"Dad, every year on this day momma would tell us the story of Puff the Magical. Would you tell us the story? Diva and Lilly haven't heard it yet." Okay, Zsofia, I'll tell you all the story. Everybody gather around, and we'll have story time.
In 2010, which was a LONG time ago, there was an Eskie breeder who only 6 years before that had an idyllic farm in Kansas and bred happy healthy brilliant pups who lived with the family in their house. The farm fell on hard times financially. As the entire country's situation worsened over the previous few years, the demand for expensive purebred puppies had decreased. The farm went into foreclosure. At about the same time, the breeder discovered she had brain cancer and as it progressed she lost mobility and the ability to function. The farm was lost, and the family was forced to move into a rental trailer where the dogs were not allowed inside by the landlord. Consequently, for some time, the animals lived in dog houses in the yard…their once sparkling white coats matted and their shining eyes dimmed from hopelessness.
A rescue acquaintance discovered the situation and bought four of the pups along with the sire and rehomed them (keeping two himself). He teared up as he described the conditions and lamented that he had to leave the 12 year old dam behind because he had no more room. “No one in that small town is going to take in an old broken down Eskie, she is sleeping outside in the dirt because she's afraid of the dog house and it's getting so cold at night,” he shared.
When he said the name of the town, momma and I became concerned. We asked him to repeat and then asked if the one-time kennel had been named after the surrounding hills. His answer chilled us…this was the kennel White Dog had come from! The same breeder who had so carefully screened us. The same breeder who took such pride in her “babies.” The breeder that gave us such a loving, wise, incredible companion in the form of Siku had been reduced to this!
Without even needing to debate, and despite the fact that we had just adopted Nuka, we told him that we would take in Puff, that we owed a distant relative of Siku—and her birthplace-- that much. So from our family who had at one time said with certainty, “We are a one dog house!” we became the White Dog Army.
3 comments:
We love the story of Puff. Thank you for telling it again, so that it is always in our hearts.
That indeed was a journey for the hearts of Puff, magical in every way.
Please CORRECT your blog and story. When I arrived to pay the breeder, Sherri, and to pick up the five puppies and three adult dogs (Puff, Dusty, and a Mama American Eskimo type with a few large gray areas of fur), Sherri refused to let me take Puff and the Mama dog, as she decided to keep them. This threw me, because we had an agreement (and had paid for) all of the dogs. Given their sad financial situation, plus the kennel next to their rental trailer only had dirt, I was afraid they would not be able to properly care for the two dogs. Additionally, Puff had a cough, which I thought a vet should have a look at, even though Sherri said it was just a cold. I had plenty of room for Puff and the Mama dog, and all the other dogs as I purchased new crates for them to safely make the trip back to New Mexico. I was extremely disappointed Sherri would not let me take Puff or the Mama. Reluctantly, I agreed as I could not force her give me Puff or Mama. Basically, I had no choice. I made Sherri promise me that she would take good care of both Puff and Mama, would take Puff to a vet for her cough, and would call me if she changed her mind as I would gladly return to rescue Puff and Mama. About three weeks later, Sherri called me and said she couldn’t take care of Puff, and was going to euthanize her if I didn’t come pick her up right away. She said she was still keeping Mama. Then, I arranged with you and a friend to fly back with me to Salina to rescue Puff.
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