Saving Willow

They say that nothing happens by chance and if ever I wanted reassurance that the Universe is unfolding as it should, the unexpected gift that we received in the dying embers of last year gave me exactly that.

Words: Dave Charles

I will admit that I have been overly concerned with the reality of getting older lately and have become a bit of a recluse as a result. Life has carried on at its petty pace from day-to-day as the bard put it, without much happening to jolt me from my reverie. I needed a bit of a shock to the system – a reason to recalibrate and appreciate the scent of the roses so to speak. 

And it came in the most unexpected way.

On Saturday the 6^th of December, as Sue and I were driving up Ballito Drive towards the Ballito CBD, we passed an alarming sight. A rather tough looking young fellow was pushing a trolley down the road heading towards the sea and piled one on top of the other in the small wire container was a collection of puppies. Even from the fleeting glimpse that I caught of them as we drove past, it was obvious that they were in distress. It was a very hot day and they were baking.

It took a few seconds to process what we had just seen and almost instinctively I put out a distress call on the Ballito Neighbourhood Watch group requesting some intervention as I couldn’t bear the thought of what these puppies must be going through. Almost instantly several private security companies responded and within minutes two patrol vehicles had intercepted the puppy trafficker in a side street. He told them that the puppies were sick and that he was taking them to the sea to wash them. 

It was at this point that Sue and I arrived on the scene and one look at the severely distressed puppies convinced me that they needed urgent care. The response from our community to our call for assistance was immediate and extraordinary. The combined effort saw the rescued pups placed in a place of safety and we all hoped for the best for them.

And there we left the matter – or so I thought. Sue, however had other ideas. While she was working to save them, one of the little puppies had looked at her with such longing in its eyes that she couldn’t shake the image. We had a duty, she said, to give at least that little life a chance.

I was resolute. After all, for the past quarter of a century we have been a German Shepherd dog family. Now THOSE are real dogs, and I didn’t think that I could ever be persuaded to adopt a rescue dog of dubious lineage. 

But two weeks later, we were on our way to Paw Prints in Assagay to collect our new ward.

The last time I had seen her she was a tiny puppy in very poor condition with what looked like a cigarette burn on her little head. It’s amazing what a difference two weeks of care, medication and good food can make. The transformation was heart-warming. She was bright and alert with little tail wagging and coat beginning to shine. She leapt into my arms, gave my face a lick and suddenly I was crying. 

I have become more emotional as I have grown older and am easily moved by glimpses of the beauty of the Universe. This was one such moment – a moment of pure joy. 

This tiny little puppy has the heart of a lion and a personality that is irresistible. She is just so happy, and her boundless energy is infectious. 

We named her Willow.

Some say that Dogs live almost entirely in the present moment and that their love is immediate and real because it is not distracted by past regrets or future fears. I have plenty of past regrets and am sometimes afraid of what lies ahead, but I think that the Universe has sent us a reminder that joy can be found in the smallest moments.

We didn’t save Willow. I think that she has come to save me.