Well, I didnt just spot a dog today, I had a full dogspotting adventure, and it has left my heart in my mouth. What started as mere irritation at yet another dog so carelessly let to roam stray, turned into a ...well let me just tell you. Sorry for the long read, I wrote this story for multiple purposes. I took myself for a walk after work today, in Yanyula Park, Darwin Australia. I was barefoot and determined not to go very far. I soon saw another creature, taking himself for a walk and boisterously greeting every other dog on the path. He played, he chased, never aggressive but generally making a little bit of a nuisance of himself. I went right up to him, he ran right past. A small, scraggly fluffy orange and white fellow. After a few conversations with other people on their walks, I learned that hes a regular roamer, and always makes his way back home. Where was home? Oh I think its that house, with the two ladies sitting outside. 2 doors from me. I watched the dog run long lengths of the park, into and out of eyeshot. Always curious, always meeting other dogs, always avoiding people and sometimes bursting into fits of random direction jumping like a lunatic rabbit. I was generally satisfied that he had good wits about him, and while annoyed at these apparently irresponsible neighbours, I was rather charmed by the idea of a dog who could walk himself and take himself home. And then, I watched him about to cross Lee Point Road. He was already miles away, and all I could see was a small spot, dancing along the verge. Powerless, I called upon the two ladies, who were having a yak at a garden table. Relaxed, old, multicultural, very Darwin-like ladies. Is that your dog? No! Hes always visiting. We think he lives close to the traffic lights... So that didnt solve the mystery either. It took me a good while to get to the road, and when I did, sure enough, he was doing his thing on the other side, causing a neighbourhood ruckus to erupt. Soon though, he crossed straight back towards me. I KID YOU NOT, he looked right, and he looked left, and he trotted through quite safely, and all I could do was watch. I followed him to a house, noone home, and saw him jump into a swimming pool and out again. I tried talking to him which made him squeeze through a back gate and out into the park again. Baffled, I went around a corner to find that he had made a beeline for the house with his two lady friends. One of them was holding him up in the air by the armpits as she yelled out to me, Do you want a dog? No! Then why are you following it?! I just wanted to find out where he lives! Didnt want him to get him run over! All this transmitted across Yanyula Park, which is flanked by houses and cool Mahogany trees. So I went back over there, and just made myself at home. What proceeded was an amazing tale. So the lady who lives there said the dog had been visiting her for several months. Her friend lives next door. Lady #1 started leaving food out for him, then bathing him, and cuddling him, and playing with him, and telling him what he can and cant do when hes in her territory. They absolutely love each other, but he is not hers. Yet. I pray he will be soon. If it werent for the fact that he recently had a haircut, we all would have assumed that he doesnt live anywhere at all. He has an old rib injury, possible past abuse. He has a flea or two, his hair gets into knots, and he isnt as fat as the average domestic dog. But apart from that, he has a glint in his eye, a young shine in his coat, and a sprite in his long, long walk. It is actually quite hard to tell whether or not hes owned. Many tales emerged, that described his valiance, his deftness, his sharp intellect, his trust, his soul. Several hilarious descriptions later, he wandered off again and talked to a few more canines. Lady #1 said People always complain to me! They think hes my dog. Sometimes he sleeps here and barks at 3am. That neighbour there, came and complained to me, saying Why does he bark? I said to them, The same way you open your mouth and nag-nag, thats what he does, he opens his mouth and makes a noise, because he can. Even you thought he was my dog and that I let him out carelessly! I nodded in agreement - indeed, I had prejudged her. But clearly this was a dog that came from elsewhere, went elsewhere, and noone had figured out exactly where yet. By that stage, he had warmed up to me, and was receiving copious belly scratches. Independent spirit though he may be, it was painfully evident that all he wanted was some love. By that stage too, the three of us humans had also warmed up to each other, and I was truly grateful for these women and their hospitality to him and to me. I asked Lady #1, could she adopt him. She wants to, she told me. But he would need more training, and their fence would need securing, and she is going away very soon for personal reasons, and I desperately hope that he will be ok without her for a few weeks. As I walked away, chatting to Lady #2, who I have decided is brave and will be a worthy friend (there were many more conversations that took place, which I cannot reveal here), he gambolled at our feet, saying, Well then, pack, what are we gonna do now? Want to hang out a bit more? My heart broke. Feeling that familiar pit-in-throat guilt of abandoning anything that needs something more than I can give it...I walked on, and stopped under the mahoganies to listen to the family of barking owls. Woof Woof just like a dog, except too regular, and always two woofs. Woof Woof and a more frantic higher pitched Wufwuf!Wufwuf! when one spouse had found something interesting and was letting the other one know. I wandered and listened to them through the duskfall. Eventually a man cycled past, and just like I had done an hour earlier, he asked, Hey is that your little dog back there?? My immediate response was No, hes a community dog. That was the most accurate answer I could find at short notice, and his disappointed Oh reflected how I felt. There are so many elements to this dogs welfare. He is happy that he has friends he can visit. He is fed by them, and perhaps other friends, but cannot be bound to a yard just yet. Who knows whether he is actually loved at home, or not. Or if he even has a home. He is unlikely to be registered or chipped or medicated. He roams unsafe streets, but hes streetwise. If we put him in a shelter, he would not have his friends or his territory. If the council came and took him, he would be euthanased within 4 days. If I walk home to my bed tonight, as I have, he will still be roaming around, looking for a pack, and choosing which yard to sleep in. Before you ask, I already know, that I cannot keep him where I am renting. Is it enough, to encourage others to adopt him? Maybe I shall drop off a bag of food. How will I love him without him making a station at my place? How long will he last roaming? Hey maybe I should get to know him and take him to the vet for a checkover. Should I feel this much about a dog who is still a lot better off than some others? Yes I should, and I pray that I never not, but I also ask you God, to please give me the resources to do more for his kind, and give me the innovation to do whats best! Make his way safe tonight and all nights. May he grow happy and old with people he knows.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 13:09:22 +0000
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