Puppy Love

Every time I see a mixed breed dog at Beaver Brook... like Andy, Ralph's Puerto Rican street dog, I think about my Chagall's rescue story.

About seven years ago I was on the board of directors at a Central Mass. no-kill shelter named Dog Orphans. My elderly mother and I had begun to think about getting a tiny dog for her. Something that could be litter box-trained -- chihuahua, etc.

When we visited the facility, around my mom's birthday, it was love immediately. We saw this striking and charismatic mostly black, with white chest and paws, puppy wooing us through his enclosure. Despite a large group in the waiting area, Lucky - named by the shelter's workers - within minutes saw no one in the room except for my mom and me. When we heard his story it just cemented the deal.

This gorgeous three-month-old had been found in a box, with his littermates, along a very busy roadway by a good samaritan. This caring women was only able to save half of the six-puppy litter. Traffic had tragically taken the lives of the others. She placed two of the dogs, but kept the adorable male puppy that would soon be Chagall. The other members of her animal household rejected the youngster when she brought him home and she was forced to put him up for adoption. Enter my mother and me not more than a day or two later.

I have had many life-altering introductions, adventures, moments... but the day I brought Chagall home certainly takes a back-seat to no one and no thing!!!

That is certainly part of why I enjoy taking the big guy to the P-A-R-K as often as a chaotic human life permits. We saw some of our favorite play pals the other day -- Harper, Andre, Chewie, Riley, and Cody. Riley has got a new brother, 10-week-old apricot cockapoo Odie. He is already fearless and squeezable.

Happy scooping and we'll see you at the park...