| It was a late September afternoon and Gerald | | | | their little warrior. |
| was driving down a country road that took him | | | | So, Gerald called the lady who ran a no-kill shelter |
| through vineyards. Due to roadwork on the main | | | | in the next county and asked if she might accept |
| thoroughfare traffic had been detoured. | | | | a one-eyed little dog, with a big heart. She agreed |
| His job took him all over the valley and today he | | | | readily after Gerald explained the circumstances. |
| had spent a good portion of his day behind the | | | | He added the he'd like to come by every other |
| wheel. Down between two rows of grapevines | | | | Friday to pick the dog up and take him home for |
| something brownish-red caught his eye. Gerald | | | | weekend visits. It was Gerald's hope that their |
| slowed the car to a stop. | | | | Airedale would have a change of heart and grow |
| With a hobbling gait, a tiny animal made its way | | | | to accept the dog as a friend. |
| toward Gerald's car. Gerald opened his door and | | | | ~*~ |
| stepped out onto the dirt shoulder. The small | | | | One week Gerald got a call from the lady at the |
| animal kept advancing--its head tilted at an odd | | | | no-kill shelter, to tell him it looked like his little |
| angle. As the creature drew closer, Gerald | | | | rescue had found a forever home. Gerald knew |
| wondered how the animal could stand, let alone | | | | the time might come when the dog, which he had |
| walk--it was nothing but fur, skin, and bones. | | | | never named for fear of becoming too attached, |
| Gerald knelt down, keeping still, until the small dog | | | | would be noticed by a loving human and taken |
| took a few more halting steps, then as if | | | | home. |
| surrendering, the little fur boy collapsed at Gerald's | | | | Gerald's insides twisted painfully, this was the |
| feet. He was so frail looking Gerald hesitated to | | | | weekend he was to have picked the fur boy up |
| touch him. It was when the red dog turned his | | | | for another try at Gerald's house. |
| head up to peer at Gerald, that Gerald lost all his | | | | "May I come see him, one last time?" he said. |
| careful inhibition. | | | | "Of course!" |
| One of the young dog's eyes was totally | | | | Within half an hour he was at the shelter. The |
| destroyed. From his clear eye, the little dog | | | | lady was waiting for him, the small dog in her |
| studied him. He looked so sad it nearly broke | | | | arms. She handed him over and the dog's tail |
| Gerald's heart. | | | | wagged furiously as Gerald held him lovingly. Then |
| With eyes misting, Gerald gently scooped the fur | | | | the furry fellow showered Gerald with kisses. |
| boy up. "How have you made it this far?" he | | | | Gerald hugged him tightly and murmured words |
| muttered before settling the little guy on the | | | | of affection. He walked out to a side yard so he |
| passenger seat of his car. | | | | could be alone with the now-healthy fur ball, |
| He drove to the vet he used for his senior | | | | whose life he had saved. But, in saving his life, he |
| Airedale Terrier, Chauncey. The vet, in examining | | | | had lost his heart to the brave little warrior with |
| the dog said, "He must be in a lot of pain with | | | | the huge loving spirit. |
| that ruined eye. The injury has been left too long | | | | Before he left, the lady assured him the red dog |
| untreated." | | | | was going to a loving home. He nodded, thanked |
| The vet looked at Gerald, "I'll do all that I can to | | | | her and drove away. |
| make him well." | | | | It was hard for the lady to tell him about the new |
| Gerald nodded and left the office. | | | | home the dog was going to. Difficult talking to a |
| ~*~ | | | | man whose heart was breaking. Hard not to cry |
| Three days later Gerald brought the furry patient | | | | when she looked into his eyes brimming with |
| home. He had an e-collar on to prevent him from | | | | tears. |
| scratching at the stitches that kept his eyelids | | | | Later that afternoon a woman came to collect |
| shut. The infected, damaged eye had been | | | | her new family member. She had been told the |
| removed. | | | | story about the little dog. And, after she arrived |
| Gerald held the little boy; stroking him tenderly. | | | | at the shelter the lady told her about the man's |
| The twinkle in the dog's remaining eye and his | | | | last visit. |
| expression of thankful joy touched something | | | | In his medical files, Gerald had left a letter |
| deep in Gerald's soul. He decided to keep him, but | | | | describing how he had come to know and love |
| he needed to see how his older dog would get | | | | the little dog. Included in the letter was his phone |
| along with the newcomer. | | | | number. |
| As it turned out the elder dog would have nothing | | | | That night, with the phone cradled at her shoulder, |
| to do with the small red dog and there had been | | | | she told Gerald all about the red dog's new home. |
| a couple episodes where the Airedale had | | | | She told him she had named the furry boy, |
| physically threatened him. Gerald and his wife | | | | Furgus... |
| were devastated--they had both come to love | | | | ...And Gerald smiled. |