"What....?" I responded, and burst out laughing.
"Peas taste like GRASS." she corrected, a sly look in her eye.
I can't remember why we were talking about peas.
I was walking toward the school after my afternoon duty when I heard horror movie screams. Running. Adults and children alike. I saw a small, fawn-colored Pit Bull galloping toward the open door of the school.
"Oh silly, silly, come here...." I called inadvertently, advancing toward the dog.
One of the students let out a blood-curdling scream and the dog turned and ran toward the full bus lane. I followed. Mr. Brandon and I weaved through the cars and buses, begging people not to hit her while we tried to catch her. She let Mr. B approach her when we were near the street, but seemed to want to run whenever I came near.
"I'll let her lead me to her house!" Mr. B called to me as the two walked down the street.
I went to my faculty meeting and tried to return to the trailer to finish some work when one of the after-school kids called out to me.
"There's a dog out there!" he exclaimed, pointing toward the front door. I went outside and sure enough, the skinny, goofy puppy was back. A few of my male co-workers stood around with her, talking about what a cute dog she was and the fact that none of them could take her. I could see her little bones sticking out and she was in heat. She was a little smelly, too. I petted her anyway. One by one, my co-workers started leaving.
"Those big dogs around the corner tried to attack her." Mr. B mentioned. The big, unfixed, off-leash dogs that some of the neighbors backyard bread for money. I was horrified. Mr. Warner waited with her while I grabbed a leash from my classroom. We walked her to my trailer.
"I wonder how many county rules we are breaking right now." he commented while I unlocked the door.
"I'll just say I didn't know it wasn't allowed." I answered, laughing.
I gave little girl some water and paced around inside, trying to figure out what to do. I knew I should take her to the county shelter, but it's full and she could be put down in a matter of days. Lola hates other dogs, it could be a violent, horrible situation to bring this little girl into our house. I couldn't put either dog in that situation.
"Let's go for a ride." I announced.
I tried to get her to ride in back, but she immediately jumped in the front seat and sat completely upright, like a human. I did the mom-arm seat belt thing and we drove slowly through the neighborhood. I don't know what I thought I'd find, a person looking for their dog? Someone who recognized this little girl? Finally, I pulled out onto the main road and drove toward the no-kill animal shelter around the corner. The one that doesn't just take drop-offs. The one that makes you go to the regular kill-shelter first. The volunteer-run one that is bursting at the seams with pets too. I pulled in and parked the car. I milled around the parking lot, trying to figure out what to do. Someone finally saw me and came over.
"Hey....." I said.
"I know this is a long shot....I work at a school around the corner..." I continued, kind of waving my badge that I still had around my neck.
"We found this little dog....she was running in the bus lane, she's going to get hurt, I just don't know what to do....." I blubbered, then burst out crying.
"Here....let me get the chip scanner....I can check if we even have any space.....legally we can't take dogs directly, they have to go to the county shelter in case someone is looking for them.....look, I'll get the scanner." the nicest woman in the world responded.
She came back with the scanner and as suspected, there was no chip. I guess someone who doesn't spay or feed or bathe their dog doesn't bother with a chip.
"Technically, we can take the dog because the county shelter is closed for the day and, we have space." she said, smiling.
I started crying again.
"Will you have to transfer her there later? Is she safe?" I pleaded.
"No. We will not have to transfer her there. She is safe."
"Can I give a donation?" I responded.
"Yes!" she said, laughing again.
I drove home, feeling elated. In the days since, I drive by the shelter and think of the little dog curled up in a kennel and I hope that she is okay. I hope that someone gets her and she has a good life. I look at all the little trailers and buildings that make up the no-kill shelter and hope that all the animals are sleeping in little beds, warm.
The Friday morning announcements crackled through the speaker on my trailer wall.
"We have one last announcement!" the librarian called out.
"We would like to shout out Ms. Wagner! Ms. Wagner and Mr. B saved a dog! And we would just like to thank Ms. Wagner for um, securing the dog..... securing the dog AWAY from us!"
No comments:
Post a Comment