Saturday, July 15, 2006

As I approached the back of the store, I could tell it was pet adoption day. I had come to the store to
replenish my supply of pet foods and of course I had my Scottish Terrier, Miss Daisy, mix at my side. I
saw a double row of individual black wire cages. I could see puppies and grown dogs, twenty in total
perhaps. There were two dogs that caught my eye. The first was a corgi shaped dog that looked like the
Movie Star dog Benji - if you can imagine that. The second dog I noticed was actually the first dog in the
front row. It appeared to be a small size golden retriever mix ( 35-40 lbs ) with no right eye. The dog
was sitting quietly while enjoying the attention of a teenage girl. We did not look long as my little dog
always causes a disruption - as do all visiting dogs to adoption row. Knowing it was better for the caged
dogs- we left the area. Wild bird food, cat food, dog food and a birthday present for Miss Daisy- who will
turn 3 soon, and I had all the items on my list. I was drawn back to adoption row, to look one more time,
and wishing I could take on just one more. I parked my shopping cart and Miss Daisy and I made our way
back to the small blond dog. He had no visitors then, as he sat quietly in his small cage.
Miss Daisy and I knelt down to talk to the blond dog with a beautiful coat. I noticed it was a male,
perhaps five years old. He looked at us both and began wagging his tail and tried to shake hands
through the cage. He and Miss Daisy touched noses and seemed to know each could be a friends. A
SPCA volunteer came over to us and she knelt down also. We began discussing this sweet dog. He had
no right eye and the empty, sunken eye socket was covered with a very ugly scar, but as the volunteer
knelt, he turned his head to expose a beautiful bright brown left eye. The volunteer said " This is Jeffrey.
He was picked up at the pound. He is really a wonderful dog." The lady did not know how Jeffrey lost his
eye, but she confessed she hoped no one would adopt him as she would love to foster this dog herself. I
remembered Jeffrey was the only dog in adoption row that did not bark or seem unduly distressed at
being caged in the middle of a strange place. It seems this volunteer had brought Jeffrey to the pet store
in her car and said he was so well behaved. She said these dogs were being kept at the SPCA center, in
cages, which was ok but not as nice as going into a personal home. I think this volunteer had adoption in
mind and not fostering, but I also suspect she already had more then her share of dogs. The lady said "
Jeffrey would make a wonderful therapy dog, especially for disabled children. " My Miss Daisy is a
therapy dog, but being a terrier, she is rather busy and tends to want to do things her way. It seemed all
Jeffrey wanted to do was smile, wag his tail and quietly enjoy any attention anyone has to give. She said
" he had to have been raised by a good family as he was such a nice dog".
Just then another volunteer from the SPCA came over and said " Jeffrey has been adopted" .
I could see the surprise in the ladies eyes as she knelt by me at Jeffrey's cage. " Ok Jeffrey, I have to
give you a big hug before you go." When she opened the door of his cage, the dog climbed right into her
lap and began licking her face and wagging his tail. A thank you no doubt. " You are going to make me
cry " she told Jeffrey, to which he kissed her again and again. The new owners then appeared and took
custody of Jeffrey, and with that, the family headed away from the adoption area. The girl that took the
leash was the same young girl who had sat quietly at his cage for a long time earlier. As the volunteer
stood up, I could see Jeffrey had broken a heart. " I hope he will have a good home" she said. I
wondered if the tears in my eyes showed as much as the tears in the volunteers eyes? Miss Daisy and I
headed toward the front of the store. There was Jeffrey, wagging his tail in the company of two young
girls and a middle aged nondescript older lady. They did not appear wealthy, but just good folk.
I said to the Mother, " I think you got a very nice dog". The lady confessed her daughter said she would
NOT leave the store unless Jeffrey came too. It seems they have two other dogs that will help keep
Jeffrey company. I secretly wished he would be the only dog at their home, but that was not to be. They
left the store, Jeffrey wagging his tail, off to a new life, and I only hope, a forever home.
Jeffrey was only one dog on adoption row. Have you ever bothered to notice or really care about these
dogs? I must say I do!

Written for Jeffrey,
July 15th, 2006
by Gloria Jean Childers