A Dog Called Dante

This is me:

Or at least, this was me shortly after I was found lost and hungry, lying in the grass margin at the side of the road on the outskirts of the rural town of Athboy in County Meath in Ireland. My name is Dante, not because I am a great literary poet but perhaps because I am articulate enough to be able to tell you my story.

The kind gentleman who found me handed me into the local veterinary hospital where I was fed and given a warm bed. The girls working there discovered that I was very friendly and asked the County Dog Warden if they could hold me for a week or two and try and find my owner. Failing that, they would try and find me a good home.

My photo was put up on their web site and on Facebook but nobody came to claim me. As you can see from the photo, I was very lost and sad. I needed a good friend.

On my third day in the hospital, it happened that the Irish Ambassador for the ISAP and his wife called in to purchase a bag of food for their own dogs, also boxers, and on hearing that a very nice boxer had been handed in, they asked to meet me. Well, it was love at first sight! When I saw Mr Kinane I leaped straight into his arms and started licking him all over his bearded face. He fell back in the chair laughing so I licked him even more and soon everybody was laughing. It was really a lovely moment.

The senior vet in the practice peered out from behind the desk where he was searching for a file and said: “I wonder who is adopting who!”

Arrangements were agreed with the Dog Warden for me to be fostered by Mr & Mrs.Kinane on a day basis until the statutory time allowed for finding my original owner had passed, at which time I would be allowed to be homed with them, provided of course, that I got on with their dogs. The plan was that I would also be neutered once ownership was officially confirmed. That date was still four days away so each morning Mr.& Mrs. Kinane came to collect me and brought me to their home for the day and then dropped me back to the veterinary hospital each evening. The vet and girls in the hospital were very anxious that all would work out as they realised that I would have a very good home with Mr.& Mrs. Kinane.

On my first day, I got on very well with their dogs, Digby and Poppy. Digby is a kind boxer dog, bigger than me but not in the least belligerent and Poppy is a sweet and gentle bitch. We ran around the large garden and had great fun and I even got to run across the fields. It was truly a great place for a dog to live.

This is a picture of me with Digby and Poppy. See how they are licking me!

So the sunny days went by with lots of fun and frolics. I was even given a soft bed in the warm kitchen. I said to myself: “ This is for me!”. It was on the fourth day that I made my mistake. In my foolishness, I decided that I liked this new home so much that I was going to take over and be top dog. How silly I was! I attacked Digby and Poppy and caused pandemonium.

That evening, back at the veterinary hospital, I heard Mr. Kinane sadly telling the vet that it wasn’t going to work out. I know he was terribly disappointed. Everybody was very upset, including me. But I had blown it. That’s what dogs do sometimes; try to be the alpha male.

So there I was, back in my kennel in the hospital and everyone so upset.

But my story does not finish here. There is a happy ending. Even though my original owner was never found, a family came in a few days later who were looking for a dog for their son and who did not have any dogs already. I found a new home and a teenage boy who loves me every much.

I can even be top dog now (well, at least top dog in a house where there are no other dogs). I am happy and healthy. Life is good!

This is me now:

Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)

As the last snowflake fell,

So the ice did thaw, melting, sliding, swiftly away,

Solitary, stranded, a polar bear roar’s an eerie yell

Into a wanton world gone far astray.

Dark eyes watch, watch, a changing world disappear,

In desperation, he dives ‘n’ swims to shores never there,

While distant politicians count money: blind, deaf, to blatant fear,

For power preoccupies their vision: not a dying species called the polar bear.

But not is all lost, so it seems, there are but a few,

Amidst the sun's shining beams, that smile and care,

Lovers of life, seals, penguins and walruses too,

And of course, the big white powerful polar bear

Could that be you….?

Celia. ©

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14