This One's For Sammy

The other day was Sammy's birthday. July 15, 2010 was the day I rescued Sammy (OR, did he rescue me???) from the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter. So, I consider this day his birthday.

I had seen Sammy for the first time about two weeks before July 15. This was after perusing the shelter for dogs for almost 2 years! Yes, in this case, patience paid off.

Sammy was in the Big Dog Area of the shelter. I can't imagine why, as he only weighed 13 pounds at the time. So, there he was, caged between a Pit Bull and a German Shepard. No wonder he has serious attack issues around these two particular breeds. I went up to the cage where he was held, and he immediately came over, leaned against the metal bars, and let me pet him. To me, this was love at first sight. He was adorable, with his lion's cut and long eyelashes. I learned later that he came in all matted and knotted and therefore had to have all the hair from his mid section to his butt removed.

I could not adopt him that day; there was a waiting period in case his real owners were looking for him. He was found with a collar but no identification, on the street. A good samaritan picked him up and brought him in. That's all the information I could get. So, I had to wait. In that time, I visited him every day. I brought other people to visit him too; I brought my mother, I brought David. I worried someone else would want him. Then, according to the shelter, there would be a bidding war.

On Tuesday morning, the first official day he could be adopted, at 7:30 am, on July 15, I arrived back at the shelter. I wanted to be the first one there, ready to pounce, ready to go to battle for Sammy. There were two other women, waiting alongside me. I asked them, "Are you here for a small, black poodle?" Luckily, they said, "No." 8:00 am. The doors opened. I pointed out to the shelter employee which dog I wanted. She led me to a "visiting area" where potential future owners can get to know the potential future pet. Then, she brought Sammy to me. She said hurriedly, "You've got 5 minutes, I'm the only one working right now." Five minutes! To make this decision! If anyone knows me, I am not one to make a decision in 5 minutes! But, Sammy was happy and loving and he didn't try to bite me. Also, David's one request was, "Make sure he knows how to fetch." So, with tennis ball in hand, I threw, and Sammy retrieved. Done. All good. "Yes, I want him," I told the shelter worker, and she put the leash on him, and walked him down the walkway, to the office, to begin the paperwork process.

I will never forget the sight of Sammy strutting down the walkway, alongside the khaki clad, shelter employee. That sight, that day, changed my life forever.

Somewhere in Croatia

Strutting down the sidewalk

Being adorable in our AirBnb

Making friends at Kavarna Mango

In Ljubljana

Ode to a Wowwie*

*childhood nickname for “dog”

He’s the color of faded charcoal,

but once was a jet black.

This shows his age, his wisdom.

His signature long, droopy eyelashes stop all who meet him, “Wait, are those his eyelashes?!” And, he, oblivious to the cuteness that he is, just sits and leans.

My wowwie*, who sometimes

sleeps on my bed and sometimes on the couch.

In the morning, stretching himself out into a downward facing dog yoga pose.

The most patient divine being I’ve known;

he waits, and waits, and waits

until my hand is on the doorknob and we are finally leaving.

He loves his walks, strutting down the sidewalk for all to admire and see.

He loves chasing squirrels in Clover Park,

or, hunting lizards in Florida or Slovenia.

The best traveling companion ever; never complaining despite the long plane rides, the long car rides, the heat.

He loves me because I rescued him from the West LA Animal Shelter.

And, I give him a multitude of treats.

And, I feed him his supper.

He loves me because I drown him in kisses, all day, all night.

He makes me laugh, everyday, with his antics and his unconditional love.

One day, sometime in the future, I’ll cry, and the pain will be unbearable.

I’ll ask myself, “Was this worth the pain?”

All the grief I’ve ever known will come flooding back…

I’ll listen to Journey of Souls, over and over again, wanting to find peace and solace.

And, in the end, “Yes”, being with my boy would have all been worth everything.

I love you, Sammy.

Graffiti message in Ljubljana

Lake Bled