Why Lucy's voice you ask? What's so special about Lucy? Why are my memories of Lucy important for you? Has she done anything other dogs could or would not do?
Judge for yourself!
For many years Lucy lived as 'guest' of a rescue group, almost forgotten, rarely shown to the public and unable to find a new home. While safe and physically well taken care of, Lucy never stopped pondering one question: "Why? Why did my family abandon me?".
Abandonment, rejection, depression, anxiety and hopeless despair turned her into a mean old dog. In fact, she was known as the 'meat grinder on four paws'.
I am a rescued dog myself. I saw her during occasional visits to the rescue kennel. My human and I assisted other older dogs to be more lovable and thus become more adoptable. Lucy stood out not because of striking beauty, but because she was a living Yo-Yo.
As soon as someone neared her kennel section, she would bounce 6 feet straight into the air in a desperate quest for attention and love . . . and bounce, and bounce and bounce. No one cared much.
She was 'too old', 'her face too white', 'she was too aggressive', not flashy enough. Rejection followed rejection.
One day, I decided to give her a try. Against expert advice, I took her out of her run and introduced myself. A few minutes later, to the consternation of the experts, Lucy and I walked together peacefully past the busy rescue kennel, past people and a plethora of stupefied Boxer dogs.
We took her to a large recreation area nearby and let her be a 'dog' for the first time in five years. The moist soil under he paws, the smells and sounds of the wild made her feel sooooo good - as if she had died and gone to Heaven. Her body relaxed, her heart and mind opened up and her soul rejoiced. See Lucy, then called Beth, live it up during one of her many outings in the park.
From then on, we visited Lucy almost every weekend and took her home with us whenever we could. Lucy did her doggone best to become a member of our pack, She spent countless evenings giving me a tongue bath from head to bottom - and then washing the legs of my human in turn. Tell you the truth, I don't blame her for that part of the cleaning ritual! But don't tell him, please.
Somehow Lucy always seemed to know when we were coming. We tried to sneak up on her many times, even parking the car far away so that she could not hear us. It always failed. Every time and without fail, I found Lucy sitting in the correct corner of her run facing facing me.
Finally, sneaking up on the kennel one early Saturday morning, I spotted movement on the roof above the runs. I briefly saw the silhouette of a dog on the roof. Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the mystery dogs disappeared. Oh well. . . it was a cat scampering across the roof.
Lucy's kennel was empty. She had not been moved. But Lucy was gone! She had escaped! Panic ensued. Caretakers, volunteers, even visitors to the kennel, were running and driving all over the place searching for Lucy. Finally, after almost an hour of frantic searches, the resident caretaker spotted her in one of the other runs together with two 'aggressive' Boxers. All three peacefully watched the commotion outside. Lucy/Beth had fallen through the roof of the kennel and landed in the run with the two boxers.
What a brave, determined soul! What an overwhelming, burning desire for a family, for a home and for love! She was determined to come to live with us no matter what. Fences could no longer hold her back. Her determination and courage made her scale an 8 foot perimeter fence, successfully squeezed through a small crack between the fence and the wire fence roof. She made it unto the roof. From there it was just a matter of getting down on the right side and she would be free.
Even today, years after the memorable event, the hair stands up on my back when I think about this incredible accomplishment. Lucy's determination to end neglect, abandonment and despair was so great that nothing, absolutely nothing, could hold her back any longer.
May her plight, her plea and her indomitable spirit in the face of great adversity be an inspiration to us all. Let us recognize the extraordinary capabilities of your pet companions and their almost limitless desire for human love and acceptance.
Life dealt Lucy a bad hand. She suffered greatly. In the end she gained what she so much craved: A loving, caring family and warm home for her golden years.
Lucy will live in my memory until I draw my last breath.
Yet, there are many other companion pets out there that achieved similar feats and maybe even more. Your story deserves to be heard as well. Friends, go beat your own drum. There's nothing wrong with that because nobody will to do it for you.
Therefore, if you are a rescued dog, a cat, a gerbil, pet chicken, even a rat or whatever else you might be, speak up and be an inspiration and a guiding light to all who still wander in darkness.
Your happiness, your joie de vivre is infectious. It will motivate human and companion pet alike to spread a little more joy.
What more can we ask for?
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