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News-Sun photo by CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY Donna Bryant and Buddy Bear fell in love at first sight.

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published: Friday, June 25, 2010

Lucky dog finds home

In most fiction, excepting Stephen King, a reader can count on, if not a happy ending, then at least a satisfactory one.

With Mr. King, as in real life, a reader never knows exactly how the characters will end. Fear, regret and failure are as likely as joy, celebration, and success.

Which is why I was sick at heart when I left the American pit bull stray I had stumbled across on Sunday, June 6, at Animal Control on June 7.

The volume of dogs being picked up across Highlands County sadly means the clock starts ticking the day a dog enters the system.

This reflects nothing on the people tasked with collecting and dealing with these animals. The uncomfortable truth is that there is only so much room, only so much time.

Happy endings are not guaranteed.

I am very relieved, however, to report that the staff at the Animal Control office do this very difficult job with compassion and patience, and they do everything they can to help dogs and cats find new, permanent homes.

Certainly Pat Pablo, who works the front desk, helped me -- including making sure the dog I called Rufus was kept safe and had a chance to find a home.

I was figuratively biting my nails the whole time the dog was behind bars. It may sound ridiculous, but having intervened in his life, I felt a special obligation.

That is why I wrote about finding the dog, and the history of what happened next. It is why I begged on the dog's behalf, doing my best to attract the right person, or family, to come forward.

The right person did.

In fact, three people contacted me: Donna Bryant, and a couple, Roy and Brandi Kirby, all offering to take the dog in.

Donna reached me first.

My plea appeared in the Sunday, June 13, edition. The dog I called Rufus had been incarcerated for six days by then.

Having Monday off, I got to the newsroom Tuesday morning to find messages waiting, Donna's among them.

Her message was coherent. She said all the right things. She had a nice voice.

I was thrilled.

Donna said she had a large fenced-in yard with plenty of shade trees and two female dogs, one she adopted from the Humane Society and another who adopted her during a yard sale.

The dogs were similar in size and age, all energetic and playful.

I drove back to Animal Control to spring the dog I called Rufus.

Here is useful information.

Once a dog enters the system, the process of adoption has to go by the book.

In the interests of people who may have lost a dog, and to monitor for disease, animals picked up by Animal Control must stay in the kennel for 10 days.

At the end of the waiting period, new owners may not go to the pound to pick up the dog if it hasn't already been spayed or neutered and had its shots.

Animal Control staff deliver the soon-to-be-adoptee to the veterinarian of the owner's choice. The owner then picks up the animal from there.

I made an appointment for Monday with my vet, called the pound to let them know where to deliver the dog, and called Donna to keep her posted.

I visualized, I'm embarrassed to say, a handing-off ceremony where I -- the great humanitarian and saver of souls -- would joyfully deliver the dog I called Rufus, while modestly downplaying my unbelievably generous, incredibly brave, and most excellent role in his rescue.

My day dreams metastasized.

Donna and my friends would sing my praises. People would stop me in the street to admire what I'd done. And of course, the dog I called Rufus would drown me with kisses and look forlorn when I left.

Well, it didn't quite end that way.

Monday I was too busy to pick the dog up from the vet, so Donna made her own arrangements.

By the time I came to visit, on Tuesday afternoon, the dog I called Rufus had become Buddy Bear -- much more suitable name.

Buddy didn't even recognize me. More humbling, he had clearly bonded with Donna.

"He keeps right underfoot," she said, scratching him behind the ear as he ignored me and stared adoringly at her. "He curled right up in my lap and fell asleep on the ride home," she said. "He helped me cook dinner last night."

It turns out that Donna understands abandonment and hopelessness, as well as rescue and redemption.

In a nine-month period several years back she lost six family members -- including two brothers, her mother, and her two small children -- and her husband divorced her.

"I went a little crazy," she said, and ended up serving a prison sentence for driving under the influence.

She was released last November and since then has been rebuilding her life.

She gives credit to the Community Bible Church in Avon Park for helping her.

"They were God sent," she said. "They are truly angels in that church. They helped me save my home. The older folks kind of adopted me. Now I have a bunch of new dads and moms."

And three dogs at home. Buddy gets along with his new sisters. They tear around the yard and roll in the cooling dirt under the sun deck.

Donna relaxes at her picnic table, at ease and full of laughter as she watches them play.

Sometimes the worst of times can lead to surprising joy and fulfillment.