A Dog Named 'PHOENIX'
I never met the dog, but I've 'heard' all about him. He has a truly interesting story - and one which has all the intrigue of the greatest mystery novel ever written! Here's what I've been 'told' by Ambrr - our NanaDog!
Sometime back a few months, our Mom heard of a dog left to fend for himself without so much as a bit of shelter from the rains of the Lowlands of Beaufort County. Just a few miles up Highway 170 from Mom's workplace at Sun City, on an empty lot with only left-behind garbage left lying around, there was a dog that seemed to have been forgotten by his owners when they moved - taking their mobile home with them. All that was left now were the steps to the front door.
At first, everyone thought that the home had burned down. But soon enough, they learned the even sadder truth - the people had moved - leaving the dog behind without food - without water - without the slightest care.
Mom and a friend at work started visiting the lot, offering the wild dog food and water. Soon, several others began the ritual of leaving water and food containers behind in the hope that this 'wild one' would at least be able to survive the conditions left him.
Who knows just how many people spotted the dark brown, short-haired dog hanging around this lot - there's a busy highway running along the front of the property. Certainly others had tried to coax him out of his wooded refuge and into the open where he might be further coaxed into a vehicle: his only hope of true survival. Who knows how many times they failed. Just how many times he had eluded those who had attempted to save him - is something we'll never know.
What we DO know is that our Mom was determined to do just that!
Now, if you know our Mom, you'll understand the passion that she 'wears on her sleeve' when it comes to animals! If she weren't as passionate as she is, we probably wouldn't be here. It was through her passion - through her determination - and through her dedication to 'saving lives' that I have survived - and Jude has survived - and Ambrr has survived - and Gabriel has survived. She is responsible for us - and for our lives.
She's also responsible for THAT DARN CAT's life - but we'll grant her ONE obvious mistake!
When the vet tech told her that I should be 'put to sleep' because of my blindness, Mom became even more determined to see me grow up to be the WONDERFUL, BEAUTY that I am today! When others thought that it might be hopeless for Jude - she became even more determined that he would indeed survive - and live a happy and healthy life right here at Crittersville. When Ambrr was living at 'the pound', and some might have believed that she wasn't 'worth' the effort to save - our Mom became all the more determined to give her a home - and the love and attention she so needed in order to become our NanaDog. And when Gabriel's life was set to end at the hand of an irresponsible breeder, our Mom became all the more determined that Gabriel WOULD live - even if it meant getting him all the way from Wyoming to the coastal county of Beaufort.
Yep, when she sets her mind to something - it's set in concrete!
So, when the story of this 'wild one' surfaced - Mom was determined to play an important role in his life - to gain his trust - to save his life. When the lot became a future construction site - she knew it was an emergency situation - and vitally important to succeed before the dangers overcame hope. It was time to 'pull out all the stops', as they say, and GET 'ER DONE!
The 'wild one' had been nicknamed 'Phoenix' when everyone believed fire had been the reason for the empty lot. 'Phoenix' - symbolizing his apparent 'rise from the ashes' - didn't lose its symbolic importance when they found that the fire hadn't occurred. He had, after all, survived this long on his own - whatever dangers lurked or threatened his existence - he had over come them all and survived. He had surely 'risen' from 'the ashes of hopelessness'.
He was 'Phoenix'.
Mom decided to take Ambrr along on one of her many trips to 'the woods' where Phoenix lived. She believed, as we all did, that Ambrr could some how 'relate' to Phoenix in a way no human could - she has a way with other animals - as if she can speak a language every animal knows. Ambrr happily agreed to accompany Mom, and did speak to Phoenix. And, just as Mom had predicted, Phoenix responded by coming out of his woods and into the clearing.
He stuck around for some time, eating the food that Mom had brought him, and drinking the water that she had refilled. He lay nearby - certainly out of reach - but near enough to show that he wasn't so afraid anymore - that he was beginning to trust. It would take some time before he fully trusted someone though. It had been too long armed with defensive nature.
It started out with 'deliveries' of hot dogs and water. It became a more relaxed - with Mom spreading a blanket out on the ground while sharing her own lunch with Phoenix - moving closer and closer to her. Finally, he ate from her hand! She was sooooo excited at this; we thought we'd never 'hear' the end of it! Between Ambrr's excitement over 'talking him out' and Mom's over feeding him out of her hand - Gabriel, Jude and I thought for sure we'd have to widen the door - just to get their head through!
Time passed, and the imminent danger of the construction beginning was upping the ante - and it was getting a bit nerve-wracking for Mom. Phoenix, on the other hand, had no clue. Whenever Mom's van would enter the lot, he'd come running out of the woods - jumping and twisting with joy and anticipation at her visit. He would play 'fetch' with whatever one of OUR toys Mom would take on a given day. He'd now let her touch him - slightly - and quickly - but without jumping and retreating out of fear. This trust-building thing that Mom had worked so hard for was paying off - BIG TIME!
Still, she couldn't get him to step into the van - much less voluntarily jump in for a ride to a new home! Mom needed some help if ever she was going to 'beat the clock' on the construction beginning. She got that help from a couple of sheriff deputies - a married couple - Officer Bev and her husband, Officer...."Mr Bev". (Sorry, Ambrr couldn't remember his name.)
Officer Bev was also extremely knowledgeable about animals and worked with the Animal Shelter of Beaufort. She and her husband met Mom and "Hands" and a friend named Caroline at the lot. It took time - LOTS of time - but eventually, Phoenix was coaxed into the van - and into a new lifestyle that would take some more adjustment...and time. But he was safe! And that's all that really mattered. Mom was ELATED!
(That means really, REALLY happy, Gabriel.)
His new and temporary 'home' wasn't too far from the lot and the woods he was leaving behind. And it wasn't much farther than the lot from Sun City, so Mom could still make daily visits with her newest 'passion'.
And she did.
Most every morning, she'd leave early for work just so she would have time to visit Phoenix before heading into a 9-hour day. Most every day, she'd spend her lunch hour with Phoenix - and the trust was increasing daily. Most every night after work, she'd visit Phoenix before heading down that hour long road that brought her home to us.
Once home, she'd be on the internet - checking out points of interest in regard to Phoenix - looking for more ways to help him - to gain his trust. Each tiny improvement was a special event worthy of celebrating. There was that 'first touch'. That 'first collar'. That 'first halter and leash'. That 'first walk' outside the kennel. That 'first hug'. There was something happening here that neither Phoenix nor Mom had counted on - something powerful and something that would later lead to some broken hearts. They were growing closer and closer by the visit. He looked forward to her visits ALMOST as much as she looked forward to them. It's as if neither of them thought 'down the road' to where they would part. But it was going to happen any way.
One day, Mom called and was really sad. Phoenix had 'moved' to another 'home'. A more permanent home. Their time together - their one-on-one time together - was over. He had grown - he had learned. He had begun to trust. He knew the touch of a loving hand and the lilt of a loving voice. He would survive. He would become someone's pet. Someone who will never abandon him. He had learned as Mom had learned. She had learned to 'believe' again. Life hadn't been so gentle to her. She needed to 'believe'. And she needed to KNOW.
She needed to love and be loved - and her God had provided all of that in one beautifully wondrous package: a dog named Phoenix!
~
by: Allicks Anderson
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I have a terrible ending to report...on February 4th, 2007, Phoenix passed away and joined so many others at Rainbow Bridge. It seems to have come quickly. He was feeling fine that day - playing with the other pups and with his human family. But that evening, when they didn't see him running around, his new humans found him curled up - as if asleep in his hay. They checked him and he wasn't breathing. It made our whole house sad to know that he was gone from us, but it especially hit our Mama Karen hard.
I guess it's a good thing that Karen saved Phoenix when she did. He got to know love and he got to learn to love - more than he would have gotten had he been left in that wooded 'refuge' he called 'home'. Phoenix was a lucky pup - lucky enough to meet Karen and lucky enough to die loved.
We won't forget him. And we'll see him one of these days down the road...we'll meet again, Pheonix. Until then - keep smiling!
Gabriel, Allicks, Ambrr, and all of Crittersville!
