Crunch gets a second chance by karelle Scharff

Crunch gets a second chance

by karelle Scharff

My family lives in a small town high in the Colorado Rockies. When my daughter was young we lived next door to a drunk and his Rottie, named Crunch. Crunch had a fearsome reputation, having bitten several people and was indeed scary if he was chained. His owner chained him to the bottom of the stairs that my 7 year old daughter had to walk up coming home from school. The jerk often forgot to feed him, almost never left him water, summer or winter, never let him in, no matter how cold it got and when Crunch would come up to him, hoping for a pat and a kind word, the turd would kick him away. I was concerned for my daughter's safety, though he never growled at her. At the time I didn't own a dog, only 3 cats, but I bought a big bag of dog food, fed him twice a day and made sure that there was always water for him. You know, I can't remember now if I swiped his collar in the winter or summer, I just remember that the poor dog was so uncomfortable on this heavy short chain. I figured that the drunk wouldn't bother to replace the collar, as that would cut into his beer and cigarettes. Crunch came home with me - must have been summer, because I remember him standing at the open door, with his head cocked, as if to say, "Can I come visit?" I invited him in. That first time he only stayed a few moments and then went back and lay at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for his master. But gradually he would come to visit for longer stays and eventually would just stay at our house, especially as winter came on. Winter in the Rockies can be brutal, especially for a short haired dog. During the first winter, he tried to be available for his master, as much as possible, but the bozo didn't seem to miss him or to care. After that he just stayed with us, and stayed inside if the weather were bad. 5 years after we first fed him, we moved across town, though only a couple of blocks away. I didn't feel comfortable actually transporting Crunch with us but even as we were moving, he came to visit and moved in with us in our new house. He lived with us there (with the addition of several other dogs - all of whom had to answer to the "Drill Sergeant" - and all of whom are more well mannered for his gentle ministrations) for another 3 years - to the age of almost 15. He passed away in our backyard, in the late summer, resting on his blanket, visited by his dog and people friends. We still miss him. His first years were pretty miserable but his last years were filled with his love for us and ours for him. Good food, clean water, a sunny backyard and daily brushing. His eyes and his tongue told us every time we petted or hugged or brushed him just how much he appreciated us. I think the only sadness to those years was that periodically he would go visit his previous owner and he just never got the love from him he so wanted and deserved. Then he got too old to handle the hills and I told the guy that Crunches' time was limited, that he should come say good-bye, but he never did. He did thank me one time, for taking Crunch in. And after all that reputation, Crunch was always the perfect gentleman - he only growled at the puppies, and then just for effect. Heck his people (though not another dog) could take a bone out of his mouth and he'd just give you a sad look that said "I don't understand, don't I deserve that treat?" It's 2 years later and we still miss our "second chance dog", Crunch, though we love our other 3 dogs dearly.

Comments would be appreciated by the author, karelle Scharf