Kaitlyn Wilson

October 4, 2011

There are plenty of people today that believe in caring for animals. Just think about it: most of the human population have owned a dog at some point in their lives because, after all, dog is a mans best friend, right? Its such a simple concept to love a dog because it just makes sense. My love and passion for dogs started before I can remember and is still growing as I spend more time with them. Theres something different about this passion, though, because I love one type of dog more than any other I have ever come in contact with. My favorite dogs are the homeless ones, and I dont think I could ever love or care for anything more than I do them. I have volunteered for animal shelters for quite a while now, but last thursday I realized what my time there was all about. I believe in bathing dogs.

I am fairly new at the Concord Humane Society, but I already have a good routine going. This day I had already filtered the cat litter boxes, swept every room in the building, and did my usual kennel cleanings before playing with the dogs outside. I was ready to cuddle up to Dominique, a recently spayed terrier mix, when I heard one of the men that works at the shelter calling my name. I came out of the back room to find Mike stuck in the entrance to the lobby pulling a cart of seven puppies covered in mud. I immediately ran to open the door so he could wheel the puppies to the back and realized that I couldnt even tell what breed they were.

Mike and the other men there had been working all day trying to finish building a shed out back for storage, so I offered to take care of the puppies and get them settled in so he could get back to work. I got a few crates together and set newspaper and water bowls down then got back to the pups. As I looked into the cage, I began to wonder what happened to these poor babies to get them here. Where did they come from, and what vile, immoral human gave them this fate? There were so many questions, but I knew the answers wouldnt make a difference, so I gathered bath towels and shampoo and headed for the tubs. I believe I was more eager to get these puppies clean than they were to be cleaned.

They were so crammed into the cage that they appeared to be one big mud ball. When I leaned toward the cage to let the first puppy out, they all pushed as far back away from me as they could. They huddled together as if to think that they could fend me off by banning together. I reached my hand slowly into the cage and with little struggle, pulled out the first for a bath. Just a few pounds, he felt brittle and, the mud felt like cement matted to his fur. I held him in one arm, and as I warmed water for his bath, he clung to me, seemingly scared to death.

His bath was a difficult one. He jumped and growled and tried to get away, but I soon got all the clay off of him to find a beautiful black boxer. I shampooed and rinsed him then grabbed a towel as he shivered in the tub. As I reached in with the towel, he didnt growl or resist me this time. I picked him up and wrapped him up tight. I walked him over to his big clean cage and dried his face off before I set him down to go in and find his food and new toy. I expected him to walk inside, or at least away from me, but as I started to reach back to put him in the cage, he stood on his hind legs, put his paws on my knee, and laid his head on my hand. Almost in tears, I knew he was thanking me. Even though I wasnt the person that saved him, I was the first he made a connection with. He innately knew I helped him and it didnt matter how much he growled and scratched, I was caring for him. No matter the past he had before I saw him, I believe that bath began his clean slate to a new and beautiful life. Even though this new chapter began in a shelter, it is the one that will show him the most love and affection he has had so far.

As I continued bathing the rest of the puppies, I looked for the same signs as the first bath, and they never failed. The fight, the scratches, and the growling persisted, followed ultimately by kisses and affection. The more I pondered about the events of that day, the more significant I realized bathing any shelter dog is. This is where the healing begins. This is when the dog can finally mend his relationship with mankind, though most dont deserve it.