Dec. 1999 —– Aug. 2001
Husky Mix
We were never quite sure of Max’s origin or
what this lively young dog might have experienced
before I found wandering in the front of the inner-city school where I taught.
What I was sure of was that he would never make it through the night.
He was already limping from being kicked and
some students were throwing soda cans at him.
I called the animal control warden and he was taken to the pound.
I knew that he would be safe there and
I told the warden I was interested in adopting him
if no one else claimed him.
No one ever did and soon “Max” was ours enjoying
a large yard and a loving family.
However as soon as he came into our home
he ran up the staircase and I couldn’t help but think
that he must have lived on the second story floor and
perhaps he was looking for his lost family.
Obviously other than the healing limp he was well cared for and
was especially loving to our children. What was he experiencing?
Was he looking for other children that he couldn’t find?
Was he looking for his missing master?
He was still a young dog…perhaps he got lost and confused
in the city streets before I found him.
His adjustment to our household was immediate.
He went on many walks and was introduced to new people all the time.
But every once in a while he would break free and try to run from us
as if to find something from his youth or perhaps protect us from cars
because when we went for walks it took months
before he would no longer bark at them.
Max flourished in our household.
He was a beautiful strong dog who always seemed so happy to see us
as he popped his handsome face out of the curtains whenever
he heard our car in the drive.
And every night he slept with one of us…no crates for him!
Just a little over a year after we adopted him Max got out of our house.
We noticed this immediately and tried to get him.
Lately he came back to us much more obediently than before but not this day.
He looked back at us and just seemed driven to run free.
We screamed his name over and over as he ran toward a busy road and
the sound of the car hitting him and his yelp was horrific.
My daughter screamed and cried on the side of the road
as the gathering onlookers tried to console her.
Many people tried to help us
and a special “pet ambulance” was dispatched immediately and
took Max to an animal hospital.
As he was being lifted inside the van he lifted his head and
looked at me and our eyes met for the last time.
He died in the doctor’s arms of massive internal bleeding.
But his handsome face and strong body were intact even after the accident.
I relive the last hour of his life over and over again.
What could I have done differently? Who left the door open?
Why did such a beautiful loving dog have to die so violently?
I don’t have the answers but pray for them constantly.
I need these answers to go on
because he seemed to willfully and deliberately
go into the road after the cars.
Perhaps this was the part of him I would never know…
a dog who craved freedom…
a dog who chose a chance to run free instead of returning to his master.
Part of our family is gone and a great emptiness remains.
We loved this beautiful dog so deeply.
Each day we hold his toys and try to smell his scent on them.
We still think we hear his jingling chain and strong bark.
We still think we feel the weight of his body on our legs as we sleep.
Where is our lovely Max now?
We pray for a sign that he is somewhere safe and free
to run as he always wanted to and that new loving arms will embrace him and
smooth his coat and look into his deep hazel eyes.
We pray that you rest in peace dear Max…
and we pray that we find peace in your passing too.
Your loving family.
Timmy Toni Terry Brija Joey
| Max |