Dear Editor,
On a hot March morning I was driving along Avenue of the Republic, approaching Robb Street, when I saw a man pulling a dog down the street. I stopped my car and, to my surprise, found the man had a wire as a dog collar to which was tied a garbage bag being used as a lead. I asked the man what he was doing with the dog and he asked me how much I would pay him for it. The female had just had babies and looked thirsty. I got out a plastic bowl and gave her some water and some donated chow which she drank and ate as only a hungry dog can. The man asked me if I wanted to buy the dog, I said yes and offered $500. He said no, he wanted $2000. I asked him how far he was taking the dog; he said Tiger Bay. I was going to offer him $1000 when he said something that made me realize there was a strong connection between man and dog. He said, “I gone all over looking for food for her but was not successful this morning.” I asked him to release the dog, which he did, and she did not run away but sat right next to the man. You could tell she trusted and liked the man. I asked if she had a name, he said, “Cross; because she is good at crossing the roads.” I wanted to see where they lived, so I offered them a ride in my car to their home in Tiger Bay. I met the man’s family and saw where Cross lived.
Their story is a sad one but the whole family loves Cross. The man’s name I won’t mention. He has been down on his luck and recently started back smoking, but even when things get really bad he still takes care of Cross who just had 8 puppies. The man showed me Cross’s food and water bowls and a stack of boards he planned to make into a kennel for her. The man said he gets frustrated with Cross making so many babies and he asked if I could make her a “virgin” again. I promised him I would.
I gave Cross a real collar (donated by animal lover Zenobia Williams) and gave the man worm medicines for Cross and the other dogs in the neighbourhood and some dry food donated by Ian Tenneesee. I have visited Cross and her immediate family several times, always with a few pounds of dry food. The babies have all been given away and Cross and the man are hanging out. Cross even has her own kennel now.
In June I picked up Cross and took her to be spayed. Now she is a “virgin” again and looks beautiful. The family and friends are all protective of Cross and every time I drop by they tell me stories about Cross and The Man.
Thanks to all the kind people who make these kind actions possible.
Yours faithfully,
Syeada Manbodh