Dorcas Annette Walker

I had taken one of my cats in for her yearly shot and told my vet, Cindy Johnson, about my son's dog getting suddenly killed in an accident. When Cindy heard about Leo, she told me that a dog has just come in rescued by one of the Best Friends Sanctuary volunteers. This dog was found whimpering in the middle of the road beside a dog just like Leo, who had been run over and killed. Cindy asked me if I would see this abandoned dog. I agreed, although I told Cindy that at this point we weren't planning on getting another dog just then.

As soon as I saw the frightened dog my heart went out to this abandoned animal.

I spoke gently to her, reached out, and petted her head. The trembling dog whimpered, then reached out, and licked my hand. It was her first response to a human since being rescued. Her curly fur was all matted with burrs so I helped the volunteer comb some of them out. The dog lay still as though she understood that we were trying to help her. I was sure that such a loveable dog would be claimed.

Two weeks later I received a phone call from the volunteer, Sharon Craven. No one had come forward to claim this dog. Lost dog posters were put up. The police had gone from house to house in a wide circle for a couple of miles from where she was found asking if anyone knew who owned this dog, but no one wanted or identified her. Since the dog had responded so well to me, Sharon told me I would have the first chance to adopt this dog.

Another person was also interested so I told Sharon to let them have this dog if they wanted her. I was only concerned that this neglected dog would find a good home.

The next week Sharon called me back. The other person had come and seen Lucy Lou (the name her daughter gave the dog), but Sharon wasn't satisfied even though they seemed nice. Sharon kept remembering how Lucy Lou had responded to me and asked me again if I would be willing to adopt Lucy Lou. If Sharon hadn’t already been overloaded with keeping dogs needing homes her family would gladly have adopted Lucy Lou as they were becoming quite attached to her.

My heart went out this abandoned dog, who needed a loving home, but we had just received word that my husband's brother had died and we were getting ready to make a trip to Florida for the funeral. Sharon told me that she would keep Lucy Lou as long as I needed if I would take her. I agreed and Sharon made arrangements for Lucy Lou to be fixed and given all her shots.

Almost a month later from when I had first seen Lucy Lou, I went to pick her up at Sharon's house. I secretly wondered if Lucy Lou would remember me after such a long time, but as soon as I saw her it was as though we had never been parted. I signed the necessary papers, chatted with Sharon, and then got ready to leave. It was difficult for Sharon to say good-bye. Even though she had several other dogs, and Sharon kept saying that she couldn’t believe how much Lucy Lou and I were made for each other, I saw how a volunteer's heart becomes attached caring for these abandoned animals.

Lucy Lou rode home curled up in my lap and I carried her inside my house. Her dark eyes looked around at her new home. She cautiously sniffed exploring all the strange smells. As soon as my tall husband stood up, Lucy Lou flattened herself out on the floor and started to shake in fright. She did this for any loud noise or strange men for a couple of months, never letting me get out of her sight for an instant. At night she slept on the bed at my feet. The way she reacted to men confirmed my suspicions that she had been formerly abused by a man.

As much as we loved, petted, and assured Lucy Lou that she would never be abused or abandoned again, it was three months before Lucy Lou regained her self confidence back. As loveable as Lucy Lou had been from the start and quick to house train, I was amazed as her true personality began to emerge. Despite being abandoned by a human, Lucy Lou loves people and is quick to show it. Everyone that meets her falls in love. Today she greets any stranger with excitement trying to lick them to death while dancing around in excitement on her two back legs as if she can’t wait to show off her home and owners. She loves to romp and play and is quite the tease, but stops and gives a doggy kiss if she thinks she has been too rough.

Lucy Lou is quick to sense when I am in pain and will stay close by me. When I am in bed she spends the day curled up beside me licking my fingers every couple of hours to wake me up to make sure I am okay. She makes sure to give my feet a wide circle when I am unsteady walking. You would think that she had already been trained to be a companion to someone with a chronic illness. When I struggle with despair, Lucy Lou’s warm furry body gives me comfort and hope. Every morning I wake up to find her watching over me. Each day I am blessed to have an angel in fur enriching my life.

One day as I fretted about a friend of mine, who has cancer, I got the wild idea of using Lucy Lou to write a letter to help cheer my friend up. Being sick myself, I know the frustrations that one often feels. You tend to mask your true feelings. But with a dog, hey, you can say anything. Even so I wasn’t prepared for the quick response that Lucy Lou triggered with my friend. I decided to share these letters with others in a blog. Everyone needs a doggy friend in their life.

Find out more about Lucy Lou at my blog