Story From Peggy McQueary, President of C.A.R.E.
Driving to work one night to Ft. Worth in the fall of 2008, I noticed a black dog trotting on the side of road 108. I was hoping it was not one of the many stray, abandoned or homeless animals we often see. But there was nothing I could do about it on this night anyway, I thought. As time passed I noticed this black dog in the same area a few more times. As I tried to make contact with it, It was non-responsive to my efforts and would run into the nearby wood line. As fall soon became winter....another C.A.R.E. family noticed the dog and we began to get reports about it by the only 3 homes in this particular rural area. Then...one of the family members in the area suggested to us the dog may be pregnant. We tried various ways to catch her...but she would not respond to our efforts at all.....then the dreaded report came....we were told she may have had her puppies somewhere....
Members in our organization volunteer to rescue stray , abandoned and homeless animals in our community–foster them and find them forever homes. It’s a difficult job we choose to do...most of also work full and part time jobs. So we stay pretty busy. But it is very rewarding !
Two weeks passed by without word about the mother dog and puppies. Until a call came and we were told someone shot and killed the mother dog for eating dry cat food in their yard ! The clock was ticking now on the survival of these puppies that were left behind......
Several C.A.R.E. members began the difficult task of trying to locate the hidden puppies. The mother dog no doubt placed them in a very special ‘spot’ that only she could pick out...to ensure their safety. We went first to the family that reported the incident. We asked if they new where the body of the mother dog was...or the location of the puppies. This is when we discovered most likely this was the people that may have killed the mother dog....they reported the dog was eating their outdoor cats food to survive and they were tired of it....and the dog was dead...but they would not give us the body to verify the death of the dog, and to ensure it was in fact dead...and not laying there suffering. But they stated ‘they did not kill the dog.’
As the winter provides nightfall to set early...we found ourselves racing against the clock once more....surely the pups would be very hungry...we walked the wood lines, checked old barns and structure, anything and everywhere we could think of that this mother dog safely tucked these puppies to be warm and safe. Finally we found ourselves using car lights, flashlights and the crisp cold night air to provide sharp distinct sounds we found ourselves listening for as one of our members suggested they may be getting hungry and crying for their mothers warm milk and her comfort on this cold night. As we passed by the same old barn....we heard the sound we had been waiting for ! In our excitement we found entrance through a broken window, as the door was impossible for us to open far enough to use. Using our flashlights and moving old furniture...we found them....7 beautiful puppies in a corner of the old structure warm and safe...just where their mother left them until her return. We picked each warm puppy up and looked into their eyes that were just beginning to open....we found an old drawer and placed each one in and carried them to the window. As I looked back to see their now empty dirt covered home....it already looked cold and barren and void of the story that happened here... only as we knew it to be.
A family member of C.A.R.E. bottled fed this litter and they entire litter survived ! All were adopted through the efforts of C.A.R.E. The family that adopted Brownie (as we named her...and changed her name to Sandy )–returned her to C.A.R.E. several weeks later...they stated their yard was not fenced properly after all. We gladly took her back and have her fostered in a big yard she can run and play in. She loves the water. Sandy has current vaccinations, and has been spayed. She waits for her forever home.
Who knows what Sandy’s memories may be....but each time I drive the road 108 at night on my way to work...I look at the side of the road I first I saw Sandy’s mother trotting along on the side of it and drifting off into the wood line.
I hope somehow she knows all turned out okay....that C.A.R.E. was there for her after all.....
