Love Is A Beautiful Thing

A Real Life Story

By Mary Kiker

I have a little dog that is such a blessing to me.  He is half Chihuahua and half Jack Russell.  His name is Skoot.  I rescued him from an animal shelter four years ago.  After my divorce, I knew I would never remarry.  This little dog is now my friend and companion, and wonderful company.  He goes in the car with me almost every time I leave the house on weekends.  I love him very much. 

Last summer, while I was working in my front yard, I heard brakes squeal, and looked up and a man in a pick up truck had stopped just in time not to run over a very tiny little dog.  I ran and picked the little dog up from the middle of the street.  She seemed panicked.  Her hair was so long, it dragged to the ground, and she tripped over it.  Her nails had literally curled under and she could hardly walk.  I couldn't even see her face; only her nose.  She was matted and her little nose was all scratched up.  She was nearly starved.  She only weighed 2 1/2 lbs.  I later got her weight up to 4 lbs, which was normal for her breed. 

I took her to the vet and had her cleaned and groomed and doctored and her teeth cleaned.  I was hoping to find her a home.  She looked like a very expensive dog.  However, when the vet checked her out, and got the hair trimmed back so we could see, he reported to me that she was at least 20 years old, blind, and deaf.  The vet said she was within a day or two from starvation when I took her in.  She apparently had been abandoned.  

The Vet told me we could never find her a home, and asked me how I felt about putting her down. (He shared half the costs on all I was doing for her.)  I told him I could not put her down unless she was in pain, and I could give her love and care the remainder of her days.  He sent us home with a big smile on his face, and a few temporary medications. 

I kept her on a big (always clean) comforter in my garage, which is also clean and carpeted, because I work and didn't want her to mess up my home's carpet while I was away at work.  She always used a towel for her bathroom.  She had a fan in the summer, and a heater when the weather turned cold.  She was "comfy".  I learned she could see my shadow.  She would follow me around right on my heels.  She could hear me when I put her to my mouth and neck to talk to her.  She would cuddle into me and react to the love. 

She learned her way all around the house and back yard, and would have so much fun when inside with Skoot and me, or when we took her out to play.  She had a vitamin, fresh water, and love and good food every day.  The vet had her on straight dry food.  She never knew hunger again, and her last days were filled with safety, comfort, fun and affection.  She loved Skoot and me very much, and we both loved her too. 

She died of a stroke six months later, with me telling her how much I loved her and what a joy she had been.  Skoot had stretched out on his little tummy in front of her.  We both grieved for a while, but the pain was worth the gain.  Love is a beautiful thing, whether for humans, animals, nature, etc.  Love is Love is Love.  God made man in His own Image to rule over the earth, but He loves all of His creation.  He IS Love!  I will pray God leads many to your new web site, and the site will encourage and change cold hearts to loving and caring ones.

We have been blessed with tender hearts.  Let's keep using this tenderness to comfort and bless.

Mary Kiker

Oklahoma City , OK