Tale of a puppy ends happily

CATHARINE COOPER

This is the story of a dog.

It was a perfect evening for dining al fresco. Cool breezes from

the north coursed across the bay of La Paz and to the west, the sun

gently settled into a low cloud base. Pink skies provided a colorful

palette against the marina’s host of sailboats and power yachts, as

the seven of us -- Lynn, Skip, Laurie Lee, Cam, Steve, Javier (our

local friend), and I -- sat at an outside table for an Italian meal.

It was the last night of our week-long vacation, thus an evening of

memories tinged with an edge of bittersweet. I rarely want to leave

Mexico once I have arrived.

The waiters were a bit slow at Liporoli, but we were in no hurry.

We ordered an Italian wine, basked in the glow of the sunset, and

discussed the options of owning a yacht. Salads were placed on the

table, green and crisp, and from the shadows, a small puppy crept.

He sat outside the cast light of the table’s candles, not quite

begging, but his presence was felt. He was covered with sores, his

fur was matted and dirty, and on his last leg. La Paz is unique in my

experience of Mexico, in that there is a paucity of strays. Dogs here

are cherished and walked proudly on their leashes. This is not a

throwaway society.

We continued to chatter about our adventures, keeping one eye on

the dog. The waiter brought the main courses -- meat and fish --

aromatic and appetizing. When he saw the dog, he yelled and chased it

into the darkness.

After the waiter left, I cut some meat from Stephen’s meal and

took it to the dog. He wouldn’t approach me, so I set it on the

ground and walked away. He slunk toward it and ravenously devoured

the food. The waiter saw the dog eating, glared at me, and delivered

a kick to its small body. The dog yelped and ran into the shrubbery.

I understood the restaurant owner’s need to keep strays away from

his clientele, but my heart was engaged and the animal was starving.

I ordered a second dinner -- a roasted chicken -- and ceremoniously

cut it into small pieces to feed the dog. I’m sure this enraged the

waiter, but it hardly mattered. The dog wolfed down the food and

slunk into the darkness.

Throughout the night, the image of the dog would not leave me. I’d

wake, thinking of all the fat canines my friends kept, and wondered

at the role of fate. By morning, I had hatched a plan.

Javier lived with his extended family and two dogs in a large

compound. Would he be willing to take on another if we provided for

his care? He responded unhesitatingly with a “yes”.

Now, to find the dog. Seven of us searched every corner of the

marina, but to no avail. If the small vagrant had lived through the

night, he was nowhere to be found. Our time was up, we had to leave

for the airport, and I was heartbroken.

Steve came up with plan two -- offer a reward for the dog. Likely

unheard of, not only in Mexico but anywhere, we offered a cash reward

for a stray dog. Even the waiter joined that search. Three days

later, we received the good news that the dog had been found, and the

bad news, that his chances of survival were extremely thin, but that

the veterinarian would do his best.

Suerjito (little lucky one), as he was named, stayed in the

hospital for three weeks, eventually going to Javier’s to continue a

slow recovery. I’m proud to report, that four years later, Suerjito

is hardly little ... in fact, he stands tall, like a German Shepard,

and has a sweet and loving personality. The other dogs in Javier’s

family adopted him without a hitch, and once he got over his puppy

wildness, he’s settled in as a perfect family member.

There is a saying in the Talmud, “He who saves one life, saves the

world.” It may be a stretch to add this sentiment to animals, but to

Suerjito, it made all the difference. He, like strays everywhere,

simply had a run of very bad luck, which was changed by fate and the

kindness and love of others.

On Sunday, March 27, Rescue Unwanted Furry Friends will hold an

Easter Brunch from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tivoli Two. Dogs and other

pets are invited. All funds raised from the event assist individuals

in the rescue of strays. For reservations, and further information,

log on to https://www.ruffrescue.org, or call : (949) 458-WOOF (9663).

You, too, can make a difference.

* CATHARINE COOPER loves wild places ... and wild animals! She can

be contacted at ccooper@cooperdesign.net and 949-497-5081.