For the love of a dog called Leon.
For the love of a lost dog.
I’m not a dog person however most dogs I encounter, apart from certain breeds who are not conducive to humans, like me or respond well to me. I love all animals, always have. Cats especially.
I believe some special animals are sent, spiritually, to someone who needs what they offer right at that moment. An affinity. A feeling of kinship. A sign that everything will be alright. Even if it isn’t obvious.
Here he came, walking in the middle of the road, obviously a little lost dog, tail between the legs, a bit disoriented, wandering – up and down.
I watched from the front yard, ignoring him as he passed one more time. ” Are you lost”? A car came over the hill and had to stop to avoid him. He ran off, out of sight briefly, before returning, watching me, trotting off looking a little anxious. A lady appeared, trying to coax him to her. Come on little buddy”, she said. He was having none of it. Glancing at me she obviously wanted to take the situation in control. “He’ll find his way home himself.” No. He wouldn,t. I didn’t think so. A blue car appeared and he seemed to get a little excited, to follow it but it didn’t stop.
He entered my space, wandering casually through the gate, setting the woman’s farm dogs off. Sitting on my outdoor couch, I called him, “Come.” He approached. I gently talked to him simultaneously – and gently grabbing his collar with the name tag/shire stencilled on. He was local. LEON.
“His name is LEON!”
The little head whipped around, tail wagging. “Your name is LEON!
I have never felt bonded with a dog like this one. In the short time he spent with us. He sat with me, looking into my face with those incredibly large eyes, the pathway to the soul? Onto the couch, for a rest, head on paws, sometimes gazing into the distance.
Finally as late afternoon descended, I rang the number on his tag, left a message. “I have your little lost dog LEON “.
We decided to call in extra help to find his owner, in case I was unsuccessful, not something I wanted to do. The local shire accessed records, coming up with a completely different dog registered. “Is he a red setter?” ” No, definitely not.”
They sent a staff member to pick him up, as it was getting late and they told us they would keep him there overnight until they found his owner.
Oh no! I had just sent Leon to the pound!
I will never forget his little face, going off in the strangers car. Then the phone rang.
His owner was 30 minutes away. The information was passed on.
There were calls by me back and forth to the Council, to make sure he was ok. Finally the call from the grateful owner that Leon was collected, safely back home. “Thank you for looking after him. He felt safe with you.”
That dog was and will remain special to me. If Angels can disguise themselves – healing through animals -I know, very airy fairy – but I believe this little dog was meant to visit me leaving a doggy imprint on my heart (and my clothes).
