Talaya woke to something heavy on her chest and a wet something tickling her neck. She did most mornings these days, since rescuing Benji from the country road where he had been dumped.
It had only been a few months since she had taken him to the vet, badly matted, flea-ridden, starved, and dehydrated. When she had stopped her car, he’d only had energy to wag his tail as she reached down to pick him up.
Talaya didn’t know whether to cry because he had nearly died or because of the joy he had brought to her life. His fur, which had been shaved off, was growing back. She caressed his face, snuggled into her neck, planting a kiss on his forehead before opening her eyes.
The vet had estimated that Benji was about eight months old when she had found him—still a puppy, though old enough to see he wasn’t going to grow into a large dog. Who abandoned dogs? Talaya quelled her anger, not wanting Benji to feel it. Instead, she cuddled him a while longer before taking him downstairs to start their morning.
As she watched him daintily pick his kibble from the bowl, she marveled at the gift the universe had delivered, right when she had needed it. Her grandmother, who had raised her, had just died. Talaya had lots of friends; she was okay. But she wasn’t OKAY. She needed Benji as much as he needed her.
Talaya finished her coffee at about the same time Benji finished the last of his kibble and turned to his water bowl for a drink. She picked his leash up from the table, grinning at how quickly his little body raced toward her. He put his paws on her legs, making it easy for her to attach the lead to his harness.
Talaya picked Benji up for one more cuddle. “Okay, buddy, let’s head to the trails for our ramble.”
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So glad they found each other 💞
It both infuriates me and breaks my heart that people dump animals on country roads, especially if the animal had been a long-time family pet, any animal dumping is WRONG! (OMG.. I am crying. Sorry. This is a real trigger for me. ) I am pleased that your story has a happy ending.