The Only Puppy That Was My Very Own!

by Verna Mull

The Only Puppy That Was My Very Own

One day, a pretty black and white puppy just showed up at our place. My Dad said that someone had probably dumped her there since she was a female and had the potential of creating more puppies!

I claimed her right away, and because my Dad had always said that children all needed 3 things in life, and a dog was one of the three, I was allowed to keep her if I would take care of her.

Oh, my, I had so much fun romping and playing with her. I had always loved my kittens, but this was a totally new experience! This was a totally different type of companionship. My only brother who still lived at home was 5 years older than I, so the puppy was a welcome companion. Each day I would see that she had a big dish of milk, and I searched the kitchen for any scraps that I could find for her to eat. (In those days, no one seemed to buy special food for animals like they do now. I think my Dad would not have allowed me to keep her if that was the case.)

None the less, I named my puppy Vicki, and took care of her, and she was a very healthy little puppy. She grew to about double her size during the summer.

Fall came, and, of course, school began. When I came home from school, Vicki was excitedly waiting for me, and followed me everywhere I went as I did my chores.

It soon was a very cold winter, and Vicki lived in the barn with the other animals at night, but was always right there when I came home from school.

One cold, winter day, Vicki did not meet me when I came home. I looked and looked for her, and called and called, to no avail. Daddy said she probably was just out roaming around in the woods or something, but a week or so went by, and no Vicki. My heart was very sad!

One Saturday, my brother, Gaylord, skated down the river to town. When he came home, he informed the family that he had found Vicki, tied to a stake which had been driven into the ice on the river. She had been shot, but there were holes all around her where someone had just shot at her to watch her try to get away, until they actually shot her!

This really ripped my heart out. I was so sad, and angry. My brother said it was back of another neighbor’s house, and he presumed that their boys had done this.

My dad wanted no problem with the neighbors, so he told me I was not to say anything about it to them. (They rode on our school bus) In fact, I was not to tell others about it either. I cried myself to sleep that night, and several other nights before I adjusted to that situation. My mother tried to comfort me, but it was a difficult time for me.

A few years later, one of the boys was killed in a tractor accident, and I was so glad that my Dad had the wisdom to keep me from causing trouble for the family. They now had more than they could bear.

Vicki was the only dog that I ever owned. My brother had a dog a few years later, and my children had several. I never allowed myself to ever get that close to a dog again. That was one trauma I decided I would never go through again.

Today, I am sure that this was allowed by God to prepare me for greater losses that lie ahead in my life, and I thank Him for that. I leaned on Him in my c childish way at the time, but I found Jesus as my strong tower in later years.

Article submitted Thursday, November 12, 2009 & read 437 times.

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» left by Marijo Phelps⁽¹⁰⁾ (2 years 83 days ago.)

Oh, Verna - this is a grabber! How could someone do that to a dog and a little girl?! SO glad that you are safe in the hands of our Lord! Marijo
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