"Enthusiasm is contagious. Be a carrier."
- Susan Rabin
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"Enthusiasm is contagious. Be a carrier." - Susan Rabin
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Get Involved
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May 24, 2013 | |||||||
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 An Avowed Animal Ally March 3, 2001 Submitted by Susan Rutford, a reader from Duluth, Minnesota, in response to Susie Hillman's story "Good Dog Karma": Your story is all too familiar. I, too, have acted quickly and immediately to rescue a dog who is running loose and lost. I have to remind myself, that on the occasions of my rescue attempts, it was me who was placed at that particular place at that particular moment, even though those arriving prior or after me, seem concerned little for the dog, or even seem perturbed at my interruption to their timely and rushed travels to wherever they seem to be going in such a hurry. There have been times, I am sure, that my swift and immediate swerves in the road, as I attempt to avoid hitting the dog, or just moving ahead of the dog and throwing my brakes on, putting my car in park with the emergency flashers going to protect the dog from the oncoming traffic, throws a few people off. But I care little of what people think of me at the time. My only focus is to save the dog. Although the times I have been selected to rescue lost dogs are too numerous to mention, there are the most memorable ones that continue to reflect in my heart. One severely cold and wintery day as I drove to work, I spotted a little whitish-grey poodle mix on the side a very tall dirty snowbank on the road side of a busy intersection looking so lost and confused. I immediately stopped my car, put my parking brake on and flashers, jumped out and pulled the little dog into my arms and then into the warmth of my car. The gentleman who was following me, who had to slam on his brakes, stopped to roll his window down to say, "That was the nicest thing I have ever seen anybody do!" I thanked him and continued on my way to work. The little dog was shivering and shaking. I took him to my workplace, and we warmed him in blankets and gave him some water and I called the Animal Allies Society. Although they had no report of that little dog missing yet, they told me I could take him to the Animal Shelter and he could be veterinarian checked to make sure he was okay. During my lunch hour, that is where I went. Later that day, they called to tell me the little dog was very old and probably would not have survived much longer out in the cold. They did tell me they would keep him safe and perhaps the owners would call. I called before I left work, but they had not heard about any missing dogs that fit that description. I worried then that perhaps this must have been a dump-off. I told them to call me first thing in the morning. That they did! It turned out that this little dog belonged to a couple who were eternally grateful for my heroic efforts. The man had let the little dog outside that morning, and the dog must have gotten disoriented and wandered out of their yard. The little dog was twenty years old and blind! They were so happy to get their little dog back. The joy has forever resonated in my soul. That is only one episode of my many rescues. Good dog karma -- yes, indeed! We all have things we can do in this world to help. And the rescue of a lost dog does indeed take priority over anything in that moment. Thank you, Susie, for caring about the little lost dogs in this world. We can all make a difference, and you have proven that for sure. Take care and continue the kindness... Very truly, Susan Rutford and all of Beagle's Bay Duluth, Minnesota SHARE your best good story. |
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