May 20, 2009 10:31 am
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I was stuck again in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the way home from work when I realized there really wasn’t much else to do but take a deep breath and relax.
Getting frustrated certainly wasn’t going to make the traffic light change any faster. It was raining just enough to keep the wipers moving and the defroster wasn’t winning the battle over a windshield that continued to fog up. A 1971 MGB isn’t known for even the most basic of luxuries like effective defrosters and heaters. There is a standing joke among British Motor Car enthusiasts that the reason the Brits drink warm beer is because Lucas electrical components are used in their refrigerators.
At this point, it was beginning to get dark and since my MGB sat quite a bit lower to the ground than the majority of American cars my headlamps were doing a fair job of illuminating the road underneath the cars out in front of mine.
That’s when I saw her. Out of the corner of my eye I somehow detected the motion of what appeared to be a very small animal darting in and out of the traffic. Instinctively, I managed to get to the side of the road where I jumped out of the car and went in pursuit of the small creature that was on the verge of getting hit by a car.
Another driver pulled over and joined me in the pursuit of this reckless little soul. We were both running down the side of the road and were about to lose her when a wrecker pulled over and the driver managed to stop her in her tracks. The wrecker driver bent down to pick her up and immediately received a pretty good bite on his hand for his attempt to assist. I then attempted to settle her down since the gentleman was beginning to have somewhat of a change of heart.
Seeing that she was now safely out of the highway, the folks who had assisted me were now returning to their cars, leaving me to decide what to do with “Reckless.” That was easy. She was going home to live with me and my family. All I had to do was take my new dog home to my wife!
After calling the local animal shelter to see if anyone had reported a missing dog, we discovered that since Reckless had in fact bitten someone I had to take her to the county jail for wayward dogs otherwise known as the dog pound.
I waited the specified period of time according to the pound and after convincing my wife how much I wanted that dog we agreed to adopt her if her owners failed to show.
Reckless became my personal dog. She loved me and preferred me over all other members of the family. I spoiled her whenever I could get away with it and thoroughly enjoyed her company especially during “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy.”
She was a Chihuahua who, according to the veterinarian, was probably around 8 years old when we found her. Reckless by all accounts was the perfect lap dog, squirrel-chasing dog, cat-chasing dog and general all-purpose dog.
Dogs have always been special creatures to me. I can’t imagine raising a family without having a dog around the house. It is especially amazing how we can become so attached to our pets, creating incredible bonds which endure forever.
There is a special group of dogs here in Iraq who perform heroic duties protecting service members from a variety of threats. They are the working dogs of the United States Air Force (USAF). Air Force dog handlers have special relationships with these dogs. It is obvious that trust and love play a huge role in the day-to-day care of these remarkable animal patriots. Dog Handler Staff Sgt. Jason Sheldon from Belleville, Ill., says his job is “absolutely the most rewarding of any career field in the Air Force.” They train their dogs with compassion and respect knowing all the while how dangerous their lot in life is.
Tech. Sgt. Blake Hemmann from Monee, Ill., says, “It just doesn’t get any better than this” when it comes describing what he gets paid to do. Bomb sniffing is only a small part of what these dogs do on a daily basis. They also play a significant role in the apprehension of those who would do American service members harm. Staff Sgt. Adam Bearden from Lawton, Okla., jokingly refers to the observation that “manure does happen,” eluding to how these dedicated airmen are involved in every aspect regarding the care and training of their animals. A recent demonstration of how fast and powerful a military working dog can be erases any doubt in my mind as to their value in protecting our men and women in uniform.
Recently, a military working dog and his handler were injured in an IED attack.
The military member was medically retired along with her dog. This particular dog was allowed to be adopted by the K-9 handler who had worked with this dog over the course of deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
We consider these dogs special members of the team and understand the value and heroic contributions these animals make in the defense of our country. I have never been a K-9 handler, but can surely see how every handler past or present has developed that same special relationship that I have had with every one our family pets.
Back in 2003, old Reckless began to show serious signs of aging. She was then an estimated 17 years old. She was blind in one eye and had significant hearing loss. I was troubled by the turmoil of trying to ascertain her degree of suffering and ultimately had to make the hardest decision I have ever made in my life. I reached the conclusion that Reckless was dying and did not want her to suffer any longer.
Arriving home one afternoon, before my kids came home from school, I picked Reckless up and took her for a ride. Sitting in my lap I talked to her and told her how much I was going to miss her. We went to a fast-food restaurant drive-through where I bought her, her very own hamburger. We then proceeded on our way to the veterinarian. I checked in with the staff and after a few signatures, it was time. A staff member came to take Reckless away but, I insisted that I be the one to hold her until the end. We sat down together. All the while I was rubbing her ears while she stared at me with her big brown eyes. With tears welling up in my eyes and Reckless looking up at me with unquestioning trust and love, the staff lady gave her a shot, and in seconds Reckless was gone. A loyal and trusted to friend to the end, just like the K-9s here in Iraq.
As so many animal lovers say, there surely must be a special place in heaven for these creatures that love us so. Boy, I miss my dog.
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