A news story just can't lose with either animals or babies, and the one I saw the other day on the ABC evening news proved that point once again.
The short form of this news article was about a Golden Retreiver (Tucker) who had suffered from seizures most of his life, and whatever was causing the seizures had also caused the dog to go blind. As we know, a dog's nose brings smelling to an art form of sorts and undoubtedly compensates for a lot of vision disabilities. But blind is blind and you can only imagine how compromised this animal's day-to-day life had become. He was being housed in a backyard behind his Veterinarian's office for his daily care and assistance and from all points of view was not really participating in the life he was living.
Enter Blair, a black Laborador mix. His story line goes like this: apparently shot when he was a puppy, he had grown into a very shy, non-trusting, intimidated dog. An animal with his own set of issues as you can imagine. Almost immediately when Tucker and Blair were put together in the same backyard, not only were they immediately glad to be with each other, they were is some way struck with each other, bonding so quickly that it surprised everybody. They romped and played and jumped and frittered around the yard, just having the best dog day!
Those of us who know dogs know about dog love. A dog will love you when just about no one else will, and for no apparent good reason. Undeserved love. They will forgive all the stomping and yelling we do when we discover a shredded den pillow lying dead and scattered all over the floor. Only later are they vindicated when down feathers are found lodged in between the cat's teeth! They love us with a love so pure that it's hard to imitate because it's not something they are trying to do. It's their disposition. They are living out their nature.
What is also in their nature is this: Blair intuitively understood that Tucker was not a "seeing" play partner. Acting on this intuition he stolled over and took Tucker's leash in his mouth and led him to all the wonderful points of interest they could visit in the backyard. Tucker LOVED these little visits and they both were as happy and content with their unspoken arrangement as two dogs could possibly be. Don't you know that Tucker now had his own seeing eye dog! (It has been noted since this friendship began between these two dogs that his seizures have markedly improved with less frequency and intensity).
And on the other hand/paw, the Lab mix Blair is now less timid, more playful than he has ever been. His wagging tail is the giveaway! It used to be tucked under him as he sat cowling in a corner whereever he happened to be. Now all is well and it seems that he experiences wonderful delight and satisfaction knowing that he now has a purpose and and reason to be!
Love freely given.
And received.
Unsolicited.
Healing.
Joy.
The Veterinarian and all the people associated with Tucker had not ever been able to stir him much after he lost his sight because, even with the best of intentions, these folks didn't understand what he really needed. Yes, his sight was gone. Naturally they thought he needed to see but no amount of help from the human being side was making any difference in his life.
What he really needed was a Relationship. One that was like him. Blair, the dog. His transformation occurred only because he was presented with a life form that he could understand. Tucker didn't know what he needed. But God knew he needed one like him and He sent Blair and instantly his life changed!
For all the computer people out there, here's a (link). (It's not a real one silly. It just connects all this stuff above with this last paragraph!)
God spoke to us so many years ago in the Old Books until He was blue in the face. He used Prophets. He used Floods. He used Stone Tablets and all sorts of locusts and flies but we still couldn't get our mind around how are we supposed to present ourselves to a perfect God when we knew we were far from perfect. But he had a plan for all that. He figured he'd send us a life form We could understand. He sent us a Person, a human being just like us. He sent us a Relationship that we could see, and feel, and touch, and hear. And now we can get it!
Thank you Blair! Thank you Tucker! You have been such good characters in my Dog Blog!!
Dr. S
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