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Stories
I still remember the day they brought him home, the dog next door. Just a touch of chill was in the
spring air, but the days were getting longer and the promise of summer hung like the fog over a
river. He was a cute little thing, all legs, head, ears and feet, nothing seemed in proportion but
everything about him was adorable. Every morning, one or the other and sometimes both of the
people who lived there could be seen walking him in the misty morning light. They named him
Shadow because he followed them everywhere they went. On the morning and afternoon walks, at
first, he lunged ahead of them straining against his leash, trying to see and smell everything in
sight, desperate with an urge to run free and chase everything, even the wind that teased his nose.
He always stopped to greet the neighbors with a lick and a wag of his friendly tail, particularly
enjoying the joyful laughing children that played up and down the street. His little tongue hung out
as he panted his way back home, one happy tired puppy, ready for a long cool drink and I’m sure, a
long nap. On weekends, they’d take him to the park to play or throw a Frisbee in the backyard.
They kept a child’s wading pool in the backyard where he'd play with water toys.
The young couple never had children, but then again, that is not so unusual today. They always
said Shadow was all the child they needed, he was their baby, their little boy. He went on drives in
the nearby mountains with them, picnics at the lake, weekly trips to PetSmart, he even went on trips
with them, their constant companion. On vacations, they booked pet friendly hotels and all their
vacation pictures had huge landmarks, the Grand Canyon, Old Faithful, the San Francisco Bay
Bridge, in the background and Shadow, nose in the air, eyes gleaming with love and just the littlest
tip of his tongue hanging out, in the foreground with one or both of his guardians. I so enjoyed
seeing them together. As time passed, he got better on the leash and ambled along side them as
they walked, no longer trying to drag them along behind, just content to be with them and greeting
every neighbor on the street, never meeting a stranger.
After seeing the trio light up my neighborhood for several years, the girl next door got very ill with
cancer and was in and out of the hospital for several months. While she was gone the young man
walked the lovely Shadow, who had by then grown into a beautiful dog, the puppiness no longer
showed in his face and the lean angular legs of his “teens” had long since given way to tightly
drawn, now slightly rounding muscles, and just the faintest sprinkling of white began to show
around his muzzle. The one thing that never changed about Shadow was his adoration for his
keepers which still glowed deeply in his dark, compassionate eyes. I asked about the young man’
s wife when I saw him and Shadow on one of their frequent walks. I was told she was finally in
remission and she’d be home this week, hopefully for good. He and Shadow could hardly wait.
Upon her return, she spent hours in a sun drenched hammock with Shadow lying peacefully by her
side, protecting her, loving her, relishing that his best friend was home again, occasionally giving
her a kiss, nose lingering at her face, almost as though to see if she was still breathing. When she
walked, it was slowly, almost painfully, like she would collapse any minute, but Shadow was there
to catch her, for her to lean on for strength. Strong, loyal, loving Shadow, how I envied their
relationship.
A year passed and a “for sale” sign went up in the yard next door. I was disappointed, but not totally
surprised. The house was very large with two staircases and although well, the woman next never
seemed to fully recover her strength from her long bout with cancer. I didn’t see the couple or
Shadow for a few weeks, until the “sold” banner was draped across the sign and I saw the couple
walking one evening without Shadow. I asked about their beloved companion and was told the
new place they bought was a one bedroom condo with bright light reflecting all white carpeting,
drapes and furniture and Shadow’s size and dark fur just precluded them from taking him to their
new home. But what had they done with poor Shadow, I asked, he must be devastated being
separated from them, they’d had him for, what 8, 9 years, I asked? Nine and a half, they somberly
shook their heads together and replied, he was 10 years old because they got him at 6 months.
But what had they done with him I asked, did they find a good home for him? Again, somberly, they
shook their heads together, no, they tried, they advertised, posted him on the internet, but nobody
came forward and they “just ran out of time” they took Shadow to the local animal shelter where
they were assured that he would be given every chance for adoption.
In stunned disbelief, I ripped myself away from the conversation muttering something about what a
shameful, unforgivable thing they had done and ran inside to call the shelter. I would take Shadow
myself, why hadn’t they asked me? Why hadn’t they put flyers in the neighborhood, we all loved
Shadow, he was wonderful dog. He was old, he only had maybe 2, maybe 4 more years to live,
even if I didn’t want a dog, I could give one a good life for 4 years. How could they have done this?
Shadow nursed her back from the brink of death, he was with them constantly for almost 10 years,
and they were discarding him like so much used up furniture because his color didn't fit their new
décor? Because their condo was too small for a big dog like Shadow? Didn’t they remember they
had a big dog when they went shopping for condos? Or had Shadow conveniently slipped their
mind, or had they already decided, even then, that Shadow was disposable after 10 years of love
and loyalty? What were they thinking? Or were they thinking at all?
Shadow, the shelter asked? No, we don’t have a Shadow on our roles. Hold on please and let me
get someone in records. Hello, records. Hold on and let me check. Yes, we had a Shadow here,
he was an owner turn in. It says here they could no longer keep him due to a move they were
making. Let me connect you to someone who works in the area where Shadow was. Hello,
Special Needs, this is Rick. Shadow? Big black dog? About 9 or 10 years old, maybe 70
pounds? Yeah, I remember him. Saddest thing, pretty dog. Big black dog with a little white in his
face and some red, like a Rottie Shepherd mix, big, gentle dog, friendly, very well trained, I never
could figure out how someone gave him up, I tried to find a home for him myself, would’ve taken
him myself but my landlord has already let me go 3 dogs over my apartment limit as it is, I was
afraid to ask for another one. That was one great dog though. Kept pacing his pen like he was
waiting for someone, he was probably wondering where his owners were, I guess dogs don’t quite
figure it out that humans don’t love like they do. Every time the main doors would swing open, he’d
jump and dash to the end closest to the door, poke his nose to mesh and sniff the air, I’ll bet if they
had come back for him, he would have smelled them before they got there, but they never did.
Come back that is, they never did come back.
Nah, nobody got him, a few people looked at him though. He’d get so excited when someone
showed interest in him, I thought for sure his excitement would get him adopted, no more time than
he had. He was a good looking dog, didn’t look his age except for the little bit of white on his
muzzle, he was in great shape, considering the problem he had, hadn’t started to lose weight or
anything, playful as some pups, but people don’t want old dogs and they really don’t want old dogs
like Shadow. They want puppies or youngsters, dogs they’ll have a long time – but the more I see
it, people just keep them til the dog gets old or develops special needs, then they dump them off
here, like we are going to be able to find them a home. They either don’t get it or don’t want to get it
that that’s not the way it works. They just don’t want to know they are bringing them here for us to
do what they don’t have the guts to do.
Never will figure that thing out about people and puppies. Puppies are little terrorists, they chew
everything in sight, crap all over your good shoes, your old shoes, your floor, everywhere except
where you want them to, they’ll go outside and wait til they get back in to pee in your kitchen floor.
Puppies are a menace. They run everywhere, never walk, won’t come when you call them, they’ll
follow their nose into the next county if they ever get away from you, where an older dog has got it
figured out that you are his key to a full belly and the good life, ya’ know.
You know, that dog Shadow never even messed his pen? Even with his problem, even being
dumped by his owner in a place where everyone craps everywhere, he was fastidious. Even in his
greatest time of need, he didn’t forget his training. He was great, he’d bark until one of us came
and took him outside but it wasn’t a problem, We all knew from the first day when Shadow barked
what he wanted, he would get all wiggly and pace and bark, as soon as we leashed him, he looked
relieved. We all tried to pay special attention to him, but with so many dogs, we get 20 or so a day
turned in or picked up and we only house 200 dogs and that includes those in quarantine. Yeah,
Shadow was a sad case alright. It’s the Shadows in this job that make me want to either quit this
job or do more to stop this kind of thing but there’s no accounting for stupidity.
I was here when they were getting ready to take him back. I took him outside in the sun and sat
with him wishing he could talk, he had a secret, I just know he had a secret, something so hurtful
that even he couldn’t believe it but dogs can’t talk and we will never know. There was this look in
his eyes, resignation, but more, he looked disappointed more than sad or angry, I’d have been
ticked if someone dumped me off here, but it was more than that for him. I just kept telling him that
I was sorry, that they didn’t know what they were doing, that people are stupid and the world would
be better if people were more like dogs and capable of such unconditional love, Man it was tough
to let him go, but even with my face in his neck, I could see this almost resigned look in his eyes,
like if he couldn’t be where his friends were, this was probably the best thing, almost like he knew
his last days, months would be spent here, probably in pain, with all this barking, clattering, stink
mixed with pine oil and bleach and he’d just as soon get it over with as to live like this.
While we sat there in the sun Shadow seemed to love so much, he just licked my face and my
hands, I’m almost sure he understood and knew what I was saying and how sorry I was. I don’t
think he blamed me or anyone, I think he was just wondering why, why him and why now. Being
abandoned in his time of need, not just that he was getting older, but that he really needed his
people, was the hardest thing to see in his eyes, but what can you do? This is what we do, most of
the dogs brought here meet the same fate. I wonder what goes through people's minds when they
bring their pets here, what are they thinking will happen? That we have magic homes just waiting
on their abandoned dog? Tch, tch, tch, what are they thinking? Truth is we put down far more than
we adopt. I still feel bad about poor Shadow. Every time this happens and particularly with
Shadow, I kept thinking that they’d get home and things wouldn’t seem the same without him and
they’d fix whatever it was that made them give him up to die. They had to know he wouldn’t make it
in here even without his other problems.
I’m so sorry, I can hear you crying, how did you know Shadow? Oh, I see, What’s that? Oh, that,
special needs, no, no, special needs aren’t just older dogs, special needs dogs are usually
handicapped, sick, need medication, something like that. All the dogs that come in here get
checked by a volunteer vet before they can be put up for adoption. I'm so sorry, it's the saddest
thing, Shadow had cancer. Even if we hadn’t euthanized him, he probably didn’t have more than
another 6 months to live. Such a shame that his owners couldn’t have just held out just a few more
months - just a few to let him live comfortably his last few months and die with dignity - six more
months. Just six more months.
spring air, but the days were getting longer and the promise of summer hung like the fog over a
river. He was a cute little thing, all legs, head, ears and feet, nothing seemed in proportion but
everything about him was adorable. Every morning, one or the other and sometimes both of the
people who lived there could be seen walking him in the misty morning light. They named him
Shadow because he followed them everywhere they went. On the morning and afternoon walks, at
first, he lunged ahead of them straining against his leash, trying to see and smell everything in
sight, desperate with an urge to run free and chase everything, even the wind that teased his nose.
He always stopped to greet the neighbors with a lick and a wag of his friendly tail, particularly
enjoying the joyful laughing children that played up and down the street. His little tongue hung out
as he panted his way back home, one happy tired puppy, ready for a long cool drink and I’m sure, a
long nap. On weekends, they’d take him to the park to play or throw a Frisbee in the backyard.
They kept a child’s wading pool in the backyard where he'd play with water toys.
The young couple never had children, but then again, that is not so unusual today. They always
said Shadow was all the child they needed, he was their baby, their little boy. He went on drives in
the nearby mountains with them, picnics at the lake, weekly trips to PetSmart, he even went on trips
with them, their constant companion. On vacations, they booked pet friendly hotels and all their
vacation pictures had huge landmarks, the Grand Canyon, Old Faithful, the San Francisco Bay
Bridge, in the background and Shadow, nose in the air, eyes gleaming with love and just the littlest
tip of his tongue hanging out, in the foreground with one or both of his guardians. I so enjoyed
seeing them together. As time passed, he got better on the leash and ambled along side them as
they walked, no longer trying to drag them along behind, just content to be with them and greeting
every neighbor on the street, never meeting a stranger.
After seeing the trio light up my neighborhood for several years, the girl next door got very ill with
cancer and was in and out of the hospital for several months. While she was gone the young man
walked the lovely Shadow, who had by then grown into a beautiful dog, the puppiness no longer
showed in his face and the lean angular legs of his “teens” had long since given way to tightly
drawn, now slightly rounding muscles, and just the faintest sprinkling of white began to show
around his muzzle. The one thing that never changed about Shadow was his adoration for his
keepers which still glowed deeply in his dark, compassionate eyes. I asked about the young man’
s wife when I saw him and Shadow on one of their frequent walks. I was told she was finally in
remission and she’d be home this week, hopefully for good. He and Shadow could hardly wait.
Upon her return, she spent hours in a sun drenched hammock with Shadow lying peacefully by her
side, protecting her, loving her, relishing that his best friend was home again, occasionally giving
her a kiss, nose lingering at her face, almost as though to see if she was still breathing. When she
walked, it was slowly, almost painfully, like she would collapse any minute, but Shadow was there
to catch her, for her to lean on for strength. Strong, loyal, loving Shadow, how I envied their
relationship.
A year passed and a “for sale” sign went up in the yard next door. I was disappointed, but not totally
surprised. The house was very large with two staircases and although well, the woman next never
seemed to fully recover her strength from her long bout with cancer. I didn’t see the couple or
Shadow for a few weeks, until the “sold” banner was draped across the sign and I saw the couple
walking one evening without Shadow. I asked about their beloved companion and was told the
new place they bought was a one bedroom condo with bright light reflecting all white carpeting,
drapes and furniture and Shadow’s size and dark fur just precluded them from taking him to their
new home. But what had they done with poor Shadow, I asked, he must be devastated being
separated from them, they’d had him for, what 8, 9 years, I asked? Nine and a half, they somberly
shook their heads together and replied, he was 10 years old because they got him at 6 months.
But what had they done with him I asked, did they find a good home for him? Again, somberly, they
shook their heads together, no, they tried, they advertised, posted him on the internet, but nobody
came forward and they “just ran out of time” they took Shadow to the local animal shelter where
they were assured that he would be given every chance for adoption.
In stunned disbelief, I ripped myself away from the conversation muttering something about what a
shameful, unforgivable thing they had done and ran inside to call the shelter. I would take Shadow
myself, why hadn’t they asked me? Why hadn’t they put flyers in the neighborhood, we all loved
Shadow, he was wonderful dog. He was old, he only had maybe 2, maybe 4 more years to live,
even if I didn’t want a dog, I could give one a good life for 4 years. How could they have done this?
Shadow nursed her back from the brink of death, he was with them constantly for almost 10 years,
and they were discarding him like so much used up furniture because his color didn't fit their new
décor? Because their condo was too small for a big dog like Shadow? Didn’t they remember they
had a big dog when they went shopping for condos? Or had Shadow conveniently slipped their
mind, or had they already decided, even then, that Shadow was disposable after 10 years of love
and loyalty? What were they thinking? Or were they thinking at all?
Shadow, the shelter asked? No, we don’t have a Shadow on our roles. Hold on please and let me
get someone in records. Hello, records. Hold on and let me check. Yes, we had a Shadow here,
he was an owner turn in. It says here they could no longer keep him due to a move they were
making. Let me connect you to someone who works in the area where Shadow was. Hello,
Special Needs, this is Rick. Shadow? Big black dog? About 9 or 10 years old, maybe 70
pounds? Yeah, I remember him. Saddest thing, pretty dog. Big black dog with a little white in his
face and some red, like a Rottie Shepherd mix, big, gentle dog, friendly, very well trained, I never
could figure out how someone gave him up, I tried to find a home for him myself, would’ve taken
him myself but my landlord has already let me go 3 dogs over my apartment limit as it is, I was
afraid to ask for another one. That was one great dog though. Kept pacing his pen like he was
waiting for someone, he was probably wondering where his owners were, I guess dogs don’t quite
figure it out that humans don’t love like they do. Every time the main doors would swing open, he’d
jump and dash to the end closest to the door, poke his nose to mesh and sniff the air, I’ll bet if they
had come back for him, he would have smelled them before they got there, but they never did.
Come back that is, they never did come back.
Nah, nobody got him, a few people looked at him though. He’d get so excited when someone
showed interest in him, I thought for sure his excitement would get him adopted, no more time than
he had. He was a good looking dog, didn’t look his age except for the little bit of white on his
muzzle, he was in great shape, considering the problem he had, hadn’t started to lose weight or
anything, playful as some pups, but people don’t want old dogs and they really don’t want old dogs
like Shadow. They want puppies or youngsters, dogs they’ll have a long time – but the more I see
it, people just keep them til the dog gets old or develops special needs, then they dump them off
here, like we are going to be able to find them a home. They either don’t get it or don’t want to get it
that that’s not the way it works. They just don’t want to know they are bringing them here for us to
do what they don’t have the guts to do.
Never will figure that thing out about people and puppies. Puppies are little terrorists, they chew
everything in sight, crap all over your good shoes, your old shoes, your floor, everywhere except
where you want them to, they’ll go outside and wait til they get back in to pee in your kitchen floor.
Puppies are a menace. They run everywhere, never walk, won’t come when you call them, they’ll
follow their nose into the next county if they ever get away from you, where an older dog has got it
figured out that you are his key to a full belly and the good life, ya’ know.
You know, that dog Shadow never even messed his pen? Even with his problem, even being
dumped by his owner in a place where everyone craps everywhere, he was fastidious. Even in his
greatest time of need, he didn’t forget his training. He was great, he’d bark until one of us came
and took him outside but it wasn’t a problem, We all knew from the first day when Shadow barked
what he wanted, he would get all wiggly and pace and bark, as soon as we leashed him, he looked
relieved. We all tried to pay special attention to him, but with so many dogs, we get 20 or so a day
turned in or picked up and we only house 200 dogs and that includes those in quarantine. Yeah,
Shadow was a sad case alright. It’s the Shadows in this job that make me want to either quit this
job or do more to stop this kind of thing but there’s no accounting for stupidity.
I was here when they were getting ready to take him back. I took him outside in the sun and sat
with him wishing he could talk, he had a secret, I just know he had a secret, something so hurtful
that even he couldn’t believe it but dogs can’t talk and we will never know. There was this look in
his eyes, resignation, but more, he looked disappointed more than sad or angry, I’d have been
ticked if someone dumped me off here, but it was more than that for him. I just kept telling him that
I was sorry, that they didn’t know what they were doing, that people are stupid and the world would
be better if people were more like dogs and capable of such unconditional love, Man it was tough
to let him go, but even with my face in his neck, I could see this almost resigned look in his eyes,
like if he couldn’t be where his friends were, this was probably the best thing, almost like he knew
his last days, months would be spent here, probably in pain, with all this barking, clattering, stink
mixed with pine oil and bleach and he’d just as soon get it over with as to live like this.
While we sat there in the sun Shadow seemed to love so much, he just licked my face and my
hands, I’m almost sure he understood and knew what I was saying and how sorry I was. I don’t
think he blamed me or anyone, I think he was just wondering why, why him and why now. Being
abandoned in his time of need, not just that he was getting older, but that he really needed his
people, was the hardest thing to see in his eyes, but what can you do? This is what we do, most of
the dogs brought here meet the same fate. I wonder what goes through people's minds when they
bring their pets here, what are they thinking will happen? That we have magic homes just waiting
on their abandoned dog? Tch, tch, tch, what are they thinking? Truth is we put down far more than
we adopt. I still feel bad about poor Shadow. Every time this happens and particularly with
Shadow, I kept thinking that they’d get home and things wouldn’t seem the same without him and
they’d fix whatever it was that made them give him up to die. They had to know he wouldn’t make it
in here even without his other problems.
I’m so sorry, I can hear you crying, how did you know Shadow? Oh, I see, What’s that? Oh, that,
special needs, no, no, special needs aren’t just older dogs, special needs dogs are usually
handicapped, sick, need medication, something like that. All the dogs that come in here get
checked by a volunteer vet before they can be put up for adoption. I'm so sorry, it's the saddest
thing, Shadow had cancer. Even if we hadn’t euthanized him, he probably didn’t have more than
another 6 months to live. Such a shame that his owners couldn’t have just held out just a few more
months - just a few to let him live comfortably his last few months and die with dignity - six more
months. Just six more months.
The Dog Next Door by Deborah Wood