Thanx a lot.


Teared up like I've not done since Spanky.


-> If this story doesn't tug at your heart strings, nothing will.
->  
-> BEST DOG STORY EVER.
->  
-> Is it true? Who cares, it's a tear jerker, whether you're a dog lover or
not.
->  
-> They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie, as I looked at him
lying in
-> his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly.
I'd
-> only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small
-> college town, people were welcoming and open.  Everyone waves when you
pass
-> them on the street.
->  
-> But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new
life
-> here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And
I had
-> just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said
they had
-> received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had
come down
-> to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They
-> must've thought I did.
->  
-> But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie
and
-> his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of
which were
-> brand new tennis balls, his dishes and a sealed letter from his previous
owner.
->  
-> See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We
struggled for
-> two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust
to his
-> new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. 
Maybe we
-> were too much alike.
->  
-> For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls --- he wouldn't
go
-> anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth) got tossed in with all of my
other
-> unpacked boxes.  I guess I didn't really think he'd need all his old
stuff,
-> that I'd get him new things once he settled in. But it became pretty
clear
-> pretty soon that he wasn't going to.
->  
-> I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit"
and
-> "stay" and "come" and "heel," and he'd follow them - when he felt like
it. He
-> never really seemed to listen when I called his name --- sure, he'd look
in my
-> direction after the fourth or fifth time I said it, but then he'd just
go back
-> to doing whatever. When I'd ask again, you could almost see him sigh and
then
-> grudgingly obey.
->  
-> This just wasn't going to work. He chewed up a couple of shoes and some
-> unpacked boxes.  I was a little too stern with him and he resented it, I
could
-> tell.
->  
-> The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two weeks to be up,
and
-> when it was, I was in `full-on' search mode for my cell phone amid all
of my
-> unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the
guest
-> room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the "damn dog probably
hid it
-> on me."
->  
-> Finally, I found it, but before I could punch up the shelter's number, I
also
-> found his pad and other toys from the shelter. I tossed the pad in
Reggie's
-> direction and he snuffed it and wagged, some of the most enthusiasm I'd
seen
-> since bringing him home.
-> But then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that?  Come here and I'll give
you a
-> treat." Instead, he sort of glanced in my direction - maybe "glared" is
more
-> accurate - and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down ... with
his back
-> to me.
->  
-> Well, that's not going to do it either, I thought. And I punched the
shelter
-> phone number.
->  
-> But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten
about
-> that, too. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous
owner
-> has any advice."
->  
-> ____________ _________ _________ _________
->  
-> To Whoever Gets My Dog:
->  
-> Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told
the
-> shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy
writing
-> it. If you're reading this, it means I just got back from my last car
ride with
-> my Lab after dropping him off at the shelter. He knew something was
different.
-> I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door
before a
-> trip, but this time... it's like he knew something was wrong.
->  
-> And something is wrong...which is why I have to try to make it right.
->  
-> So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond
with
-> him and he with you.
->  
-> First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think
he's part
-> squirrel, the way he hordes them. He usually always has two in his
mouth, and
-> he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet.
->  
-> Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after them, so be
careful.
-> Don't do it by any roads. I made that mistake once, and it almost cost
him
-> dearly.
->  
-> Next, commands.
->  
-> Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over them again:
-> Reggie knows the obvious ones ---"sit," "stay," "come," "heel."
->  
-> He knows hand signals, too:"back" to turn around and go back when you
put your
-> hand straight up; and "over" if you put your hand out right or left.
"Shake"
-> for shaking water off, and "paw" for a high-five. He does "down" when he
feels
-> like lying down --- I bet you could work on that with him some more. He
knows
-> "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.
->  
-> I trained Reggie with small food treats. Nothing opens his ears like
little
-> pieces of hot dog.
->  
-> Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the morning, and
again at
-> six in the evening. Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the
brand.
->  
-> He's up on his shots. Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info
with
-> yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when he's due. Be
-> forewarned: Reggie hates the vet.  Good luck getting him in the car. I
don't
-> know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.
->  
-> Finally, give him some time.
->  
-> I've never been married, so it's only been Reggie and me for his whole
life.
-> He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car
rides if
-> you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain.
He just
-> loves to be around people, and me most especially.
->  
-> Which means that this transition is going to be hard, with him going to
live
-> with someone new.
->  
-> And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you....
->  
-> His name's not Reggie.
->  
-> I don't know what made me do it, but when I dropped him off at the
shelter, I
-> told them his name was Reggie.
->  
-> He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I
have
-> no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. For me to
do
-> that, it seemed so final, that handing him over to the shelter was as
good as
-> me admitting that I'd never see him again. And if I end up coming back,
getting
-> him, and tearing up this letter, it means everything's fine.
->  
-> But if someone else is reading it, well ... well it means that his new
owner
-> should know his real name. It'll help you bond with him. Who knows,
maybe
-> you'll even notice a change in his demeanor if he's been giving you
problems.
->  
-> His real name is "Tank."
->  
-> Because, that is what I drive.
->  
-> Again, if you're reading this and you're from the area, maybe my name
has been
-> on the news. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie
"available for
-> adoption until they received word from my company commander.
->  
-> You see, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left
Tank
-> with, and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to
Iraq,
-> that they make one phone call the shelter ... in the "event" ... to tell
them
-> that Tank could be put up for adoption.
->  
-> Luckily, my colonel is a dog-guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was
headed.
-> He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made
good on
-> his word.
->  
-> Well, this letter is getting downright depressing, even though, frankly,
-> I'm just writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was writing it
for a
-> wife and kids and family ... but still, Tank has been my family for the
-> last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family.
->  
-> And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, too, and
that he
-> will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.
->  
-> That unconditional love from a dog is what I take with me to Iraq as an
-> inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent people from
those who
-> would do terrible things ... and to keep those terrible people from
coming to
-> the U.S.  If I have to give up Tank in order to do it, I am glad to have
done
-> so. He is my example of service and of love.
->  
-> I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.
->  
-> All right, that's enough.
->  
-> I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. I
don't
-> think I'll say another good-bye to Tank, though. I cried too much the
first
-> time. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third
tennis
-> ball in his mouth.
->  
-> Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss
goodnight
-> - every night - from me.
->  
-> Thank you,  Paul Mallory
-> ____________ _________ _________ _______
->  
-> I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure, I had
heard of
-> Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local
kid,
-> killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star
when
-> he gave his life to save three buddies.  Flags had been at half-mast all
-> summer.
->  
-> I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring
at the
-> dog.
->  
-> "Hey, Tank," I said quietly.
->  
-> The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.
->  
-> "C`mere boy."
->  
-> He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor.
He sat
-> in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard
in
-> months.
->  
-> "Tank," I whispered.
->  
-> His tail swished.
->  
-> I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears
lowered, his
-> eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just
seemed to
-> flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face
-> into his scruff and hugged him.
->  
-> "It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me."
->  
-> Tank reached up and licked my cheek.
->  
-> "So whatdaya say we play some ball?" His ears perked again.
->  
-> "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?" Tank tore from my hands and
disappeared into
-> the next room.
->  
-> And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.
->  
->  
-> Regards,
->  
-> Roger
-> 
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