A couple of years ago, someone dumped two dogs out here in the country. For months, I’d see them disappear into the timber whenever a car passed. One day, coming home from the feed store, I saw just how thin they’d gotten. Skin and bones, with their coats matted and full of burrs. I stopped my pickup, opened the back door, and said, “Come on, load up.”
The border collie jumped right in, ready to lick faces. He became Rascal. The little girl, who became Sissy, was terrified. I stood there talking gently until she finally came close. I think her fear of being separated from Rascal outweighed her fear of me. It took weeks of showing up gently, every day, for her to trust me and learn what my love felt like in her life. They’re both spoiled rotten now.
After a lifetime of managing PTSD, I had no idea how much calm reassurance those two would give me back. They sense when I’m getting stressed. Sissy especially has such a gentle, loving disposition. It feels like she’s giving me back the same kindness and love I shared with her. That’s where the question comes from: who rescued who?
Lyrics
She's another dog we found out there
On my country road
Covered up in burrs and ticks
With ribs showin' underneath
Barely more than skin and bones
Scared and alone
A gentle soul somebody left
She only wanted a home
Faithful and true
After all she's been through
Left out on that roadside
But love still made it through
Now she's warm and happy-eyed
Right here where she belongs
Sometimes the ones we rescue
End up rescuin' us too
Took weeks before she trusted
My hand reachin' her way
We learned to love each other
One kind word every day
Now it's baths and treats
Every bowl licked clean
Spoiled rotten, that's all right
She's my rescued queen
You don't rush a wounded heart
Or shame it for bein' scared
Just keep showin' up gentle
Till it learns that love is there
It takes understanding
And encouragement too
To lead a frightened soul back home
Till it stands happy-eyed and true
Faithful and true
Warm, gentle, and kind
Calm reassurance
In this worried heart of mine
Curled up here at my feet
Soft nuzzles when I'm worn down
Sometimes the ones we rescue
End up rescuin' us too
Till we forget who rescued who