by Jonathan Brown
In early spring of '91, I adopted Damein my Dalmation. I had met him a couple of months before and it was love at first site. He was staying at the sister's of a friend of mine. When I left that first day he watched me drive all the way down the street. I know because I turned around and watched him until he was out of site. It was the strangest thing. I had never felt that way about a dog before. I had always been raised that animals where just animals and that was it. But in the couple of hours I had spent with him we bonded in a way I never knew before. It was a new kind of love I had never felt and it was a feeling I wanted to last.
About two months later I was at my friends house when the phone rang. It was my friends sister telling him that her crazy boy friend had shot at Damein with a gun and had shot bottle rockets at him. She didn't know if he was hurt or not because he took off running. She said her boy friend and her three brats had been beating and hitting Damein. She said he was nervous all the time and hadn't been eating right. On top of everything else her boy friend took his gun and was out looking for Damein and was going to kill him. This had all been about an hour before. When my friend hung up and told me what was happening I was just in shock. How could anyone be so mean to such a wonderful dog? Why hadn't his sister told him sooner? Just then the phone rang again. This time it was the Dog catcher calling to say they had picked up Damein. Luckily, Damein's tags still named my friend as his owner. They said Damein was completely freaked out and was backed into a corner and being fierce, growling, barking, and showing his teeth. They said we better hurry or they were going to have to put him down. We rushed over and they took us to where Damein was. When I saw him I couldn't believe it was the same dog I had just seen such a short time ago. He was dirty and so skinny that you could see his rib cage too clearly. He had chewed the fur off his left hind leg. He had scabs and lumps and bumps on his head and body. My heart just broke for him. I said "Dami, baby, it's me. Remember me?" He looked up at my voice and you could see his eyes focus in on me. He relaxed slightly, put his head down and ears back and began to wag his tail in a nervous and unsure way. He whined softly. I went up to him and got down on my knees and embraced him. He gently put his paws on my shoulders and layed his head on my shoulder and gave a deep sigh. I whispered in his ear, "No one is ever going to hurt you again. I promise you that." When I got up and turned around, everyone was staring at me in shock with their mouths hanging open.
I got a collar on him and lead him to a room to be examined by someone from the Humaine Society or Animal Protection I can't remember which. She said he was in bad shape and recommended putting him to sleep. I said no way. She said then the only way she would let us take Damein is if we had the money to take him to a Vet right then and there. I said I had plenty of money. (I really didn't! I only had $365.00 in my savings and that took me about 5 months to save up!)
At the Vet's office he said Damein was malnurished, beaten, abused and suffering from nervous anxiety. The bumps on his head and back were from his nerves. The Vet said he had been hit with a belt buckle and punched and kicked. He said because of how badly he was mistreated that he probably wouldn't make a very good pet and should be put to sleep. The chances of him biting someone were very high. I said I would take full responsability for him. The Vet gave me 4 differant meds to give him over the next couple of weeks. The Vet bill was $364.49!!
When we got back to my friends house the phone was ringing. It was his sister again saying that her crazy boy friend knew we had Damein and was on his way over with a gun to kill him. While my friend called the police, I loaded Damein in my car and brought him to my house. Finally, after 3 owners, me being the 4th, Damein had what he wanted; a safe home for the rest of his life and someone to love and be loved by.
The first month we bonded and I took him everywhere with me. He loved the car and all the love and attention I was giving him. And I was in love too. We became close very fast and in a short time he relaxed. He knew what I had whispered at the Dog Pound was true.
About a month and a half he had settled in and loved being spoiled rotten and being aloud to be an insufferable brat when ever he wanted. One day I had to be gone for over night and took Damein over to my mom and dad's for the night. I kissed him and told him I would see him in the morning.
The next morning when I got back he was SO happy to see me. He was being very vocal and kissing me and not wanting me to be out of his sight for a second. My mom told me "You have the weirdest dog I have ever been around. He went to every window in the house to look out and whined by the doors. He was being so pathetic I didn't know how to comfort him. I asked him,'whats wrong Dami?'. He looked right at me and said'Mama'. I said you want your Mama? and he came over to me suddenly very excited and in a louder voice said 'MAMA!MAMA!MAMA!' I told him Mama would be back in a little while and that he should try to lay down and relax. And he did it! I couldn't believe it! He layed in the dinning room so he could see the front, back and side door. He just weanted you. He thinks your his Mommy!"
I was already a Daddy to a son and daughter from a previous marriage. Could I be a man and be a Mommy too? Sure I can! And I was for 12 wonderful years. I can still hear him calling out the window to me when I'd get home from work, "MAMA!MAMA!MAMA!". Over the years he also learned to say 'Bye Bye' and 'Hi Mama'.
It has been 2 months since my sweet Angel passed over the Bridge. I had him for 12 wonderful years. And I kept my promise from the dog pound during each and every one of those years. I miss him so much there aren't even words to begin to say exactly how much. I know he had a happy and healthy life with me. So many fur baby mommys and daddys don't even get the 12 years I was blessed with. Through my pain and grief, I can't help but think about how lucky I am to have had such a wonderful and pure soul come into my life that saying good bye to was just so awful.