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Don't Bite the Hands that Feed You

Thor, a rescue dog, did not know how lucky he was until he learned what fate awaits ingratitude

By Josephine CrispinPublished 2 years ago 11 min read
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Thor, the rescue dog, after about 20 months of being adopted. Photo credit to the author.

The Runt

ONCE upon a time in the far-away land of Bosnia, there roamed a homeless Caucasian Shepherd in an industrial estate. No one knew how she ended up there, especially in her condition. She was heavy with pups that were ready to drop anytime.

And pop the pups did, all four of them, one after the other. They were robust, their size as pups were normal to their breed - big. The mom’s dog instinct took over. Though pretty weak after birthing her pups, she started to lick them, make them clean, as they gingerly sidled to her for their first milk feed.

But then, to her shocked surprise, another pup dropped. The last. The runt. It didn’t move at first, making the mom think that the runt of her litter died at pupbirth. But the runt survived, heroically.

The mom did not have an easy time after her pupbirth. They did not have a home, for one. They lived exposed in the elements, and mom had to steal food for herself so her puppies could feed on her milk. And what greedy puppies she had.

The runt, being the smallest and shunted aside by his bigger siblings, managed to feed on just a few drops of milk each time. He did fight, though, for more share of their mom’s milk. But his siblings were aggressive, too. Those moments might have planted the seed of aggression on this litter.

Big in size but with an attitude

Luck smiled at them. A Bosnian animal charity rescued this Caucasian Shepherd family. Through a Facebook group, the charity found families in the UK that wanted to adopt, separately, the rescue dogs.

However, by the time when veterinary documentation, government clearances and licenses, transport arrangements and other logistic matters were resolved, issued or completed, the five were no longer puppies although not yet adults. They were already big, with an attitude.

And so, the cross-country travel over land began. They were on their way to proper homes.

The runt, who would be named Thor by the human family who chose to adopt him, was jittery and agitated all the way. And who would not be when trapped inside a lorry for four days?

Nevertheless, Thor had to admit though grudgingly to himself that it wasn’t that bad in the lorry. It was comfortably warm, there was plenty of food and water in the kennels, and he was in the company of his siblings and other rescue dogs bound for their English foster homes.

But the collective barking, growling, yipping and moaning, which drowned his own, annoyed Thor.

Meeting a snooty Husky

First photo of Thor taken when he arrived in England; photo credit to the author

In a suburb in East Midlands, his final destination, he was met by the *Hesketh family that adopted him - *Albert and *Violet, a young couple, and their eight-year-old son, *Sean. The family already have a pet, Loki, a snobbish-looking adult Husky, who looked at Thor with undisguised condescension.

When Albert tried to pat the rescue dog’s head with a smile, a gesture of warm welcome for the Bosnian dog, Thor growled at him.

When little Sean tried to do the same, happily welcoming another fur baby in the family, Thor barked at Sean.

Sean was shocked. The boy wasn’t used to bad dogs. Almost in tears, Sean hugged his mom, fearful of Thor.

She said a dry hello to Thor. She did not attempt to come closer to the rescue dog, nor try to ruffle his hairy head and his feelings. Violet has had experience in training dogs; she knew of Thor’s early days, his time at the industrial estate, the long journey in a lorry. Such would be traumatic for a human, let alone a not-fully-grown dog.

Bad dog

Later that day, at mealtime in the kitchen, Loki and Thor had their first conversation. They were eating side by side; they had separate food and water bowls.

Loki, in one of their walks in the park; photo credit to the author

“Why did you growl at Papa Albert?” Loki said sharply. “He’s the one who chose to rescue you and paid good money for the adoption process.”

“Don’t like being touched.”

“And you barked at Sean!” Loki sounded aghast. “How dare you do that? He’s a very nice kid.”

“But I didn’t growl or bark at Violet. Of course, she didn’t try to pat my head.”

“That’s Mama Violet for you. Where are your manners? She’s the big boss in this house even if she wears a skirt.”

“She looked at me with a slight frown, come to think of it,“ Thor remarked thoughtfully. “Did she not like me?”

“Why would she?” Loki said haughtily. “You barked at Sean, you growled at Papa. You were supposedly Papa Albert’s gift to Mama Violet, a surprise because she loves dogs. But I guess she was also not impressed when she saw you for the first time. You’re not only ugly, you’re also a bad dog.”

The words bad dog triggered Thor. Thor snarled at Loki.

But Loki was not intimidated. He is the Top Dog in the household.

Fangs in full show, Loki growled ferociously at Thor.

Thor, in extreme fear, peed on the spot. The stream of his pee even hit the edge of his food bowl.

Loki, if he were human, would have sighed a deep sigh. Thor may look nearly an adult in size but in attitude, he was just a puppy. An untrained, mischievous puppy bound to wreak havoc in the house.

Top dog

The top dog in the household couldn’t be more right. Loki, himself, was a puppy not long ago. He knew what it was like to be an ill-disciplined pup. Compared with Thor, however, Loki thought he wasn’t that bad.

Thor was on all-fours creating disaster after disaster in the well-kept and dog-friendly house. He ate whatever footwear he could get his fangs on, he made a mess destroying the hypoallergenic feather pillows, ate Sean’s school project, and the worst, he peed and pooped everywhere.

Loki, in his best Husky calm, told off Thor.

“Stop being a pain, or you may get evicted.”

“No, they can’t,” Thor said proudly. “They had spent so much on me; they wouldn't have me repatriated to Bosnia.”

“Maybe not, but one of your siblings had already been turned over to a local animal charity. I bet no-one would want to adopt your sibling.”

“How did you know that?”

“I heard Papa and Mama talking about it last night. You see, they’re in the Facebook group of the animal charity in Bosnia, same with the others who adopted you and your siblings. They’re sharing the problems they’re encountering in fostering you and your lot. One had already given up on your sibling because he bit his own foster parent.”

Thor somehow sobered a bit with his big-puppy mind.

Loki continued giving his best Husky wisdom. “You don’t bite, ever, the hands that feed you.”

“What am I to do?” Thor sounded contrite.

“Listen to Mama Violet is what you should do. She’s good at training dogs, even rescue dogs like you. Be good and you won’t be collected by a local animal charity.”

A brilliant dog’s life

Thor, for the next two years, behaved but only by half. He no longer ate shoes or Sean’s homework, he peed and pooped in designated areas, allowed himself to be bathed and shampooed, and got really close to his Mama Violet. She was a lovely human mother to a rascal dog like him; he loved her to bits.

It was Sean, however, who Thor loved more. He took it upon himself to be the boy’s protector, barking and growling at anyone hugging Sean, even family members including his nan and grandpa who came occasionally to visit.

But what was worse was that Thor had not got over being scared of his Papa Albert. It wasn’t as if Albert was an atrocious foster-father to furry friends. It was Thor who acted as fiend. Albert was kindly and friendly, and would like to pat the head of their dogs. He never raised his voice at either Loki or Thor.

But unlike Loki who delighted in being petted, Thor peed and barked at Albert when the latter gave him food or tried to ruffle his hairy head.

Except for Thor’s inexplicable fear and attitude towards his Papa Albert, the rescue dog’s life with the Heskeths was brilliant. He and Loki were looked after very well, they got to play and fool around in the back garden, be it sunny or snowy. They got their regular exercise in the nearby park, with their Mama Violet who took them out for a walk even when she’s clearly tired after work.

The rescued dog that bit the hands that rescued him

The Hesketh couple had clearly accepted that Thor must have had some mental trauma inflicted on him from when he was born and roamed the wilds. But what surprised them, after all their loving patience, was when Thor bit Albert’s hands. Both hands, literally.

Violet and Sean, the day before, travelled to Yorkshire to visit her parents. They were to spend a few days there. It was a school holiday. Albert, as usual, could not come with them because someone had to be in the house to feed and exercise the dogs. (Thor was unaware of the sacrifices that the Heskeths were making for him.)

The next day, it was time for Thor and Loki to play and do whatever they want in the back garden. It was a nice day for the two pets to roll around in the freshly mowed grass and play ball, and breathe in fresh air.

Loki was quick to go out. He loved their playtime in the back garden.

Thor, meanwhile, did not want to go out to their garden. He was unhappy, missing his Mama Violet and Sean.

As Albert would be late for work, he egged on Thor by giving the dog a push towards the open sliding doors. That’s when Thor growled and bit Albert in both hands.

Albert had to drive himself to the hospital A&E to get shots for dog bites before proceeding to work.

Lucky dog

“You are in deep dog poo, Thor,” Loki said, not without sympathy. “Just like your ill-disciplined siblings who are now all in animal shelters. Their foster parents couldn’t stand their bad attitude and aggression, so they gave up on them.”

Thor just sat under a table in the kitchen.

“Why did you do that, biting the hands that feed you? You’re a Caucasian Shepherd, not a snake. Only snakes do that.”

“He pushed me.”

“That was a gentle push, not a rough push,” Loki snorted. “Don’t lie.”

“I did not want him touching me. I’m scared of him. Where’s Mama Violet and Sean?”

“How could you still be afraid of Papa Albert? He had tried and tried to make you like him.”

“That’s his problem. Not mine. I can’t like him. He cannot force me to like him, nor tolerate him patting my head.”

Loki eyed Thor with mixed emotions, pity overpowering his frustration, annoyance and sadness towards his furry friend and housemate.

“Have you any idea what would happen to you after biting Papa Albert?”

Thor didn’t reply.

“Bad dogs, especially those who are aggressive and bite people, are collected by the dog pound or animal shelters.”

“But if I were unlucky?”

Loki snorted. “If you run out of luck, you will be put down. A vet will give you an injection so you will sleep forever.”

“As in euthanized?” Thor’s eyes were big as saucers. He was apparently aware of what being put down meant.

“Hah, big word - euthanized. How did you learn that word?”

Thor did not reply. He was in a funk, contrition flowing in his guilty veins for biting the hands that fed him. He moved further to the corner, wanting to hide from what he did wrong. Was he going to be turned over to the dog pound or to the animal shelter, or would he be put down?

Thor cried, as he had never cried before. He did not know that being an ungrateful dog had consequences.

***

Loki left for the lounge as Thor cowered in fear in the corner in the kitchen. A dog-smile was plastered on his Husky face, an indecipherable smile, but a smile nonetheless.

He knew the Hesketh family. They would forgive Thor. They would not bring him to the animal shelter to suffer the uncertainty of finding another dog-lover to adopt him. Thor had no idea how lucky he was to have been adopted by the Heskeths.

But, Loki said to himself, he would let Thor suffer and stew for the meantime. Thor must rivet on his head that ingratitude reaps bad karma. Sure, humans sometimes could get away with it, but bad dogs rarely do.

Thor would be a rare case. He would be forgiven, and also given further coaching to purge whatever trauma he had experienced in his puppyhood, in that land so far away.

And the Heskeths will live happily ever after, with their top dog and the reformed mischief-maker.

Thor and Loki have become friends since then; photo credit to the author

*Except for the names of the Caucasian Shepherd and the Husky, all the other names have been changed.

First published here.

Thank you very much for reading!

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adoption
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About the Creator

Josephine Crispin

Writer, editor, and storyteller who reinvented herself and worked in the past 10 years in the media intelligence business, she's finally free to write and share her stories, fiction and non-fiction alike without constraints, to the world.

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