Being in the dog business offers me the opportunity to meet some wonderful dogs and their people. In many cases we all become great friends. Dan and Albie are no different.
Dan's job has him travelling and meeting with clients quite a bit. Several months ago he was driving through rural West Virginia when he spied a black and white beagle trapped between the guard rail and the road. Being the good Samaritan that he is, Dan stopped his car to check on the lost pooch. The poor boy was dirty, covered in ticks, flea bitten, dehydrated, and obviously poorly fed. With no houses in site for the poor dog to call his home, Dan scooped him up and placed him in his car. His new priority was to get the little guy some help.
I have heard of many people doing something like this, but their next stop would be the nearest animal shelter where the future of the dog would be unknown. Not Dan. The beagle went straight to the vet to be treated for everything that could be wrong. Not only did the beagle get cleaned up, and up to date on shots, but he was also neutered.
The vet's opinion was that the beagle was a stud dog from a puppy mill that had been dropped onto the highway at some point. The dog was estimated to be about ten years old and was probably to the point of not being a producer anymore.
Feeling a connection with the beagle, Dan named him Albie and took him home with him. Dan's other dog, Bella, became quick friends with the new house mate, but all was not golden in paradise. Dan very quickly discovered the frustration of adopting a stud dog. Albie wasn't house broken. He hadn't been trained in any way, shape, or form. He wanted to mark everything. Dan immediately began crate training Albie, and to help him adjust started taking him everywhere so he could be fully socialized.
This changed some things for Dan. Albie started going on sales calls and to outdoor business lunches. He had to make sure his hotels would accept pets so Albie could travel with him. Dan would load up Albie's crate and the two would travel the country, partners in business.
I met Dan and Albie at a great little local dog-friendly restaurant called "Double Dog." We struck up a conversation and I told Dan all about Gangsta Dog and offered to give him some special training treats for Albie. We talked about some of the issues he was having, and since I had just adopted a stud dog as well, I was able to offer suggestions.
As the summer ticked by Dan discovered that Albie was a great bible study companion. Dan would sit on the front porch, reading his bible every morning, and Albie would sit next to him, his head on Dan's leg, patiently watching his new friend pour through the pages.
Dan told me something that caused me to respect him greatly. As a matter of fact, this single statement was the reason for this blog post. Albie still has issues with potty training. Every now and then Albie will pee or poop in the house. More than once Dan has become furious (inside) at his friends failures or mistakes. But, Dan told me that it made him examine himself. He came to the understanding that his new learned patience and forgiveness for Albie's mistakes made him realize that, in his heart, he knew he had done many things in his life way worse than anything Albie could do. And, if God could forgive him for his transgressions, what kind of person would he be to not have forgiveness and understanding for Albie. Because of that one little moment of enlightenment, a rescued dog helped his rescuer become an even better person.
Dan told me about this several weeks ago, and it struck me as one of the most beautiful things someone could say about their dog. I look at my four, all sitting in eyesight of me as I work, and all of them waiting patiently for my next move. I have always had dogs and I've been in the business a long time. I always felt and appreciated the unconditional love they freely give. But, Dan helped me look at our canine friends a new way. That not only do they love us, and complete us, but when they are part of our life they actually make us better people.
Dan still deals with Albie's mistakes, but I know, deep down, that he and Albie were destined to find each other. And they in turn helped me be a better person.
