Abandoned to the streets, molded to perfection....

Meet Missy, part Beagle and part Cocker Spaniel.    When Missy picked me to be her mother I was filling up my car with gasoline at a Caseys in a nearby town.    I already had Blake and Echo with me and we had just finished a run at the park with their estranged "brother"  Jamoka.    After filling the tank I turned around to see this sweet little dog sitting right next to me.   I never saw her arrive, like a shadow she sat there.    Being right by a busy road, I picked up the pup, not wanting her to run into traffic and get hit.   Carrying her into the Caseys to pay, I asked the employees if anyone had lost her or knew where she lived.   I was  told  they had been feeding her daily for many months and she would appear at the store and then vanish.  

Living in a town 30 minutes away, I didn't want the owners to never find her.   I left my name and phone number and placed her in my front seat for the drive home.   Of course I ran adds in all the papers, posted found pictures and called every vet I knew.   No one called about her.  Then,  a week or two after I took Missy home, I got a phone call from the area where she was found.   A woman pleaded with me to keep her and give her a good home.  The caller said the original owner had been a woman who's relationship with her husband had soured.   When the owner left her husband, the dog stayed behind and was  kicked to the streets.   Not wishing to return this kind soul to that life, I decided there would have to be a very special person to come along in order for me to adopt  her out.   But no one ever did, so I knew I had been chosen by this special spirit to enhance my life and teach me about giving.

That first drive home was a wild one as my two four legged  kids in the back were going crazy wanting to meet her but Missy was interested in the drive.    She got the nickname "Prairie Beagle"  when I glanced over to see her balancing on her hind quarters, peering out the windshield while I was driving.    It reminded me of the prairie dogs out in the wild.    To say this dog fit into my life perfectly would be an understatement.   Housebroken, obedient, and gentle I wondered what terrible wrong Missy had committed to have been tossed away.    I took her to my vet and had her heart worm checked, given shots, then home to bathe, flea treat and worm.    If anyone tells you picking up a stray is cheap, they are lying or not doing the basics for the dog.    I was going to spay her but she already was fixed.

Totally blind in one eye and having a broken veterbrae at the base of her tail, as well as a broken ankle, both of which were healing, nothing intimidated Missy.   It was always my belief that she had been hit by a car in the hind quarters thus causing her to fear being touched on the tail and rear end.   Missy was full of courage and nothing slowed her down.  A few weeks to get used to my "crew" and she was an integral part of the family.   She placed herself at the head of the waterbed, sleeping on the pillows and loving to be covered up by the blankets.   She never complained, got along with all dogs, cats and people.    With a lot of work I was able to assuage her fear of being touched on her hind end.     Missy possessed a unique understanding of people.   She was highly sensitive to emotions and would race to my side when i was feeling sad.   I saw her potential as a service dog / therapy dog and we worked towards that goal.

Soon I was taking Missy to WalMart, appointments, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals.   Her happy go lucky personality made her a winner with everyone.    Her last hurtle was to go to church with me.   I knew many children would be reaching out and touching her without thinking she would object.   Again this dog exceeded my expectations.   No person was a stranger and I can recall tiny hands reaching under the pew during church to pet her soft fur.  Her tail softly wagged on the carpet and some times she would belly crawl to the next pew to cuddle with a child who was having a bad day.    So many times she would be laying with a two, three, or four year old who was cranky and quickly the two would drift off to sleep , the child's arm around Missy.   

Missy taught me about courage, how to face life with disabilities, how to never hold back from loving others.     Missy became not only a certified Therapy Dog but also a Certified Service Dog.   Her life was long and full, I can't be sure but the vet said at her time of death she was near 18 years old.   A tumor developed in one of her legs and she became filled with pain.    It devastated me to let Missy go, but I knew it was unfair to keep her around for me.   Missy will always be missed and so fondly remembered for her gentleness, kindness, willingness to forgive, and unbridled spirit.  Thank you for choosing me to be your mom.


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