I didn’t want a dog.
I was just about to start med school, and as a ‘non-traditional student’ (euphemism for middle aged person with a less than plastic brain), I knew I’d be spending long hours in classes, labs or studying. Yet when I saw the notice about the 10 year old Akita that needed a home *now,* I paused. This poor girl had been left behind in her empty home, abandoned when her owner moved away. I called KD, the contact on the flier.
Two days later I had a dog. An elderly dog. A dog virtually every one of my family members and friends had told me NOT to adopt. ‘She’s old!’ ‘She’ll die soon.’ ‘She’s going to have health problems!’ ;Her owner probably dumped her for a reason!’ ‘My sister, my sole supporter, said: ‘Take the dog. She needs a home. She won’t be much trouble and will be grateful for a good, quiet, secure place to spend her last years.’
Cagney slipped into my life without causing a ripple. She gave me a reason to get exercise when we walked in the morning. She gave me an excuse to go home at lunch — which meant I actually ate lunch, rather than missing the meal to spend time in class or studying. She was also the reason I got a dinner break. Home I’d go to let her out, or to take her for a short walk, feed her, and then have a bite to eat myself.
When Caggers died suddenly and unexpectedly a mere 9 months after she’d joined my household, I was devastated. She was my pal, my companion, my bed warmer. She had fit so seamlessly into my routine, it felt as if she’d always been there. Her death left a gaping hole in my life, which I attempted to fill with books, school work and studying.
I left early, stayed on campus till the wee hours, then returned home to collapse into bed, only to rise before dawn and start over. A week dragged by, and then another.
One night I’d been cramming for an exam in neuro-anatomy. My stress levels were high — the failure rate for this course was shocking, and I couldn’t afford to do anything but pass. Tossing and turning, I eventually fell into a fitful sleep. At one point, I rolled over and opened my eyes.
Cagney was standing at my bedside, her deep brown eyes gazing directly into mine. She gave me a big, toothy smile and said ‘Thank you!’
‘What?’
‘Thank you! You gave me the best 9 months of my life.’
I blinked, attempting to clear the sleep from my befuddled brain. ‘Cagney! What are you doing here?’
‘I wanted to thank you. You were the best owner I had. You were kind, generous, thoughtful, consistent, and gave me really good food. And you need to know that I’m thankful.’
I reached my hand out to stroke her graying face. ‘I miss you! Are you back to be here with me?’
‘No. I came back to tell you to take your grief and put it into someone else. I’m sending you my replacement. He’ll come soon. This is my way of thanking you. I’m sending him to you even though you don’t think you’re ready.’
She licked my hand. ‘Caggers!’ She was gone.
I didn’t sleep the rest of the night. Though I sat hunched over my neuro text pretending to study, I was unable to retain any of the words that swam before my eyes. Too weird! A talking dog! Who wasn’t alive!
But I thought I’d really felt her soft fur. And her words sounded heart-felt…… I shrugged to myself. A lovely dream. Time to get up and start the day.
When I walked into the kitchen, Cagney’s food and water bowls were carefully aligned on their placemat by the side of the fridge. I thought I’d put them in a seldom used cabinet. Ah, I must have thought I’d done it. I’d been so busy.
Grabbing my coffee mug, I figured I’d grab a cuppa at the school cafe, along with a bagel. Heading towards the door to the garage, I picked up my jean jacket off the coat rack. Cagney’s leash was carefully hung on a peg underneath. I shook my head. I thought I’d put that away with her brushes. Too much on my mind!
I was just about to turn the door knob when I heard the phone ring. Blast! If I took this call, I’d not have time to get food before my first class.
Something compelled me to dart back and grab the receiver before the call went to voicemail.
‘Nancy? Nancy, this is KD with Akita Rescue. I know you’re still heartbroken about losing Cagney and I know the absolute last thing you want to think about is another dog. But we need your help, if there’s any way you can do it. We just got a call about a big male that was pushed out of a moving truck on a highway in Cleveland….’