Millie's Mission
Millie had been a dog of breeding and not one who should have been lost nor left behind at a local campground. A city dog not accustomed to cold, wind blowing in the trees nights. Not sure what to do when an unknown undomesticated animal approached her, spraying her with thorns. Running, running, dirty, hungry and with the tell all look of terror in her eyes when the local animal pound driver saw her, called to her, and with the tail tucked she crept to his side, seeking whatever help he might afford her.
The county pound. A solitary cage in which she could press her body against the back wall and seek support, pressing into cold concrete. No one asked why she drooled, from a mouth full of porcupine quills. Actually no one had looked that closely or placed a gentle hand upon her shaking body. Time was ticking for the seemingly unattractive, unfriendly dog. Resources were few, in fact they numbered two. Adoption or death.
By chance, a young woman saw the dog and chose her because she was what she was. Not a pretty sight. The woman wanted someone she thought no one else would. For some unknown reason she named her Millie and from that day forward, she loved her, shared her life with her, until...
A day in July of 1980. Millie had been ill and treated by the local vet. More treatment was needed in order for Millie to continue her life. But, the woman now had two children, a newborn and a two year old sharing a meager life in a 12x60 trailer. They had been poor, but happy. Poor took on a new meaning and happy was rapidly evaporating. Poor meant not being able to afford the needed surgery for Millie. There was no choice to be made.
As the vet removed Millie from the arms of her "mother" she reached a paw out, to touch the hand that had first reached out to her. Sorrowful eyes, saying "I understand."
Twenty-eight years have not erased that day. Older, no longer so poor, the time has come for Susan, Millie's mom, to honor the brave little dogs' memory by helping another, walking in the shoes that I once wore.
For more information, please call 419-423-4695.
