What happened next...

The little dog remembered being snuggled in a box with his brothers and sisters. He was warm and full and happy. His mother was there, and he played and ate and slept. It was wonderful, and the only reason he remembers it, is because of what happened next.

A man and a woman and a little boy came to look at he and his brothers and sisters. After playing with all of the puppies, the little boy picked out the little dog to take home with him. The little dog thought it was a great adventure, and thought that he'd never forget how exciting it was to be in a “car.” But that was before what happened next.

The man and the woman and the little boy had a fine house, with many fine toys. And for a while the little boy and the little dog were great friends. But slowly the little boy didn't have time to play with the little dog, and when the little dog made his own games, the man and the woman and the little boy became very angry.

By now the little dog wasn't warm and wasn't full and wasn't happy at all. He missed his brothers and sisters. He missed the exciting car ride. He even missed the little boy. And this is how he would have felt forever, except for what happened next.

A lady in a big van came to the house, and talked to the man and the woman. The little dog knew they were talking about him, because the lady kept pointing at him and talking in a voice that sounded a little angry. Then she walked over, put the little dog on a leash, and led him to the van. Inside it was scary, and the little dog could smell many other dogs that had also been afraid. It wasn't anything like the exciting car ride. 

When the van stopped the lady took the little dog into her house. The house was full of barking dogs in crates, and the little dog was afraid. The lady gave him a warm bath and a plate of food, and put him in his own crate. The little dog was warm and full, but he still wasn't happy. And that’s how he thought things were going to stay, until what happened next.

A few weeks later, a man and a woman and a big, BIG dog came to visit the lady with the dogs in the crates. The man and the woman and the big, BIG dog played with each of the dogs one at a time. The little dog got his turn, and then he watched as the man and the woman and the lady talked and pointed to each of the dogs. Finally, the man signed some papers, and the lady put the little dog on a leash and led him out to their car. The little dog remembered the last car ride and wasn't too happy to be leaving. He was scared for the whole trip. 

Otto at the dog park.

When they arrived at the house of the man and the woman and the big, BIG dog, he followed them into the house. The man led him to his own fine dog bed, and showed him where his own food bowl was. The man and the big, BIG dog went to the dog park almost every day, and the little dog learned to run as fast as he wanted. He and the big, BIG dog played at the park, and played in the yard, and played at home. And when something called “college” was over, two smaller men came home and knelt on the floor and played with the dogs.

At last he was warm and full and happy. And that’s what happened next.

L-Magnus, R-Otto

This story, about our rescue dog Otto, was written by my husband Dan a few years ago. Last night Otto spent some time at the dog park, had a fine dinner and passed away while sleeping. He was my special dog. I understood his insecurities and his need to be warm and full and happy. 

I will always carry Otto in my heart and I look forward to seeing him warm and full and happy, playing with his big, BIG brother Magnus at the rainbow bridge.