never know who you're going to fall in love with." 

~Unknown~

I've been a firefighter in Dallas for over eighteen years.  For the first ten I covered one of the toughest neighborhoods in town and saw my share of stray dogs.  There were tired mommas with sagging teats, pups eaten up with fleas and mange, and desperate hounds with protruding ribs.  Their presence was part of the landscape like homeless shelters and empty 40 oz beer cans.  We often fed who we could from the back door of the station, but it was clear these sad souls were destined for a life beyond what could be fixed.  I learned to shut down the "feeling mechanism" for the lost dogs and humans alike, all who had their own sad story.

But then a little over two weeks ago on a routine inspection at a chemical warehouse close to my new station in Northeast Dallas, I came face-to-face with the brown eyes you see above.  Oh sure, I ignored her at first like all the other strays.  I gave her a friendly, "Hello, Sweetheart" and went about the business at hand.  The guys at the warehouse explained to us how someone had dumped her at least a week prior and they were feeding her, but had no plans for her beyond that.  As we were leaving, I gave her a little kissing sound and walked up to where she cowered behind the railing.  She let me pet her and then insisted on playing.  She followed me all the way to the edge of the parking lot, alternating between crouching on all fours and jumping in the air.  Silly dog.

Any of you that have followed the progress of "Wendy" (short for Windex because she was found at a warehouse that stored cleaning products) know that it's been a real emotional ride since the day my daughter and I rescued her.  I had no means to truly care for her, no place to keep her and a schedule that made keeping a pet nearly impossible.  Yet after meeting her, nothing I did could shake the idea from my brain that I had to take her.  So I did.  But this really isn't so much about rescuing Wendy as it is about what she taught me......or perhaps REtaught me.

We all know the stories about the loyalty, love, and capacity for forgiveness when it comes to dogs.  (And yes, cats too!)  Wendy has been no exception to any of that.  In fact, if there is such a thing, she may be TOO loyal.  Wendy barely left my side for nearly two weeks, and although we had our moments where she wasn't truly convinced she liked me, she quickly made me her best pal and stuck to me like glue.  There were many times, (especially when she growled at me) I wasn't so sure I had done the right thing by getting her off the street.  But I always looked for the best in her.  Every time someone raised a question about her possible aggression, I patiently explained her history of neglect and rubbed Wendy's ears to let her know I loved her no matter what.  She repayed the favor by loving me back........and by growling (that's putting it mildly) at those who she thought posed a threat to our relationship.

But I digress once more.  While at work on Friday I made a call to a lady who was upset at a level clearly beyond what was called for.  She was hysterical and unconsolable over a routine traffic stop.  What started as a simple traffic stop for the Trooper, quickly became a logistical nightmare that included two fire apparatus and an ambulance.  We even had to shut down one lane of the Toll Road.  It escalated to the point where this lady was actually transported to a hospital over a traffic stop.  I tried calming her.  I tried being firm with her.  I even threatened to have her car towed.  None of it mattered.  And as I was climbing in to the fire engine, it hit me like a ton of bricks.  I had no idea what that lady's life had been like up to that moment.  Was she neglected?  Had she been abused?  Did she have medical or psych issues?  I asked all those questions of Wendy when she was WAY more upset than called for while trying to keep me from taking her chew toy, yet I stood in judgement of the lady upset over a traffic stop.

And that's the lesson Wendy came to teach.  Currently, wonderful people are trying to rehabilitate Wendy through some of her aggressive tendencies.  Her life may literally depend on how she responds to loving hands.  I think Wendy would like for us to do for people what we've all tried to do for her......give them the benefit of the doubt.  When you're faced with someone that seems to be acting inappropriately in a situation, try to take a minute to consider what they may have been through.  Like Wendy, there are thousands of humans who have been neglected, abandoned, and abused.  And also like Wendy, maybe all they need is a loving hand and the benefit of the doubt. 

It's the same theme every time isn't it?  We're all connected.  Wendy serves as a daily reminder that we just need to walk a mile on someone else's paws now and then.  Wendy just wants someone to love her.  Deep down, that's all people want too.