Martha's Christmas Miracle

[Lorraine]

I got this from a show breeders list I am on with permission to share.

P.S. Have Kleenex ready
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Martha's Christmas Miracle
By Bilinda Marshall

Martha was sitting in her living room watching television this
Christmas Eve, alone as she had been for the last five years. All of
her children had married and moved to the four corners of the nation,
her youngest, a surgery resident at the Vet School across the state
had planned on coming home, but had been assigned to work the
emergency clinic and couldn't find a replacement. Martha told herself
that having Sally working to help the sick and injured animals this
Christmas Eve was worth being alone, besides, Sally would be driving
over for Christmas dinner the next afternoon.
All the animals had been fed and now were safely in either the kennel
building or lazily laying around the house. Martha had to stop to
think how many dogs she had at her house this Christmas, she sighed
when she realized there were 16. She did rescue and the number of
dogs was always changing with some dogs being adopted, and new
abandoned dogs coming in. Feeling overwhelmed by the number of dogs
she had and all the dogs still left in shelters to die because there
was no room for them in rescue, Martha seriously wondered if she
should stop working rescue. If she didn't have all these dogs, she
could have flown to any of her other children's homes for the
holidays to be with family. Besides, the heartbreak of seeing each
dog in such need was beginning to really weigh on her.
Tonight she had a new dog, brought home that day. Martha didn't
really plan on adding another dog but on her way home from the store
she saw a dog lying on the side of the road. Certain the dog was
dead, Martha stopped, to pick up the body and take it home for a
burial. As she got closer, she recognized the shell of an Alaskan
Malamute, the breed she rescued. Covered by cuts and festering
wounds, what fur was left was matted and filthy, it was so skinny
that laying there you could see each rib and it's hipbones were the
widest part of his body.
With tears in her eyes, mourning for what once had been a majestic
animal now reduced to almost a skeleton she reached down to give the
poor dog one last pat on the head. 'Oh, you poor boy, what a way to
end your life. Well, at least I can name you and give you a decent
farewell.' As her tears fell on the dog's head, one eye slowly opened
and the tail gave a single wag.
'You're alive! Everything will be OK now, I'll take you home and you
will have a soft bed and food tonight.' She said, tears streaming
down her face, this time from happiness.
The rest of the afternoon was spent cleaning the dog's wounds and
making sure he was able to eat and drink water. Martha set up the
large run in the kennel building for him. A soft blanket and a thick
foam pad was to be his bed, fresh water and food beside him. Papers
for his 'necessary functions' were placed at the far end of the run.
He lay there watching every move she made.
Martha left the dog resting on his bed, somewhat surprised at the
reaction of the rest of the dogs in the kennel. Pandemonium usually
broke out with all the other dogs wooing and barking when a new dog
was brought in, tonight all the other dogs just stood and silently
watched as Martha cared for the new dog. Thankful the other dogs were
not disturbing the new boy, Martha went to the house to finish
preparations for tomorrow's dinner.
Later that evening Martha went down to the kennel to check on the new
boy and feed the other dogs. As she walked in the door the new boy
shakily stood to greet her. As she was straightening up the kennel
after feeding and exercising the dogs, she saw her microchip
reader. 'Well, this will be a waste of time' she thought as she ran
the reader over the dog's body.
BEEP! The reader had located a chip! Writing the number down, she
hurried to the house to call the chip registry and report the found
dog. As she suspected on Christmas Eve, all she got was a machine.
Very late that night, the phone rang. Martha answered and a strange
voice was on the other end. 'Did you find a dog with a
microchip?' 'Yes, are you the registry needing more information? '
Martha asked. 'No, the registry called us and told us you found our
dog!' and then the man broke down crying. After composing himself, he
continued.
'The dog you found is BISS AM/CAN/INT CH Wasilla's Ice Sculpture,
WPD, WTD, WLD, TT, CGC but to us he is our heart, the love of our
life, Icy. Three years ago Icy was stolen from his exercise area in
our back yard. We did everything we could think of to find him, but
lately we had almost given up hope of ever seeing him again. This is
a miracle. We are leaving now to come pick him up. We are about 14
hours from you so we will see you and Icy in the morning.'
Martha was crying, indeed it was a miracle! And the new dog now had a
name, his own name and his people were coming for him. What a
wonderful Christmas gift.
Martha hurried down to the kennel to let Icy know that his humans had
been found and they were on their way to take him home. As Martha
walked up to Icy's kennel he stood to greet her, 'Icy, yes, I know
your name and I have spoken to your people. They're coming to take
you home.' As she was talking to Icy, she heard the old clock in the
building strike midnight.
Much to her amazement, Icy said 'Thank you.'
Martha thought, now I am sure I have been around dogs too long, I
could swear I heard Icy speak.
Icy continued 'Martha, yes I am talking to you in human language, you
see, at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Day, all animals can
speak. Let me tell you what happened to me today.'
'I have been kept in a dark barn for a long time by some very mean
people who beat me and often forgot to feed me. Two days ago I found
a loose board on the barn and was able to escape. I walked as fast as
I could, looking for my people, or at least for some kind person to
feed me and give me a warm place to sleep before I died. I was in the
middle of a big field when I couldn't walk or even crawl any more, I
laid down, knowing I was about to cross to the Rainbow Bridge. As I
stepped onto the Bridge, an Angel came towards me.'
'Icy,' the Angel said 'If you agree, He has a job for you before
cross the Bridge. There is a very kind human who needs you today to
restore her sprit.'
'Of course I agreed to help a human -- that is what Malamutes do. The
Angel picked up my body and carried it to the side of a road and laid
it down. The next thing I remember is you were scratching my ear and
talking to me and your tears were falling on my face. You have cared
for me this day.'
Martha heard a chorus of voices all about her. To her amazement she
was surrounded not only by her dogs, but dogs she had rescued and
sent on to forever homes, all voicing stories how Martha had cared
for them and restored them to health and loved them, thanking her for
her love.
The first Malamute Martha had rescued many years ago stepped to the
front of the gathering and said, 'Martha, you took us in to your
home, cared for us, healed us both in body and spirit then, even
though it broke your heart, sent us on to our new forever families.
This gave us a life we would never have had without you. Others of us
here, never were adopted and lived out our lives with you, loved and
cared for as if we were your own dogs. In our hearts we are your
dogs. Thank you.'
Then one small mixed breed puppy stepped forward from the back and
said, 'Miss Martha, you never held me nor fed me, you see I am
speaking for all the shelter dogs and cats gathered here for which
you did all you could. We understand that you can't save us all, but
you read our shelter stories, knowing we would cross the Bridge
without knowing a home of our own, and you cried for us. We thank you
for that. You see, we knew you cared and loved us, too. And that love
helped us as we crossed. We thank you and all the
other Rescuers for that small act of love.'
Icy looked at Martha and told her, 'It is getting late and you will
have many people here tomorrow to celebrate Christmas. And you have
your rescue work to continue. Our time to be able to talk to you is
growing short, but always remember what happened tonight. What you do
for the animals is a gift to us and to Him, the Father of us all.
Each of us, animals of every species, needs people like you. Please
keep on helping. You are doing the work of Angels.'
At that point all of the dogs in unison said 'Thank You,' and their
voices blended into a joyous howl which echoed from the heavens to
the ends of the earth.
Humbly offered as a Christmas Gift to all who love animals.
Christmas 2007

(c)Bilinda Marshall 2007

[SaraAlexine00]

What a WONDERFUL Christmas story. Really enjoyed reading it.

[MyFairLacy]

That was a sweet story

[a2luckygirl]

Wow!!!!! furbabies are the best at restoring our souls!
very touching- thank you for sharing!

[MorkieAZ]

Thank you for that moving story!

[RoxyJosMom]

I sure wish I could read one of these heartwarming stories without getting all choked up - especially when there are other people in the room . That was so sweet, thank you.

[Lorraine]

It is quite a story and I have been pondering it all afternoon. Kind of puts a different spin on those rescues and how much it really does all matter.

[littlewhip]

Wow that was so great loved it

[Isabel]

Oh gosh... that brought tears to my eyes... it is sooo heart healing!!! thanks for sharing...

[Anna Banana]

Thats a great story. It definitely strikes a chord with me as a rescuer. Thank you!

[daisysis]

Thank you for that wonderful touching stoy, I run a small rescue for birds and there has been days I think I am crazy like others think of me. and thinking I need to stop but, not now.....thank you my angels..

[YorkieTime07]

wonderful story!!! thanks for sharingb