by Jenni Walker
Dallas was taken away from us way too
early. He was just three months old. My husband and I were moving into a
new apartment and decided that he would wake the neighbors with his
crying if we left him in his cage while we went to our old house to
pack. So we decided to take him to my moms house. The plan was to leave
him on the deck while we were moving. I thought he would be okay. We
left him on his leash and tied it to the table. I made sure that he
couldn't reach the edge and the stairs. Then I realized that he was
tangled on the table leg. Without thinking I untangled him. Then I
didn't recheck the stairs and edges. We left and went to get some things
from my inlaws house. We were there only 15 minutes when the phone rang.
It was my brother and by the expression on my husbands face it wasn't
good news. He told me that Dallas was dead. He had somehow made it to
the edge of the deck and was found hanging. I was devastated. We rushed
over there to find him laying on the deck wrapped in a towel. I wanted
to hold him in my arms and make him better. I grabbed the towel hoping
to find him just laying there dazed. I kept hoping that he was just
sleeping. I was shaking so bad that my brother had to practically carry
me to a chair. All I could do was sit there and blame myself. I should
have checked this or I should have checked that. We should have just
left him in his cage and let him cry. I just should have never left him
on a deck with his leash on. We buried our puppy on September 20, 1997.
A day I will never forget. I miss him more than anyone will ever know.
We have another Dalmatian now. His name is Jasper. We like to think that
Jasper has a guardian angel. And his name is Dallas.