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What is right with our world? Click on headline for full story plus photo(s) By Beverly Merritt Adair Countian. Atlanta, GA Despite all of the disasters, tragedies, illness, and downright evil that occur in this world every day, there is good in the world. When we see it, it should be recognized and applauded. This is a follow-up story to one I submitted to Columbia Magazine in early June. It is a story applauding some special people, and one man in particular. Truth can be stranger than fiction "Story" may imply that the words written are fiction...but my original story and this one are true... and truth can be stranger than fiction. To give a point of reference for this story, some background information is in order. On Memorial Day of this year, I lost my long-time "best friend" Sugar. I had found her in a ditch in Cookeville, Tennessee almost 16 years ago. When she became ill that holiday weekend, it became apparent to me that treatment would only cause her more pain. The decision to give her up was heart wrenching (Sugar was euthanized in Atlanta, Georgia where I now live). For a couple of weeks, the beautiful tin in which her remains were placed sat on a shelf of a wall unit in my living room. Next to the tin was a photo of me and Sugar taken at a horse farm in Lexington, Kentucky. As the days passed, my thoughts reverted to 3 years before when my best friend and I first moved to Atlanta. Dogs have such a unique way of communicating with us, that is, if we will observe and listen and they often emulate our emotions. Sugar seemed sad to leave her home in Kentucky and was unusually quiet during the 350-mile trip. Now and then, she would look at me with big, sad eyes as if to say... "I'm only on this trip because you are and because my place is with you but...I will never be a Georgia "peach" dog...I'm a bluegrass dog." Those were, and still are, my sentiments precisely. Came home to Kentucky to pay tribute to Father Because I always come home to Kentucky on Father's Day weekend to pay tribute to my dad (he passed away September 29, 2000), it seemed the appropriate time to bring Sugar home. Her remains, blue blanket, favorite toy, and the photo of us together were placed in a beautiful box and secured in plastic. My cousin, Mark Ferguson (who also helped me bury my first dog BP) agreed to help me lay Sugar to rest. The spot chosen was on our grandmother's farm on Crooked Creek in northeastern Adair County. It was Saturday, June 19, an extremely hot and humid day. Initially, the plan was to go to the farm at sunset. However, it appeared that a bad storm might be brewing for later in the day, so Mark and I drove to Crooked Creek with our precious cargo around noon. Sugar's remains were buried in a serene and pastoral spot next to Molly (Mark and Jennifer's Collie) and Tigger (my cousin Kathy's cat). I said a last goodbye by praying the Lord's Prayer and reciting Lord Byron's eulogy written for his dog: Who possessed Beauty without Vanity, Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices . This Praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery If inscribed over human ashes, Is but a just tribute to the Memory of BOATSWAIN, a DOG Who was born at Newfoundland, May, 1803, And died at Newstead, Nov 18th, 1808." Of course, in my recitation, I changed the name of the dog to "Sugar" who was born at Cookeville, Tennessee, August, 1994 and died at Atlanta, Georgia, May 2010. A little puppy was object of attention Drenched with sweat after our efforts in the awful heat and humidity, Mark and I quietly left the farm for the 20-minute drive back to my Aunt's house, looking forward to a shower and change of clothing. We took the back roads. As we approached an area known locally as Happy Valley (Holmes Bend Road), we rounded a sharp curve and saw two pick-up trucks blocking both lanes and facing opposite directions. Some men were at the side of the road looking down into a deep ditch - the object of their attention - a tiny little puppy trying to climb out of the ditch onto the roadway. He was dirty...his fur matted with cuckle burrs and weeds; he was shaking, whining, and very frightened. The men had already caught one puppy and placed it in their truck for transport to the local shelter. But this one kept struggling, finally making it out of the ditch and immediately seeking refuge underneath Mark's truck. We spent several minutes trying to coax the puppy to come to us to no avail. Mark had to crawl under the truck to retrieve the pup. When he emerged with the little pup in his arms, Mark looked at me very seriously and said, "Bev, it's a sign." What are the odds that I would happen upon another little dog (thrown away like garbage) just 20 minutes after burying Sugar? We are given signs every day We are given "signs" every day about any number of life issues. All it took for me to agree with Mark was one look at this little puppy's eyes and I knew I had found another "best friend." Mark and I drove straight to his house where his wife, Jennifer (an RN), administered emergency care. We bathed the puppy, wrapped him in a warm towel, and Jennifer fed him a sugary slush mixture from a syringe because he was so dehydrated. Afterwards, it was back to my Aunt Viola and Uncle Scotty's house near Cane Valley. Frequently, their laundry room or garage will have 2 to 3 dog crates and tie-outs to accommodate "visiting canine family members". Aunt Viola has never met a "strange" dog - she feeds strays when they drop by - and with Uncle Scotty's blessing, she also "dog sits" when needed. She opened up her heart to my little puppy and helped calm him. The next day, I abruptly named him 'Reilly (that's a story for another time and place) and we made the long drive back to Atlanta. On the entire drive, I kept thinking about the other puppy I had to leave behind (having two dogs in an apartment would have been a challenge). While the story about Sugar was a tribute and most of the words focused on my grief and sense of loss, this story has a happier ending....it too is a tribute - to special people in my life - and a story of restored hope in the goodness of people in general? Caring neighbors took action to save 'Reilly's little brother When 'Reilly and I arrived in Atlanta, my wonderful neighbors Chris and Nancy Sampson, were introduced to the new member of my family and immediately fell in love with him. I told Chris about 'Reilly's little brother (the other puppy had to have been the runt of the litter) who had been taken to the shelter in Adair County. After hearing that the puppy would most likely be euthanized if not adopted within a limited time frame, Chris took action. Several phone calls were placed to the shelter and arrangements were made to save 'Reilly's little brother. This kind, decent, and compassionate man made a one-day 640-mile trip from Georgia to Kentucky and back to adopt a little puppy he had never seen! He also donated a large bag of dog food to the shelter. With the countless shelters in Atlanta filled to overflowing with unwanted puppies, this man chose to go above and beyond to save a little puppy in another state. How many people do you know who would make such an effort? I am truly blessed to know one. Chris named his puppy "Sunny". Frequently, he takes both puppies out for long walks and for runs in a large grassy area around the Mexican Consulate, which is near our apartment complex. Being brothers, the pups do suffer periodic fits of jealousy and tend to fight a little but it's all playful. Both have been neutered, have had all of their shots, take regular doses of flea/tick and heartworm medicine, and are groomed regularly. Reilly and Sunny eat the best dog food in the world--Nutro(R) (Nutro Lamb, Nutro Small Breed with Chicken, and Nutro Ultra Puppy). This food keeps their coats shiny and their little growing bodies healthy. They even have matching rain slickers! What handsome and well-behaved puppies they are! Chris even volunteers many times to take 'Reilly to the groomers along with Sunny. Believe me, the staff at Pet Supplies Plus and Banfield Animal Hospital know the story of 'Reilly, Chris, and Sunny - the puppies are favorites there....and so is Chris. Chris is a giant of a man Chris is a giant of a man, not only in stature but at heart. He is so gentle with the puppies, but firm when necessary, and instinctively knows how to communicate with them. The squirrels and birds that populate our end of the complex also benefit from his kindness and generosity. Regularly, he buys food for them, scattering it on the hillside nearby. In a chaotic world where most of the time it is difficult, if not sometimes impossible, to see the good, this story about a man and two little puppies begged to be told. There is a world of difference between the one(s) who so callously threw these puppies away and the special people mentioned in this story. My message to the former is this: I've always heard that one who abuses animals may also hurt humans, given the right circumstances. Because I don't know your identity, I cannot steer clear of you. Hopefully, I will never meet you. You were too cheap to have your pets neutered and too lazy to take unwanted puppies to the shelter....yet you had no problem driving out into the country (where you hoped not to be seen) to discard what you didn't want. Shame on you.These precious little puppies were left in a ditch next to a busy road with no water or food on one of the hottest days of the year! How do people like you sleep at night? 'Reilly's and Sunny's message to their abuser is this: "You may not think so, but we are your loss and your loss is our gain." Sunny could have no better best friend than Chris nor could Chris have a better best friend than Sunny. Ditto for me and 'Reilly. So, what is right with our world? So....What is right with our world? It is the acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion of special people, who many times go unnoticed, and if noticed, their kindness is seldom recognized in a way it should be. It is the Aunt Violas and Uncle Scottys, the Marks and Jennifers, the men blocking traffic that miserable hot day in June, and the Nancy and Chris Sampsons who make this world a better place. Somewhere, in a meadow near the rainbow bridge, my Sugar is smiling. Beverly Merritt, Atlanta, GA This story was posted on 2010-11-19 05:17:26
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