Adventures of Honey the Abandoned Dog

Looking back to last Monday I wonder where my head was. Its not an unusual thing for me to think with my heart instead of my brain when animals are involved but, really, what was I thinking?

I had met my neighbor in Ft. Greene Park so our little dogs could play together during off leash hours. She's a kind person who is originally from Israel which fascinates me. As she says, I'm from the "real" America which fascinates her. Our dogs fascinate each other so it all works out beautifully for a puppy play-date at the park.

On our way out of the park, a man came to the sidewalk and started shouting "Is this anyone's dog?" My new friend, two other dog walkers, and myself went over to see if we could help locate the owner. As we approached the dog the man said (notice the quotation marks-this is exactly what he said):

"I seen this dawg runnin' in the street and I almos' hitta. So I stopped and put her up in ma caw. An, an, look, where she was sittin' she had this big bowl and this bag of food. Looks like someone musta dumped her. Now, that Science Diet, thas expensive food! Awright, awright, yous seem like nice people. I did my duty. Got her outa the streets." And with that, he jumped in his car and drove off with this little pitbull mix whining after him.

After this man so obviously dumped his dog on us, the four of us good-dog-samaritans didn't know what to do. Someone brought up shelters but they were all closed for the evening. As she was a gentle, sweet, and submissive dog, somebody stated the  obvious, "Well, someone is going to have to take her home. At least for the night." Absolute silence. Creepy silence. Where everyone thinks that everyone is waiting for them to say "I'll do it". Which, actually, is exactly what everyone is waiting for.

I've always been the type that cannot handle the idea of leaving a poor helpless dog on the streets. She was clean, she and Maggie got on gangbusters, and she needed shelter. So, after what felt like an hour but really was only about 10 seconds I volunteered and the stony awkward silence was broken with intense relief.

One of the dog owners ran home and brought me his old leash so we could walk her home. My friend's husband came to help us walk the (now three) dogs back. My friend helped carry the food and bowl up my 67 steps and I walked Maggie and the new dog to my apartment. We gave her a bowl of water, she drank as if she hadn't had a drop of water in days, and then she set about exploring her temporary foster home.

Maggie May did splendidly throughout the week. It can't be easy for a little spoiled dachshund who is used to 100% of her parents' attention, plus that of all of the visitor's to her home, to suddenly be sharing the spotlight.  Honey (the name I gave to the pit because she is that sweet) is a love bug. She wanted to follow me everywhere I went. I get up to get water, Honey's right behind me, I sweep the floor, she's getting entangled in the broom, I go to the bathroom, well, you get the picture. She wanted to be in my lap, at my feet, staring into my eyes, and getting love 24 hours a day. This, of course, made Maggie jealous. But, instead of getting possessive over me, she only got possessive over her food. And anytime I was showing Honey the least bit of love and affection Maggie May would very slowly and very dramatically walk to her kennel and lay with her back to us. Broke my heart every time (which was obviously Maggie's intention) but Honey (who, by her sadly submissive behavior) had obviously been abused, abandoned, and needed some lovin'. I loved her. Maggie May dealt with it.

Getting Honey a permanent home became the number one priority in my week.  First of all, because all of the "no kill" shelters were full. Secondly, because she needed some consistency in her life. Lastly, because cleaning up a 40 lb. dog's "business" on the street is way nastier than cleaning up an 11 lb. dog's "business".

The best part was that I was not in this alone. The three other dog owner's who were with me when she was dumped helped raise the alarm. She was put on blogs, craigslist, Petfinders, and email lists galore.


Responses were pouring in from all over our neighborhood. People were so appreciative for us rescuing her. Some offered to help foster, some offered to help walk her, some offered money, some offered compliments and encouragement. Through these email chains, I met another neighbor who was instrumental in the whole process rehoming process.

Diane is a pregnant actress who lives with her husband one block away from me on the same street. She is very kind and has the same bleeding heart for animals that I do. She picked Honey up to take her to the vet for a checkup.

The vet tech fell in love with her. We all knew Maggie and Honey were a match made in heaven. It was love at first wag.




Good luck, Honey and Maggie. May your life be as full and happy together as petly possibly.



So, how do you meet new friends in a big city?

                                                      

 Rescue a dog.