PUPPY LOVE

It was half past eleven and I was running late for Annie's monthly visit to the Veterinarians.  Annie, the youngest of my five adopted cats, suffered from a rare immune dysfunction that required a series of expensive monthly injections. I had been dreading this day for weeks. Within minutes I would find out the results of her lab work. Depending on the outcome, it would mean more injections, more blood tests, more pain. I whisked Annie into her carrier, cleaned out the last of my savings from the cookie jar and raced to make my appointment.

"Dr. Warren will be just a moment." said the assistant, as she lead Anne and I down the hall to room B. I held my trembling little cat on my lap and she nuzzled my hand as I petted her saying, "It's okay sweetheart, I won't let anything happen to you." I remember asking God to "please give this little cat a break." She had already survived such a tough beginning in her young life, by being left in a garbage dump behind the Vet's building as a kitten. Now, months later she was still suffering. I knew I would do anything to help this little cat.

"Great news!" said Dr. Warren, bursting through the door. "Annie won't need an injection today. Her lab results show she has made tremendous improvement. There isn't any reason for you to have to come back unless she has a flare up."  I was thrilled! My prayers had been answered. I jumped up, hugged Dr. Warren and scooped Annie up in my arms.

I was preparing to leave the building when I heard the most heart wrenching cry come from the waiting room. There stood a woman holding her lifeless puppy. The technician took her beloved little dog from her arms and rushed to the emergency area. In between sobs, the woman was trying to arrange some kind of financial arrangement with the hospital.  She was a recent widow and had just lost her job. I was stunned when she said she had just taken all her jewelry to the local pawn shop to try to raise money, including her wedding ring.

I drove home in tears. The terror and anguish of the woman's face still imprinted on my mind. I held Annie close to me thinking of the sacrifice this woman was prepared to make to save her little companion.

Then, in an instant, everything became clear to me; why I had been blest with the great report, why I had been the only other one left in the hospital to witness this tragedy. Knowing I had been willing to sacrifice anything to help my own little cat just minutes before.

I dropped Annie off at home and raced back to the Vet's office. They were just about to close and the woman was gone. I asked about the puppy and found out he needed a transfusion. His life was hanging by a thread and it was doubtful he would make it. "Please take this," I said, dumping the contents of my wallet on the counter. I looked at the money I had saved for Annie's injections and smiled, hoping it would now help
save this little dog.

Several days later, Dr. Warren called me to say the puppy had lived and he was finally strong enough to go home to his family. The money I had brought in was enough to cover the bill and the woman was able to get her wedding ring back. I hung up the phone overwhelmed by tears of joy. 

~~ Soaring Spirit, ©2002~~

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