JUST ANOTHER OLD BLACK DOG

Since relocating to Jack County, we often find ourselves being called upon to perform services that should be handled by county animal control were it offered.  That service is not offered in Jack County so it falls to us or others who feel sorry for these abandoned animals and want to help.  Such was the case when I answered the phone Monday morning, April 21, 2003.  A man had gotten our phone number from the Jack County Sheriff, as well as our vet, when they had called to ask for help with a dog that had wandered into their yard in Antelope, Texas, a small town between Jacksboro and Wichita Falls.  The dog, a large male black Lab, was acting strange, walking in circles and shaking its head from side to side.  Understandably, there was some concern that it could be rabid so they were afraid to try to approach him.  The last time I talked to the people, the dog was laying in the shade in their back yard.  Pat and I jumped in the truck and took off for Antelope. As often happens, by the time we got there, the dog was nowhere to be found.  From what the people said, he couldn’t move too well but he had obviously been more mobile than they thought.  The man and woman, Pat and I walked all over the large pasture searching through several abandoned barns and through woods.  We were all scratching our heads wondering where this illusive dog could have gotten to in such a short time.  Finally, we gave up our search on foot and took to the trucks.  We circled around on a road that headed out of town.  There we found this old dog wading in a ditch filled with water, refreshing himself after his rather lengthy trek.

We took him to our vet, Dr. Paul Lillard, in Jacksboro.  He determined that this old man was indeed, very old.  He is suffering from advanced heart trouble as well as being blind.  There’s no doubt he has a myriad of other ailments that are causing him pain and discomfort.  I wish I could tell you that he’s going to be okay and come to the sanctuary to live his life out.  Unfortunately, that’s not the case.  On the advice of Dr. Lillard, we will allow this wonderful old man a peaceful crossing in the arms of people who love him.  I think he will welcome the rest.

Where did this old dog come from you ask?  Why didn’t someone care for him?  Who knows!  He was just another old black dog.  The area where he was found has a lot of elderly people living there.  His people could have passed away and he was just forgotten or maybe they just picked up and moved, leaving him to fend for himself.  It does seem he had been in the area for a while because people did remember seeing him around and obviously someone had been feeding him.  He was too blind to find food for himself.

Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined.  All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before.  But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.

It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.

He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could  pass over Rainbow Bridge. With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and infirm.

They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for a while to explain it to him.

"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence.  Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge."

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?" As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted.  Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.

"Watch, and see.", said the second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.

"What happened?"