The tears of a dog speak to the heart of compassion, Satsuma Alabama Waffle House May 30
In the hours between dusk and dawn, the night shift staff at the Waffle house serves a variety of night owls of human form. One well known regular of canine form was not allowed inside the establishment. That would be Scrappy and this is her story.
Every night the brown female dog age and breed unknown would show up at the all night restaurant. She would lie patiently on the sidewalk raising her head to search the face of each passerby and thump her tail in expection of a friendly pat on the head.
Her familiar presence became the favorite topic of conversation. Customers and staff made sure she recieved a fair share of choice scraps. Thus she was dubbed Scrappy.
When Angie Davis was hired at the Waffle House she too fell for Scrappy. She worried about Scrappys obvious homeleness but feared a call to animal control would only take her life not save it.
Tragedy struck Scrappys life in that she gave birth to a litter of six puppies in a culvert near by. Discovered to late all six perished by drowning during a deluge of rain water. Scrappy was inconsolable Angie said. Her happy demeanor and strong survival instinct seemed to vanish.
Other employees said they saw tears in Scrappys eyes. Angie said she saw them too.
When word came around that some well meaning citizens wanted to call animal controll and have the now mornful Scrappy removed Angie made a decision. She was going to take Scrappy home with her.
With modest means and a small house with weenie dogs of her own this was not an easy decision but it was the only one with in sight.
A friend loaned her a crate to trasport Scrappy home in.
While Angie finished her shift she tied Scrappy to a pole, so she would not evaporate into the shadows of the night as she usually did.
Angie reports that Scrappy fit right in with her weenie dogs, and appears to have adopted them as her pups. Perhaps these tiny dogs have filled the void in her heart after loosing her pups. Angie said that Scrappy has regained the spark in her eyes and yes she still enjoys a scrap or two--living up to her name.
Dogs may not be gifted with the ability to talk or voice out what they feel. Experts tell us dog are incapable of showing emotions. But Angie and the staff at the Waffle House swear they saw tears in Scrappys eyes and felt her pain.
There are no real numbers on the dogs and cats dumped on highways, remote country roads, in public parks, empty houses and dark alleys. Betrayed by those whom they loved, often sick lonely and hungry, most likely not fixed, they are condemned to birth weak new lives with nowhere to call home. They struggle daily for refuge, for scraps and long for the touch of a kind hand. Is this anyway for America the Beauttiful to treat our animals?
In return for a little affection these extraordinary animals reward their rescuers with unmatched love and loyalty. Just ask Angie.