A Lesson From Geronimo

It was “Adoption Day” for some of the local rescue groups and dogs and
people were milling around a tent across from the local pet supply store. I
got out of my car looking at my list of “to get” pet food items when I
heard a yap. I looked across the parking lot and there he was.  Fifty
pounds of wiggling happiness with a big grin only a pit bull could sport
smiling at me. On his back was an “Adopt Me” sign.  I know enough to
understand when I am being called so I made my way across the parking
lot. I bent down to pet him and I noticed the scars all over his face. I had
seen this so many times before in the Florida shelter where I had worked.
This dog was used in dog fighting. My eyes wandered down his back and
patches of black healed skin that had once been burned melted from under
his “Adopt Me sign.  I asked the woman on the other end of the leash
what his name was. She said, “Geronimo” and proceeded to tell me a little
of his history while I rubbed his vibrating form. He came from
Philadelphia where he was used as a “bait dog”. (This is a dog which is
used in fighting as ‘bait” for other dogs to tear apart.) They also ground
down his teeth to little numbs, poured battery acid all over him and
sodomized him.

My brain shut off. There is only so much horror I can handle at one time
and I had just heard too much. This was a defense mechanism I had
learned while working in that Florida shelter many years ago. I learned to
shut my emotions down completely and to just do what had to be done. If
I allowed myself to think about the fact that some thing that was called
human could actually visit such unspeakable horror on the sentient being
that was in my arms, I would have gone completely mad. There were
many days back then when I felt that horror lurking behind me large and
black and sometimes it seemed to reach in and grab my lungs until I had
trouble breathing. I could not let it win. And I willed myself to be
stronger.  This is why I have the highest respect for those who work in
animal shelters. It is to say the least a difficult job.

Geronimo looked up at me with that grin and just exuded such a light and
such a joy of just being alive and yes, love. He is a miracle and he
deserves a home where he can live out his days in peace, love and
comfort.

If a human was to undergo the same horrors that Geronimo went through,
I believe they would not be looking at me with love in their heart. I believe
they would need years of therapy and a stocked drug cabinet. Why is
that? Because people as a whole do not live in the moment. They live in
the past and they live through their wounds. They have their wounds
validate them.

From discussions in the classes I give and counseling sessions, I have
heard stories of people going though some pretty bad things, from
childhood abuse to rape and incest. A lot of time they develop coping
strategies. They carry these experiences and live through them day after
day. What a waste of life. I understand how horrible these experiences
can be and how they love to take up residence in the psyche from my
own personal experiences. But let’s face it. It is time to let the past go for
good. Let’s look at a hypothetical example. What if someone, as a child,
was repeatedly stabbed with a fork while eating, now as an adult they
could not bring themselves to touch that utensil. In reality, yes that was a
bad thing, no, it should not have happened but it did and it was 20 years
ago. As an adult it is time to let this all go. Face the fear and pick up the
fork. Just because one was stabbed 20 years ago does not mean that it
will happen again. Stop carrying it around and giving it life. Just because it
rained last Tuesday does not mean that it will rain every Tuesday.

That is what animals do. They let it go. They move on. They live in the
moment and not the past. They forgive. What great lessons we can learn
from them. It was a phenomenal  joy for me to be in the presence of a
creature that had gone through so much and still flowed with love. He
gave me a gift. My gift to him is putting his story out there and maybe
some angel will come and give him the home he so rightly deserves.

For more information on this wonderful dog, please go to
www.forloveofunderdogs.com.
Geronimo