THEY CALL ME MABEL

as told to Karen Hansen

My story begins just a few days ago.  I can’t seem to remember much beyond that, which my new human friend says probably is very fortunate.  I was huddling under a house when she came home after having been gone almost a week.  I don’t know how many days I was there before she returned, but I do know it was cold!  She says the house is at 3,000’ in an area called Mosquito, about 10 miles from Placerville and 1.5 miles from an entrance to the El Dorado National Forest.

When she arrived home with her 4.5 month old puppy, Oisín, I didn’t know what to do, I was so scared.  I whimpered every now and again, I just couldn’t help it – it had been snowing and haling alternatively for days and my bones were rattling.  I heard footsteps overhead but nobody came to the back of the house where I was hiding.

After about 45 minutes the footsteps came closer and out of nowhere appeared a human and a furry black, running, jumping puppy.  I knew they saw me but I wasn’t going to budge;  they even brought me some food and water but I wasn’t about to come out as long as they were there!  Nonetheless, I ate the food, which was the first I’d had in I-don’t-know-how-many days.

They kept coming back but I didn’t trust them.  Maybe it was some kind of a trick!?!  I even spent that night under the house, and once again it was so cold that my teeth chattered and I couldn’t help but cry every now and again. 

The next morning the sun was out and more food was delivered.  I tried to stay out of view, but the puppy kept running up to me.  He couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to play.  I tried hard to tell him that it’s hard to play when your legs are quivering;  you have a tumor on your lip that bleeds when rubbed;  you’re covered with dead ticks;  and, worst of all, your heart and lungs are weakened by heart worms.  He’s just too young and privileged to understand.  But his human companion wouldn’t take no for an answer.  She kept calling me and asking me to come out – this went on for awhile – I just didn’t know what to do. 

Finally, she turned to walk away and I thought:  it’s now or never!  I came up from behind her and nuzzled her hand.  She started petting me and, I can tell you, that felt pretty good!  Besides, she had cookies.  Those cookies were enough to get me to follow her into the house.  I thought:  things are going to be much better!

Since then I’ve been to the vet twice, one day was for blood tests and x-rays and the second was for spa treatments – I had that nasty, bloody tumor removed, my teeth cleaned, and my nails clipped.  I’ve also been brushed a few times so the dead ticks are gone and I’ve started taking glucosamine for my quivering legs.  I think they’re getting better, but that may be because I get to lie down on a soft, cushy mat in a warm house instead of the cold, hard ground.

Things are really looking up, except that I have to have some treatment for my heart worms.  Fortunately, according to the Vet, my chest x-ray looks pretty good, so I can expect to make a recovery.  Funny thing, according to Wendy Hilton of German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue, my story is not unique.  She says that when dogs like me can no longer do their jobs, some of their hunter owners take them into the woods and shoot them!  Can you imagine???  I suppose I got very lucky – I was just abandoned. 

It may sound strange, but I still like people quite a lot.  I especially like to put my head in their laps;  it’s easier for them to pet me that way.