THE WANDERER

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They say "all's well that ends well." Fortunately for Wanda, a
horrendous situation was rectified and she lived a life surrounded by
love and attention.
Let's hope her story becomes a reality for the countless pets
who are neglected.

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THE WANDERER
by Marilyn Jacobson

He got the puppy when she was small enough to fit in a shoe box.
He named her Wanda because she tended to wander off at odd times
and the name just sort of fit.
Wanda was a fur ball of golden hair, not a Lab, not a Retriever
-- just a dog. Wanda grew and flourished in his care. She lay by
his side of the bed when it was bedtime. She got up early in the
morning with him if he had an early flight to wherever his job was
taking him that week. Wanda was his buddy and she missed him
horribly when he was gone.
His wife at the time was supposed to take care of Wanda when he
was away, but he knew as soon as he got home from his trips that
Wanda had not been properly taken care of by her actions when she saw
him.
"Wanda was a bad dog," the wife said. "She scratched the back
door up and made messes in the house." He knew the reason Wanda was
"bad." She was not let out to do her business and was not fed and
cared for properly. He knew it was not a good situation for her, but
his job called him away almost every week. He prayed that someone
would decide to take an interest in her while he was gone and tried
his best to make up for lost time when he returned.
His marriage fell apart. It had been building for years, but
the time finally came when he had to get out or go insane. He packed
what he could and moved away to another home -- another beginning.
He wanted so badly to take Wanda with him, but there was no
where to keep her at his new home. He left her behind with tears
running down his face, hoping for the best for her. His daughter
said she would care for her. It was the best he could do at the time.
The wife called a month later. "You have to take Wanda away
from here. I cannot afford to feed her and care for her. She is
just too much trouble."
By this time, Wanda had grown into a large dog. She was no
trouble when he was there for her. But she needed a new home.
He made arrangements to pick her up. When he got to his old
house, he was shocked at the condition she was in. She had no hair
on her back half and she had been starved to practically skin and
bones. He was so angry to find that someone could be so cruel to
treat an animal like this. He packed her in his truck and once again
drove away with tears running down his face -- not from sadness but
from anger. She had never deserved to be treated this way. It was
unthinkable that someone could be so cold.
He took her to his new home. He set a bowl of water and a huge
bowl of food down for her and she devoured it in minutes. He took
her to the vet and found that she was so infested with fleas that she
had scratched away most of her hair. The vet prescribed medication
and said to get her on a good healthy diet. She would come back from
this but the scars would remain.
Wanda is now 86 pounds and a lovable speed-bump. She lies on
the floor at his feet and at the side of the bed when it's bedtime.
Her name is still fitting. She is content to spend the rest of her
days with him.
And he will make sure she has everything she needs to help her
into her sunset days. Other animals have come into his life, but
Wanda is and always will be his "buddy."

-- Marilyn Jacobson

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Marilyn and her husband Art live in NW Iowa and are active with a
local animal rescue organization. This story was submitted in memory
of their dog, Wanda, who passed away July 31, 2008. Her furry
sisters and brothers; Sandi, Nikki, Charlie and Jonah miss her
sorely, as do Art and Marilyn.
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