my heart melted, and is now a puddle on the floor.


i was outside playing with the dog today, and out of nowhere limps this adorable hound dog. after researching it, the closest guess i can come to is an english foxhound. anyway. he's limping, well, rather hopping on three legs, because there's a piece of rope tied around his back paw between all his toes and even bending some in unnatural ways. his skin is raw, chaffed, and in places bleeding. he's skittish at first, only coming near enough to sniff and attempt to play with my dog. i call him, try and coax him to sniff my outstretched hand. meanwhile, my poor dog is going into hysterics, so excited with the chance to play. so i put him inside, as he begins to scare the hound off with his overwhelming friendliness. upon return to the front yard, i now have a few little treats in hand, hoping that the smell and temptation of food will at least lure him close enough for me to read his tag. he seems to consider, but instead chooses to follow the sound coming from down the street. i stare hopelessly after him as he hobbles down the sidewalk, crosses the street, and investigates another yard. perhaps, i think, he'll come back if i bring my dog back out, after all, he did come over with the sole purpose of greeting him.

so i bring my wriggling puppy out, and watch expectantly for any sign of the hound's return. sure enough, he comes limping back. this time i crouch down with treats on an extended hand, hoping that this time he'll come. he steps closer, and closer still. inside i'm willing him to trust me, but outwardly i force myself to remain calm and keep encouraging with whispered coos. he takes a quick sniff, and backs quickly away, hardly enough time for me to even catch a glimpse of his shiny, swinging tag. so i instead toss a few his way, thinking maybe if he tastes them that he'll come for the ones in my hand. it's a no go. he lingers in the yard, exploring, watching, and yet for some reason, not leaving. eventually, i was able to coax him into the fenced in backyard, where he happily explores to the best of his three-legged ability until there's nothing left to sniff. then he seems to notice his predicament, and adopts a look of confusion and bewilderment. for a moment he stares at me, as if asking why i would cage him in like so. i want to explain that we only want to help him, but he wouldn't understand. before i can stop him, he's up and over the fence, a feat i didn't think possible with such an injured paw. i think all hope is lost now, surely he won't stick around with this person who locked him inside a fence. but no, still he lingers about the front yard, rope-bound paw still held high as to not even graze it on the ground.

now he's grown used to me, and my brothers which have been watching with interest and concern. we're able to touch him, give his head a few caresses, and even take a peek at that jingling tag. it has no name, no information other than our county, an expiration date, and a series of numbers. his owners have actually taken the trouble to go down and have him registered. at this point, i don't hold them in good regard, as i still can't bare the sight of his poor paw. i couldn't fathom how he would be able to tangle it, seeing as it wound between all his toes, was excruciatingly tight, and knotted firmly around his ankle. but what could we do? if it was animal cruelty, we wanted the authorities to at least see it for themselves. so i fastened him to our line, a 15 foot lead that is secured in the ground. he still has room to roam, but this time he won't be able to escape until things could be sorted out. calls were then made, but no rescue league or adoption agency would take him. we didn't have any other options but to call animal control. while i waited for them to come, i remained with him outside, petting him and talking aimlessly to pass the time. he continues to gaze at me with an expression that screamed "take care of me, please?". when it got too dark to see, and my growling stomach wouldn't let me stay out any longer, i went in to eat. i constantly watched him through the window, cringing as he began to shake and tremble.

animal control finally came, and i was so grateful that it was a man who seemed so genuinely concerned about the dog. he exclaimed that he had never seen anything like it before, referring to the bound paw. but the skittish hound wouldn't let men anywhere near him, instantly beginning to growl and bark, not in aggression, but merely in warning and fear. no fur stood on end, he only scampered as far away as the line would allow, watching us with apprehension. but he let me come near, and i slipped the leash around his head while my already soggy heart broke in two. if only there was a way for me to keep him, i would. i slowly encouraged him across the yard to the driveway and to the vehicle, where he stopped and planted his feet. he wouldn't get a step closer, and tried to move backward as i tried to pull him forward. the officer said it was behavior suggesting he had gone through this routine before, which only furthered the depressing state of my heart. when coaxing failed, my father and the officer resorted to the cautious lifting of his skinny body into the built-in cage, where i took one last look at his pitiful face before the door was shut and he was gone. the man said he would take him to an animal hospital, and get his paw looked after. but he didn't respond to our request to be informed whether or not the owners had been found.

we'll call the local shelter in a few days. maybe he won't be picked up. maybe they won't find his owners. maybe they won't want him back. of course, this is all hoping in vain. but i won't ever forget his sweet face. the way he looked at me. how one side of his face was a molted black and brown, while the other was completely white. how one ear was scattered with little black spots, and how those big eyes melted my heart. it won't ever be the same. of course, there's some consolation in my dog. i gave his neck the tightest hug when the hound was driven away. i still have the smallest of hopes that we might be able to give him a home. one can always wish and dream.



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sorry for it's length. i had to get that out,
otherwise i feared i might burst.
you are under no obligation to read it.
if you did, then i admire you. ^^