Through the Pearly Gate
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Through the Pearly Gate
Inspired by the white piebald Dachshund
By
New Mexico Dachshund Rescue
Copyright © 2016 New Mexico Dachshund Rescue
Table of Contents
Foreword
Chapter 1 – Off to a Rough Start
Chapter 2 – Bunches of Love
Chapter 3 – The Grim Reaper
Chapter 4 – New Home
Chapter 5 – Capturing the Memories
Chapter 6 – Home Sweet Home
Chapter 7 – Watchful Eye on Winter
Chapter 8 – The Brick Road
Chapter 9 – Sleigh Rides and Car Rides
Chapter 10 – The Mature Years
Foreword
Fostering and adopting Dachshunds is both entertaining and eye opening. There truly is not a dull moment with this breed. Each scenario is different because each dog is different and the circumstances on how they become a part of our lives change.
All dogs have basic needs of physical and emotional nurturing that must be met. But each individual Dachshund has specific needs that are begging for attention. If you are a good Dachshund parent, you will see that these are also met. You will make those pups your priority. You will flex, bend, adjust and go out of your way to take care of them. They are family.
Not everybody can adopt. Not everybody can foster. Not everybody can rescue. But most everybody who loves the Dachshund breed can get involved at some point in the rescue process: rescue, transport, foster, adopt, educate, financially support, coordinate events or fundraisers or office support. Volunteers are needed in all areas of Dachshund rescue.
I would like to thank my team for their assistance with my books: Al Rosario, Illustrator; Jan Lawrence, editing; Lucinda Campbell, formatting, Heather Piedmont, marketing and Drew Simenson, reviewing.
Proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit New Mexico Dachshund Rescue and Dachshund rescue in New Mexico.
This book is dedicated to Dachshund adopters. Without you making a forever home rescue efforts would be in vain.
--Stella Dillenbeck on behalf of New Mexico Dachshund Rescue
(Featuring the Dachshund Rescue Series by Stella Dillenbeck)
Chapter 1 – Off to a Rough Start
Pearl anxiously watched as one by one her brothers and sisters were snatched up by families who wanted them. Then a sad countenance settled in, for she was not wanted. She was different for she was a white piebald Dachshund and nobody wanted a white dog. The family that had their mother was disgusted with her. They were not only getting no money for this all white puppy, but they were now faced with having to find a place for her, too.
The local animal shelter took Pearl in because she was a purebred Dachshund and because she was still a puppy; they were the ones who named her Pearl because she was pure white and oh so precious. Before too long a man came in and adopted her. He was single. He was lonely. He was confident she would provide him with the companionship he needed. Pearl was overjoyed because she needed to be wanted.
Pearl’s joy was short-lived, however. The man was ill prepared to take care of a puppy and all of her needs. As if that was not enough, he also was a drinker who consumed too much alcohol more often than not. He was prone to outbursts of anger when he was drunk. He also had fits of anger when he came out of his drunken stupors to find puppy messes. He beat Pearl repeatedly. She learned quickly to just hold it in until she could not hold it any more.
When the man was not drunk, he was an easy-going fellow who loved his dog, took care of her needs and even doted on her. Pearl was very confused by the mixed signals. But she thrived on the attention she got from him during the good times. During the bad times she would try her best to get away from him, fearfully cowering in the corner. Her only source of comfort following the beatings was the blanket and toys kept in her bed. She would rest her head on her favorite stuffed animal, but her rest times were fitful at best.
Then one night the unthinkable happened. The man drank even more than normal and was not anywhere near alert enough to attend to the puppy’s needs. Pearl held and held it all in until she could not hold it any more. Then she went everywhere. Poop piles and piddle puddles were all over the living room and dining room. The man had had it now. Pearl was the straw that broke his camel’s back. He drop kicked Pearl like a football, propelling her into the wall. She was writhing and screaming in pain, but her cries fell on deaf ears.
Fortunately Pearl’s injuries were not too serious. She had a small hernia where he had kicked her and was just a little bruised from where she hit the wall. The man did not know about the hernia, so it went untreated. As a result she continued on in her puppy life with constant pain; it was hard for her to get around. She also had distrust for men.
The man was not totally heartless which was a good thing. He knew he could not keep her and advertised her as “free to good home.” A couple from the Dachshund Rescue Team came forward to claim her. They had a sizable estate and plenty of room inside and out for the dog. Pearl was now one year old.
Chapter 2 – Bunches of Love
Rob and Angie were so excited to be getting Pearl. They poured bunches of love on her which she sorely needed. All of her needs were met and there were gentle, loving hands reaching out to hold her and pet her often. She was physically and emotionally scarred from the prior abuse and because of pain from the hernia that was never treated. She was very clingy and wanted to be in someone’s lap at all times.
Angie noticed the bump on her side near her left hip, but she was not sure what it was. She was concerned it might be a small tumor and called the vet to try to get in as soon as possible. Oh how they loved this dog! Getting Pearl seen to was a priority and they rearranged their schedule to take her in. Relief set in when they were told the bump was a small hernia and could easily be fixed with surgery. She was a whole new pup after she healed from the surgery. She had more pep and energy, did not walk as slowly as before and even started to play with toys.
Any time the family could, they would take Pearl with them on outings. She enjoyed the rides and the time with the family. Periodically they would stop to let the dogs out. Pearl would go out, but she would not relieve herself. The family had to keep a close eye on her when they got back in the car so they could let her out before the dam burst. She would just get to the point where she could not hold it any longer. Even with daily doses of love and attention and needs being met, she could not overcome this pattern. It was so sad.
Around the house Pearl was free to come and go as she liked through the convenient doggy door they had off of the kitchen. Pearl would go out only if the family members did as she was too afraid to go out alone. If the weather was nice, they would just sit outside on the lawn chairs for awhile until Pearl was ready to finally let it all out. She would even get a slight smile on her face from the relief she got from not having all that pressure within.
One of their neighbors down the road a bit died. Rob and Angie would go visit the grieving widower and take their dog with them. Not only was Pearl part of the family, she was an aid in helping the couple minister to hurting people. Everybody that loves dogs knows how therapeutic they can be. The widower’s name was Wally; he was in his mid-50s. Although he missed his wife very much, he came to love this couple and their pup and the blessing she brought into his lonely life.
Rob and Angie had a deepening bond with Pearl. The longer she was with them, the more she trusted her new dad. They did as much as they possibly could with her. The depth of the nurturing and loving eased the pain of Pearl’s prior abuse over time. There were still scars, but the longer she was with them, the less they showed. Life was good in the neighborhood. Yes, they w
ere blessed.
Chapter 3 – The Grim Reaper
One Saturday afternoon Rob and Angie spontaneously decided to go for a ride in the car to get Pearl out for a bit. She had a good nap in, but woke up full of energy and kind of restless, so taking her for a ride seemed the thing to do. As these things go, humanly speaking it was a big mistake. Unexpectedly, out of the blue, a car swerved into their lane on a large curve. There was no time to get out of the way; a head-on collision was inevitable. Both were killed instantly. Somehow Pearl survived and was miraculously not physically hurt. She was more than a little shook up, however, and very sad and confused, to boot.
Family members were immediately notified and made their way to the estate. Policemen from the scene of the accident arrived shortly thereafter to fill the family in on the mishap and to bring the dog to them also. Pearl relaxed some. At least she was home, had some familiar faces and some much-needed lap time. The sadness lingered, but that was partially because everyone in the house was sad and crying. It was a very sad day indeed.
None of the family members was in a position to take Pearl and that added to their grief. They did not want her going off to total strangers. While they were in the middle of discussions about her, the doorbell rang. It was the neighbor, Wally. He had bought a cheesecake to bring to the family members and had come to offer his condolences. Pearl went wild. Boy was she happy to see him! It did not take any of them very long to see he was the answer to their dilemma. Of course he would take Pearl!
The family got a kick out of Pearl showing off her new toys to Wally, the man who was soon to be her new dad. One-by-one she brought her toys to him. There were smiles and chuckles and downright deep laughter mingled with the tears as they all watched her. The whirlwind of play, along with the swirling mixed emotions, finally caught up with her and she fell asleep in her bed. This gave the family and the widower a chance to talk about her. He already loved Pearl. Rob and Angie’s visits to his home after his wife’s death perked him up and gave him a reason for going on. Now he would be reciprocating and doing the same for them after their family was gone.
When the funeral and graveside services were over, the family members met with the lawyer to discuss estate issues. Once that was resolved they were able to make plans to go back to their various homes. Wally claimed Pearl as his own, taking her and all of her things to his car. She was going home with him. Boy did that ever feel good! He would not be alone any longer.
Chapter 4 – New Home
Wally was in his mid-50s, Pearl was about one and a half. He knew he was going to be able to enjoy her company for many years to come. A deep, peaceful contentment settled over him. Although he was still sad about the death of his two dear friends, he marveled that the dog was now his to provide for, care for and love.
Pearl loved her new dad. After all, he was not really new to her. Nor was his home unfamiliar turf as she had visited him many times after his wife died. Yet the affects of Pearl’s abuse during her puppy years were as much a part of her as her fur; she just could not shake it even in a totally loving environment. Her new dad had not known anything about her previous background, so this took him by surprise. But it did not take him long to figure it out; his bond with her grew tighter daily. He hired a contractor to install a doggy door off the kitchen entryway.
Pearl wagged her tail for the first time in awhile. The sadness from the loss of her previous family and home was now subsiding. She was not deserted and was quickly adjusting to her new life. She settled right in as though she had always lived there. The doggy door was a nice addition and gave her quick and easy access to the fenced in area of the yard. No longer was she afraid to go out. No longer was she experiencing fitful sleep times. She welcomed Wally with open paws, basking in his pampering ways and watchful eyes.
Pearl was the sweetest dog with the sweetest personality. She was so precious. She followed Wally everywhere. He welcomed the attention he got from her. This was a reciprocal relationship with the two of them and not one sided at all. Pearl had a very special place in his heart and she had a very special place in her heart for him.
Pearl was easy to please. Even more importantly, she was eager to please. Wally’s wish was her command. She was not a difficult dog at all. In spite of her bathroom issues, she actually got around quite well. When she needed to go out she would just make her way to the doggy door. It felt so good to have this little taste of independence after a couple of years of almost total dependence on people. She was quite subdued for a Dachshund, but he actually enjoyed her peaceful countenance. She would draw close to him, snuggling in against his belly at the bottom of his rib cage. The two of them could sit like that for hours. His heart would just melt.
Chapter 5 – Capturing the Memories
Wally was independently wealthy and did not need to work. He sold a business he had started from scratch and had a very hefty nest egg to carry him through all of his retirement years. He had two hobbies: rockhounding and photography. Whenever he went on his rockhound adventures, Pearl would be there close by looking for her own little treasures. He liked to photograph her as much as possible, not only to capture the memories, but the absolutely priceless expressions on her face.
When they got home, Wally would head straight off to his computer to download his recent snapshots. Then he would print them up to proudly display on the big board by his dining table. Pearl was his family. He could not get enough photos of her and proudly displayed them for perpetual delight.
Wally also had custom collars made for Pearl. A friend of his was an expert tanner, well- trained and quite the craftsman in working with leather. The two of them worked together to design the one-of-a-kind collar for her. He would strategically place some sizable pearls and 18 carat gold to produce the most exquisite collar anyone could imagine. Yes, this collar would look just right on his little princess. The new collar meant more photos, of course, and he snapped away with the camera to capture her. He would have them published in an upcoming issue of “Stones and Gems,” to show off the new collar and to praise his friend’s craftsmanship.
Wally’s life was so full now with Pearl and his hobbies to keep him busy; he truly could not remember how life had been without her. Each time he looked at her, each time he would look at her photos, he would feel the pull of his heartstrings yet again. He wanted her badly when he got the news of his neighbors’ deaths. Now he marveled that she was his and he was hers. He would provide a home of ease and comfort for Pearl for the remainder of her days.
Pearl never could have imagined or anticipated the outstanding life that waited for her here. She would have settled for “okay.” It never occurred to her that she would be in a home in the lap of luxury where not only would needs be met, but every whim, too. Wally chuckled with the anticipation of it all and wanted nothing more than to love the precious pup and give her the best possible life he could. The intense bond that enveloped the two of them tightened. Others were amazed as they observed them together; their symbiotic relationship of mutual need and mutual love was that obvious.
Pearl knew she was home. That sure did feel and sound good to her. She had endured so much during her five short years. Wally would hold her often and whisper sweet nothings in her ears. There was a sense of belonging. Pearl’s sadness over the separation from her previous family and home dissipated, as did the memories of her horrid past. It was all behind her now and she was living her new life; this was the life she was meant to have and it was no longer a vague hope or an elusive dream.
Chapter 6 – Home Sweet Home
Pearl enjoyed the space in the mansion they called home, as well as the vastness of the grounds. Even though it was quite large, Wally had gone to great lengths to make the place as accommodating for her as possible. There were beds on the floor in every room on the main floor. There were toys everywhere. She had learned to play. It had taken some doing to get her to play as she had been robbed of her puppy years and play was completely foreign to her. Littl
e by little she started to have fun with him and the toys.
Pearl loved her walks around the grounds. She did very well on the leash, never venturing too far away, following or sticking very close to Wally. The sights and smells on the grounds were invigorating; her little Dachshund nose would sniff about, even as her keen eyes would take it all in. She never missed a beat.
Pearl’s favorite place in the house was the kitchen. Like most Dachshunds she loved cheese and she knew Wally always kept a good stash of a variety of cheeses for her. It became a little game between the two of them while Pearl impatiently waited and silently guessing which kind of cheese she would be getting this time. Wally would chuckle as he watched Pearl’s facial expressions change from glee to impatience to anticipation to amazement as she got her little nibble. He also kept various healthy snacks on hand for her to eat. But cheese was still Pearl’s perennial favorite.
It was time for Pearl’s annual checkup at the vet. She never did like the smells in the vet office. She did not particularly care about being handled by strangers either. She was really good about it, though, since Wally was there to pet her and reassure her that everything was okay. The vet was pleased that she was doing so well. She was within normal weight guidelines and had no health issues. He commended Wally for not overfeeding her; for keeping her trim could avoid potential health issues for her down the line.
One day at the house Wally got his camera out to snap some more photos. Pearl played the little game of trying to get the cutest photos ever. She always had the funniest expressions on her face and he would gleefully capture them. One day Pearl curled up the sides of her lips to make the sweetest doggy smile she could muster. It was so cute! Wally’s heart overflowed with love, joy and pride for his precious Pearl. And he was fortunate enough to capture it on his camera. He could not wait to download it and get it printed up, along with the others photos he had taken.