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Letter to the Editor: A Christmas Story


Posted

It was Christmas Eve afternoon. I lost my wife almost seven years ago, and I dreaded Christmas and the holiday season. I was hoping to have won the lottery and escape somewhere and come back after the holiday.

Then some lady shows up at my door with a small dog. It was dirty, had matted hair. I said it was not mine, but I would try and find her a home. The lady was just passing through, and said the dog was lying in the street. I took the dog and went up and down the street looking for “lost dog” signs or picture. I called my granddaughter, who went online for lost dogs in Clay County. No response.

The next day I took her to my vet who gave her a bath for flea infestation, treated her for an intestinal infection and suggested she needed further treatment. The next day, I took her to the Safe Animal Shelter on County Road 220. They treated her for round worm, gave her a distemper shot and dewormed her. They said they would keep her until we could find a loving family for her. I took her back home with me, I didn’t want her to stay in a kennel by herself. She was very comfortable with me.

We had next treatment for ring worm scheduled today. On the way home from the grocery on Thursday, a sheriff’s deputy called and asked if I had a small dog. I said I did and he said the owner had called and said I had stolen her dog.

I said, you meet me at my house with the owner, with proof of ownership and she can have the dog. The neighbors said please don’t give it back, it has been so neglected. They have taken it in from the rain, fed and bathed it on occasion.

Well, the deputies came, she parked across the street as the dog went running to her. I had spent $95 at the vet and Safe Animal Shelter. She was belligerent and said I along with the Safe Animal Shelter, wanted to steal her dog. She said I wanted the dog’s reward. Never did she thank me for caring for her dog. I just wanted the dog healthy and in a loving home.

I called her “Little Bit” and she was my Christmas Angel. I was totally focused on her during Christmas and thank God for this little angel.

Leon Brown

Orange Park