[KimMee's Mom]

I received this article from my Pet Tutor/Trainer who has become a dear friend. I think it is worth the read.--------






"I would ask in advance as you read this post that my intent in writing
what is very difficult for me to say is not in soliciting sympathy or kind
words, indeed, I would ask you please no, but rather, in this Year of the
Dog to recommit as dog warriors -- as trainers, teachers, therapists,
groomers, vets, caretakers, one and all in every aspect, helping one by
one, using a million different techniques, styles, insights and perceptions,
but helping, dog by dog, owner by owner -- to prevent what I witnessed occur today. We have the capacity to be the separation, the wall of wisdom,
between dogs and death. We make a difference. We are the difference, day
by day, in all of our respective yards, sidewalks, woods, and homes, we are
the difference for dogs. We have the power to keep death at
bay....sometimes, and sometimes counts.....today, I couldn't, and I weep at
the horror of it.

Today, I experienced the ultimate horror of being unable to find the
language in a moment to communicate with either side of the equation in a
way that was able to stop the inevitable. I am driving down the road
towards town, a light-hearted mission to pick up a photo card to take
pictures of my client, her lab, the Shiba and me in Tombstone. I see ahead
of me on the four lane road a pair of German Short Haired Pointers,
wandering in the middle of the road, barely dodging and being dodged by
traffic. I slow to a halt to let the dogs cross and then pull over to get
some leashes out of the car to try and catch them. I am still light
hearted, convinced that, "No worries, we'll lure the dogs in, drop them off,
they'll be well, and off we'll go...." The dogs are on the side of the road
now, about 100' away and I start towards them calling them up. They turn
and spin. One dog freezes, then bolts down the side of the road towards
what I will eventually find out is the business to whom they belong, the
other darts out into traffic, straight out into oncoming traffic. A pickup
truck is coming fast. It never did slow down, until after the impact. I
scream, the most primeval, fierce sound I have ever heard come out of my
body, hurtling energy towards the truck and the dog. There is no thought,
no intent, I am the dog, I am the truck, I know the outcome, I scream and
scream as truck hits dog with a sound I will never forget. I am not sure
where I went in the moment, nor am I sure if all of the pieces of me are
back yet.

The stone cold medic in me took over and while my client knelt gently in
the middle of the road to stroke the dog, I watched his spirit leave his
body and began searching for the other dog who had by now dashed up into the
parking lot of this construction business recessed from the road. People
were coming out of the building wondering what all the cars stopped at the
side of the road were. Questions asked and answered. Me shaking with rage
and fury from the needlessness of it all. A woman who seemed oblivious and
indifferent to where her dogs were or that one was now dead. A large man
and a youth came down in their pickup and gently laid the dog in the bed of
their truck and we wept, the man, the youth, and I, as the dog lay still,
still warm, life clearly gone, body shutting down.

For want of a recall this dog was dead.

IACP at its best, is for me, a place of kindred. It doesn't matter if
we get every dog right. It doesn't matter what the hell words we use to get
the job done. It doesn't matter if we muddle along sometimes wondering what
in the name of sweet Jesus we're doing, as we sprain fingers, wrench backs,
endure bites and bumps and knocks and bruises, cold weather, foul smells.
What matters is that piece by piece, step by step, somtimes we are able to
cross the gap between human and dog, and maybe, just maybe we get the job
done and put a recall on a dog that didn't have one, so it can continue to
smile its silly doggy smile, safe and free. I honor all of you tonight.
Funny, formal words, odd words I am sure to some of you, but the only words
I can find to give meaning to today. I honor each and every one of you,
and the dogs you save. And I honor the world of dog which is the living
link between us and nature, the link between self and others.

Please motivate your friends, family, customers and acquaintances to train their dog in recall. It could, it will save their lives."