by Peggy Mott
While on vacation in Hawaii 2 weeks ago, we came upon an injured dog lying by the side of the road. As we came up to and drove by, I could see that it appeared to be a beautiful large german shepard which looked so much like my late Zach. I yelled at my husband to stop although there was a man with him who had been bicycling by. We were due for a very important appointment and we really didn't have the time, but there was no way that I could not stop to see what I could do. Upon closeup exam, I could see he had a husky face. Such a beautiful dog lying there so critically injured. As a nurse, I could see he was dying. He had a rope attached to his collar that he had chewed off. No one knew who the owner was or how far he had traveled from his home. On that island there is no emergency hospital for animals nor did anyone know of a vet. We all felt so helpless. People continued to stop. One woman sat and cradled his head in her lap vowing to stay with him. We really needed to leave for our appointment and so I reluctantly left as a police car came driving up. As the officer stopped the dog took it's last breath and was gone. He died surrounded by strangers but with so much love and so many hands stroking and holding him, talking to him. I shall always remember that dog. He haunts me to this day. This story is in his memory and I don't even know what his name was. The person who killed him and left him to die will have to answer to this some day and what better place than at Rainbow Bridge where judgement could be made by all the animals there. Picturing that scene gives me some comfort.