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A TOUCHING TALE
SAMSON THE GERMAN SHEPARD GIVES THANKS FOR AN ANGEL
It
was just after Thanksgiving. An angry middle-aged man stood at the
counter of the animal shelter, gripping the leash of an aging German
shepherd. "Why won't you take him?" he shouted. "I need to get him off my hands!"
was just after Thanksgiving. An angry middle-aged man stood at the
counter of the animal shelter, gripping the leash of an aging German
shepherd. "Why won't you take him?" he shouted. "I need to get him off my hands!"
The adoption counselor tried once more to explain. "At fourteen, Samson is too old to be a good adoption candidate," she said.
"Well, then just take him and put him down," the man yelled. "I want to be rid of him."
"We don't take animals just to put them down," the counselor explained. "May I ask why you no longer wish to keep the dog?"
"I just can't stand the sight of him," the man hissed, "and if you won't put him down, I'll shoot him myself."
Trying
not to show her horror, the counselor pointed out that shooting an
animal was illegal. She urged the man to consult with his veterinarian
for other options.
not to show her horror, the counselor pointed out that shooting an
animal was illegal. She urged the man to consult with his veterinarian
for other options.
"I'm not spending any more money on this animal," the man grumbled and, yanking the leash, he stalked out. Concerned, the
counselor wrote down the license plate of the man's truck and offered
up a quick prayer for Samson.
counselor wrote down the license plate of the man's truck and offered
up a quick prayer for Samson.
A
few days later, a German shepherd was found abandoned. He was brought
to the shelter, and the staff recognized him as Samson. The town where
he had been abandoned was where his owner lived.
few days later, a German shepherd was found abandoned. He was brought
to the shelter, and the staff recognized him as Samson. The town where
he had been abandoned was where his owner lived.
The
man was contacted by the police and, under questioning, admitted that
distraught over his recent divorce, he had sought revenge through the
shepherd. He hadn't even wanted the dog, but he fought to keep him to
spite his wife. Once his wife was gone, he couldn't bear to see the
animal. The man was charged with abandonment, and Samson came to stay at
the shelter.
man was contacted by the police and, under questioning, admitted that
distraught over his recent divorce, he had sought revenge through the
shepherd. He hadn't even wanted the dog, but he fought to keep him to
spite his wife. Once his wife was gone, he couldn't bear to see the
animal. The man was charged with abandonment, and Samson came to stay at
the shelter.
The
wife and the couple's son were located in Pennsylvania. They were
horrified to hear what had happened to their dog and agreed immediately
to have him come live with them.
wife and the couple's son were located in Pennsylvania. They were
horrified to hear what had happened to their dog and agreed immediately
to have him come live with them.
There
was just one problem: The wife was nearly broke after the divorce and
their initial move. She could take no time off from work to drive to New
Hampshire and get the dog, and she couldn't afford any other method of
getting him to her. She hated to have Samson in the shelter any longer
but didn't know what to do.
was just one problem: The wife was nearly broke after the divorce and
their initial move. She could take no time off from work to drive to New
Hampshire and get the dog, and she couldn't afford any other method of
getting him to her. She hated to have Samson in the shelter any longer
but didn't know what to do.
"We'll come up with something," the staff assured her, but in their hearts they didn't know what. They
were concerned, as well. Samson had lived with his family all his life.
Within a few weeks, his whole world had been turned upside down. He was
beginning to mope, and the staff could tell by his eyes that if he
wasn't back with his family soon, he would give up.
were concerned, as well. Samson had lived with his family all his life.
Within a few weeks, his whole world had been turned upside down. He was
beginning to mope, and the staff could tell by his eyes that if he
wasn't back with his family soon, he would give up.
Christmas
was only two weeks away when the angel arrived. He came by pickup truck
in the form of a man in his mid-thirties. Through a friend of a shelter
staffer, he had heard about Samson's plight. He was willing to drive
Samson to Pennsylvania, and he would do it before Christmas.
was only two weeks away when the angel arrived. He came by pickup truck
in the form of a man in his mid-thirties. Through a friend of a shelter
staffer, he had heard about Samson's plight. He was willing to drive
Samson to Pennsylvania, and he would do it before Christmas.
The
staff was thrilled with the offer, but cautious. Why would a stranger
drive hundreds of miles out of his way to deliver a dog to people he
didn't know? They had to make sure he was legitimate and that Samson
wouldn't be sold to meat dealers or dumped along the interstate. The man
understood their concerns and, thankfully, checked out to be an
upstanding citizen. In the course of the conversation, he explained why
he had come forward.
staff was thrilled with the offer, but cautious. Why would a stranger
drive hundreds of miles out of his way to deliver a dog to people he
didn't know? They had to make sure he was legitimate and that Samson
wouldn't be sold to meat dealers or dumped along the interstate. The man
understood their concerns and, thankfully, checked out to be an
upstanding citizen. In the course of the conversation, he explained why
he had come forward.
"Last year, I left my dog in my van while I went to do some grocery shopping," he explained. "While
I was inside, the van caught fire. I heard people hollering and rushed
out to see my van engulfed in flames. My dog meant everything to me, and
he was trapped. I tried to get to the van, but people restrained me.
I was inside, the van caught fire. I heard people hollering and rushed
out to see my van engulfed in flames. My dog meant everything to me, and
he was trapped. I tried to get to the van, but people restrained me.
"Then
I heard someone shouting, 'The dog is safe! The dog is safe!' I looked
over, and there was this man I'd never seen before, holding my dog. He
had risked his own life to get my dog out. I'll forever be in his debt.
I heard someone shouting, 'The dog is safe! The dog is safe!' I looked
over, and there was this man I'd never seen before, holding my dog. He
had risked his own life to get my dog out. I'll forever be in his debt.
"Just
when you don't think there are heroes any more, one comes along. I
vowed then and there that if I ever had the chance to do someone a good
turn when it came to a beloved pet, that I would. When I heard about
Samson and his family, I knew this was my chance, so here I am."
when you don't think there are heroes any more, one comes along. I
vowed then and there that if I ever had the chance to do someone a good
turn when it came to a beloved pet, that I would. When I heard about
Samson and his family, I knew this was my chance, so here I am."
The
shelter staff was amazed. They all knew about the van rescue story. It
had been in all the papers, and the shelter had even given the rescuer a
reward, but they had never dreamed that Samson's angel was connected to
this earlier good deed.
shelter staff was amazed. They all knew about the van rescue story. It
had been in all the papers, and the shelter had even given the rescuer a
reward, but they had never dreamed that Samson's angel was connected to
this earlier good deed.
https://nurturing-news.blogspot.com/
By Crystal Ward Kent, who does extensive freelance writing and has written for newspapers, magazines and books, including Yankee Magazine, Guideposts’ Books Listening to the Animals series; Guideposts’ Be Not Afraid, Their Mysterious Ways and A Glimpse of Forever. Her work also appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury for Kids (December 2002).
I haven't been able to actually 'read' this post, as I am still feeling a bit 'raw', since I had to have one of my own dogs put to sleep. I did try, but I just saw the snout of your picture and it was like seeing Wolfie again
Hope you understand.
