I've been inspired by another thread, and it reminded me of some of the dogs that people have given or tried to give me over the years. By far, however, the sweetest tale is one of a puppy that crossed my path on Christmas of 2010 (two weeks before I located and adopted Sadie).

My sister was an EMT at the time (she has since completed paramedic training and been promoted). On Christmas morning, she called me to ask me if I wanted a puppy. She thought of me first, because she knew how much I missed my beloved Tera, who had passed away the previous spring.

She had been called to the scene of an automobile accident in a remote area. While working the scene, she and others saw a young puppy pacing and whining on the shoulder of the highway nearby. Each time it thought of crossing the highway, a car would fly by and he would dash back to the shoulder. She told the other emergency personnel that she couldn't just watch while the puppy got hit, had her coworker cover for a very brief moment, and went to retrieve the pup. However, she WAS still working, so she called her husband, and he went to the scene and picked up the little guy. The puppy had no tags, and there were no houses nearby. They assumed that someone had tossed it out on the highway.

Though I wanted another dog, I didn't feel that I could care for a puppy. I was working five tens on the nightshift and sleeping days, and that just wouldn't be a fair schedule for a developing dog. I called a lady whom I was dating. She lived an hour and a half away, in the country, and had a small farm with dogs, kids, and horses. Coincidentally, I was going to be joining her and her family for Christmas dinner, at her Mom's house near my home.

Kim said she didn't want any more dogs, but her neighbor had just lost a very loving family dog to a sudden terminal illness at four years old. Though she was busy trying to get her brood ready for the trek to New Orleans, she took time to text her neighbor. They said they'd love a new puppy, and all seemed rosy.

Well, the next step was to get the puppy from my sister, who lived on the opposite side of the New Orleans area. I had worked the night before and was running on two hours rest, but I resolved to make the round trip in time for dinner with the girlfriend's family. All of a sudden I remembered that Kim had a niece, Hayley, who lived near my sister. Perfect!! It only took umpteen text messages, but we relayed directions to Hayley (who didn't even know my sister) and she gladly went to my sister's house and brought the puppy to Granny's for the next leg of his journey to his new home.

I was last to arrive at Kim's mom's house. She and the kids were waiting for me in the front yard, and came running up to me
with this adorable, 10-12 week old dark chocolate Lab. I've owned more than a few labs, and it was clear to me that this was a well-bred, well-cared for puppy. They wanted me to hold and cuddle the wee fellow, but I refused. How could I have declined to accept such a wonderful gift? My heart was broken. I did my best to completely ignore him the remainder of the day.

Well, the kids, being the next generation of techno-wizards that they are, were amusing themselves on the internet with their phones. Hayley decided to go to Craigslist and check to see if anyone had posted about a lost puppy in the area where this one was found. She came across a listing, viewed the ad, and there were Christmas photos of a chocolate lab puppy dressed in different Christmas costumes from a professional photoshoot. Could it be?

Hayley answered the ad, relating where the puppy was found, and within just a few minutes, got her reply; it was indeed the same puppy. He had been an early Christmas gift to a young newlywed bride from her husband. She was very attached to her new companion, and was having a very depressing Christmas because her darling had somehow gotten out of the house and ran away on Christmas Eve.

Instead of going to live in the country, the puppy returned with Hayley to the opposite side of New Orleans to be reunited with his human. The little guy had quite a journey, and touched the lives and hearts of a lot of good people, from one side of this city to the other, that Christmas day.

And I still wipe away the tears after I tell this story.

And now I wipe away tears, Duane.

Damn Hallmark stories!

Great story, Duane. What a wonderful thing your sister did that day, as well as all of you who helped that pup afterwards.

Yes, and Hayley is my hero. A lot going on in a young (20yo) girl.