Beagle with No Name...

This poem was written for me by a co-worker after she got word that the rescue from yesterday had to be put down.  Her words sum up yesterday's experience.

On a beautiful morning, 

On my way to work, 

I caught a glimpse of a little dog

By the side of the road...

Beagle with No Name

He was lying there all alone, 

And frightened, I pulled over and

Stopped to help him, the poor little thing...

Beagle with No Name

When he saw me, too weak and in pain, 

He mustered enough strength to stand, 

As if to say, I'm here and waiting...

Beagle with No Name

He fell and I cradled him in my arms, 

Watching as the cars passed me.

How many people have passed but

Have not stopped?

Beagle with No Name

I laid him in my car seat, next to me, 

His eyes so loving and sweet, 

How can I leave him there all alone?

Beagle with No Name

So I took him with me along for the ride, 

On my way to work, and I thought

How can I help him? What do I do?

I know what I must do to save him...

Beagle with No Name

So I tell my friends at work  of another, 

Dog I picked up to help him, and

They surrounded him with awe and wonder, 

With such emotion...

Beagle with No Name

I gave him water and he drank it. He tried to 

Sit up straight but could not stand for long, 

Was he boy or girl?

The accident you see, we could not tell...

Beagle with No Name

I brought a tablecloth and wrapped him with it, 

He laid down, tired and weak, 

But fell quickly to sleep...

Beagle with No Name

I called the vet to bring him in, 

I took the little dog, held in my arms.

Out the door I  went...

Beagle with No Name

And then the news came, 

Fractured hip, Damaged bladder, 

and intestines. How can that be?

Beagle with No Name

And sadly it cam to be?

The best remedy was sleep.

Then I breathe with a sigh, 

And with pain in my heart...

I have to let him free.

Beagle with No Name

At least I know he was not alone, 

That he didn't die by the side of the road, 

That he went into a deep, deep, sleep, 

No longer in pain and in peace...

Beagle with No Name

I will miss his sad little face, 

Those eyes that reflected his soul, 

For only a  moment he was here, 

He was not alone...

Beagle with No Name.

-Dani Palmieri 11-09-2010

Thank you Dani for your kind words.  This chapter has come to a close, but I assure you, it won't be long before the next.  Stay tuned...

I-45 Round-up...

I am not sure what made me think that this week would be different from any other. 

After running a work-related errand, I realized that I had left my cell phone on my bed-side table and decided to make a quick run by the house to pick it up.  

I pulled out of the neighborhood onto the feeder of I-45 south near Telephone Road.  As I approached the u-turn I saw a small, mostly black, creature laying on a small patch of grass between the feeder and the freeway.  I then became aware of what I was looking at, a little dog with beagle markings, eyes illuminated with fear.  

I quickly made a cut through the neighborhood and back around.  By now the dog was standing in a lane of traffic. I put on my emergency flashers and stopped about 20 feet in front of the dog.  I whistled and the tail started to wag, but it was clear that the dog was unable to walk due to injury.  He seemed friendly and I cautiously covered him with a blanket and scooped him up as car after car whizzed past (some even kind enough to honk).

I gently placed him in the car and we were off. 

The dog has an injured leg.  It looks to be more of a dislocation then severe trauma, and he has some older lacerations on his face and body.  We are headed to the vet today at 3:30 and I will be sure to post an update as soon as more information is available.