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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
background:white'><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>I found your dog today.<O></O> THIS IS
VERY SAD…. and TOO TRUE</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
background:white'><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>No, he has not been adopted by anyone.
Most of us who live out here own as many dogs as we want; those who do
not own dogs do so because they choose not to. I know you hoped he would
find a good home when you left him out here, but he did not. When I first saw
him he was miles from the nearest house and he was alone, thirsty, thin and
limping from a burr in his paw.<O></O></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
background:white'><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>How I wish I could have been you as I stood
before him. To see his tail wag and his eyes brighten as he bounded into
your arms, knowing you would find him, knowing you had not forgotten him.
To see the forgiveness in his eyes for the suffering and pain he had
known in his never-ending quest to find you… but I was not you. And
despite all my persuasion, his eyes see a stranger. He did not trust.
He would not come. He turned and continued his journey; one he was
sure would bring him to you.<O></O></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
background:white'><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>He does not understand you are not looking
for him. He only knows you are not there, he only knows he must find you.
This is more important than food or water or the stranger who can give
him these things. Persuasion and pursuit seemed futile.<O></O></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
background:white'><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>I did not even know his name. I drove
home, filled a bucket with water and a bowl with food and returned to where we
had met. I could see no sign of him, but I left my offering under the
tree where he had sought shelter from the sun and a chance to rest.<O></O></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
background:white'><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>You see, he is not of the desert.
When you domesticated him, you took away any instinct of survival out
here. His purpose demands that he travel during the day. He doesn't know
that the sun and heat will claim his life. He only knows that he has to
find you.<O></O></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
background:white'><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>I waited hoping he would return to the
tree; hoping my gift would build an element of trust so I might bring him home,
remove the burr from his paw, give him a cool place to lie and help him
understand that the part of his life with you is now over. He did not
return that morning and at dusk the water and food were still there untouched.
And I worried. You must understand that many people would not
attempt to help your dog. Some would run him off, others would call the
county and the fate you thought you saved him from would be preempted by his
suffering for days without food or water. I returned again before dark.
I did not see him. I went again early the next morning only to find
the food and water still untouched. If only you were here to call his
name. Your voice is so familiar to him.<O></O></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
background:white'><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>I began pursuit in the direction he had
taken yesterday, doubt overshadowing my hope of finding him. His search
for you was desperate; it could take him many miles in 24 hours. It is
hours later and a good distance from where we first met, but I have found your
dog.<O></O></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
background:white'><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>His thirst has stopped; it is no longer a
torment to him. His hunger has disappeared, he no longer aches. The
burrs in his paws bother him no more. Your dog has been set free from his
burdens; you see, your dog has died. I kneel next to him and I curse you
for not being here yesterday so I could see the glow, if just for a moment, in
those now vacant eyes. I pray that his journey has taken him to that
place I think you hoped he would find.<O></O></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
background:white'><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>If only you knew what he went through to
reach it… and I agonize, for I know, that were he to awaken at this
moment, and if I were to be you, his eyes would sparkle with recognition and
his tail would wag with forgiveness.<br>
<br>
<br>
</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<O></O>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
background:white'><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>- - Author unknown<O></O></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Helena Poist<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Proplanner<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>2321 North Loop Drive</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ames</span></font></st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">IA</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">50010</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>helena@proplanner.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>515-296-7526<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>fax: 515-296-3229<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>http://www.proplanner.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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