Atom

When Colette's German shepherd died, it nearly broke her heart.  Dogs do that to you.  

Because she didn't think she could afford another dog, she decided to foster dogs who no longer had homes.  The organization she worked with provided veterinary care and bags of dog food so there was no cost to her except her time.  She fostered one dog after another, a real mix of breeds, until permanent homes were found for them.  None of them stayed long enough to snare her heart...until Atom.  

Atom, a brindled breed that might be part Australian cattle dog, was a larger dog than the foster pets that went before, but he was a gentle soul.  His previous owners had taken the time to train him well.  He in turn must have missed them terribly.  When Colette took him for walks he would stop suddenly when he saw children.  He peered at cars to see if there was someone in them that he knew.  He wanted his people.  With the economic times, it is likely they couldn't afford to keep him any longer. 

Finally, Colette decided she had to adopt this sad, lovable dog. She didn't know how she could afford it, but then I got involved.  You see, Gary and I had our own love affair with Jake Dog, a goofy Australian shepherd. When he died, we thought that there could never be another like him.  As time went on, we realized that if we wanted to travel, there would be no dog in our future.  

I suggested that Gary and I become godparents to Atom.  This means I occasionally take him for a walk, we buy dog food, and we once contributed to his vet bills. This way I have access to a dog, but he doesn't tie me down when I want to travel. 

Today, I walked our god dog.  With a urinary tract infection, Atom had to go out often while Colette was at work in the library. He couldn't be home alone for so many hours.  She asked me to help out. 

We walked down the trail, almost to Park Lane, when a bus went by.  Atom stopped dead in his tracks and watched it go by longingly. At some point he must have waited for such a bus that still may carry the children who yearn for their beloved dog.  

Do those Wall Street bigwigs know that recessions hurt more than humans?