Being alone is a terrible thing. That’s why we have our pets. They help us hang on.

Today’s story is “Unconditional Love” by Vixyy Fox.

Vixyy was born into her character when she discovered the internet way back when. She is a self -taught writer, but a natural born story teller. If you like her stories, her website is: vixyyfox.com where the reading is free.

Today’s story will be read for you by Carrizo, your coyote in the court.

You're listening to The Voice of Dog.

Today's story is Unconditional Love by Vixie Fox.

Vixie was born into her character when she discovered the internet way back when.

She's a self-taught writer,

but a natural born storyteller.

If you like her stories,

her website is vixiefox.com.

That's Vixie with two Y's,

so vixiefox.

vixiefox.com where the reading is free.

Today's story will be read for you by Carrizo, your coyote

on the court.

Please enjoy Unconditional Love

by Vixie Fox. Now then, I can't bother you with my tail-woah. The old boy rested his head upon paws that looked to be a bit ward and fur-bear, where they'd been chewed on over the years. Neither will I tell

you about my birthing, which was difficult to say the least.

When I looked up at me.

If you stop to consider how many of us are stuffed into a mama's big belly, you can agree. I'm quite sure.

The accommodations are a bit tight.

I adopted Cory from the local dog pound.

He was to be put down the next day,

as he was old and

had used up his small amount of a lot of time for those

waiting to be reclaimed by an errand owner.

An ever new errand meant asshole.

I looked down at the dog from my typewriter and raised an eyebrow.

It's a bad word, I know, but it's a word. Everyone's got theirs, including dogs.

Just seems that some people's is bigger than most.

When you look at them,

that's all you can see.

Can't even remember why I was down there.

I too am older now. Almost as old as me.

And truly remembering what I had for breakfast is a chore,

but I do remember our meeting.

He was behind the bars, you see. I was

standing there in front of the bars,

chatting with the young fellow who worked there.

I could never do his job.

That was when he nodded to Cory and mentioned he was

next. And you said no.

Just that. No. I watched you reach into your pocket and take out your wallet.

I have no real knowledge of money, but I

watched you take everything that was in that leather folder and pass it over to the boy guard.

He in turn opened the cage door

and I was let into your care.

He was given over to me with a simple rope of clothesline around his neck.

He followed my lead passively without any fight.

Looking at him, many thoughts crossed my mind.

I must be crazy. Why did I just do that? Like minimum rations for the rest of the week. I'll need to

buy some dog food.

Wait, nothing says he can't eat people food, right?

Looking down at my new companion,

I actually asked him if he liked eggs.

He blinked and I took that as a yes. His tail moved slightly from side to side, so I guessed he was happy,

but more than a bit nervous. It was our first date. Of course, I was nervous.

If I didn't please you, I'd be right back at the death place, wouldn't I?

I just now looked down to him

and raised his head ever so slightly.

His face had that smile on it again

and his tail was wagging ever so slightly.

I tell him he's a good boy.

I tossed him a small cookie, kept on a plate just for him.

It's been six months now.

And they've been a good six months.

He's a little too big to be sitting on my lap, though.

I encourage it every now and then.

I learned to keep a hassock next to my chair for him and again on the porch next to my rocker.

When we have coffee in the morning and

watch the day wake itself.

I let him sleep on the bed, too.

I feel much less lonely now.

As opposed to before.

And then the day came when

he didn't answer my call.

I sat next to him on the floor for a good hour, just...

Just cried my eyes out.

A few times I thought I

heard his tail thumping on the floor as it always had.

But I even checked to make sure it was not moving.

I found a nice, rusty place for him in the yard.

It was a place I could

watch for my morning coffee spot on the porch.

I have heard the stories about the Rainbow Bridge.

I think someone had a very good imagination in that, but it

makes me feel better.

So I like the notion.

Then one day I got a feeling

while drinking my coffee.

I remember the sun glinting off of the small cross I'd placed at his

head. Just so you know, there's

not much thought to my actions after getting this feeling. In fact,

I don't even remember driving over to the place, but I found myself back at that dog pound.

Again talking with the young man running the place.

I told him of Corey.

Then asked if there were any

hard cases in his facility.

He said there were two.

A bloodhound found in the woods

that was in pretty rough shape, and a chihuahua

discovered within an

elderly lady's house when she was found expired by a neighbor, checking on her.

I made it empty my wallet again,

but he placed a hand on mine and shook his head.

That was enough. And he then helped me

get them into my car.

Both of them are female, so they get along quite well.

I named the bloodhound Mandy

the Chihuahua Rowena.

Though I just call her Roe.

Sitting here typing,

I look over the edge of the table at the floor and

find they are cuddled together right where Corey used to lay. The mind does

play tricks sometimes,

and I know I was seeing him

squinting my eyes and

looking through the tears.

I could still see him lying there too.

It's not such a lonely world if you have a dog.

It's also up to us to give them a home and

the love they so deserve.

God knows they give back more love than I know what to do with.

I think he's finished, Roe.

I think so too, Mandy.

Should we do the outside dance for

him? Good idea. I go and say good night to Cor for the both of us,

and you can see that I ran under the wood pile still there, eh?

He ain't. I got him yesterday and left him in the back field for the crows.

See that? Of course you didn't because you're only reading.

I almost forgot the final part of the article. That comes from being old, I suppose.

I wanted to add that old dogs are a very good company.

They're always housebroken,

usually. Whatever love you can show them

will be returned one hundredfold.

Mandy and Roe both share my bed at night.

In fact, we pretty much do everything together.

They even have their own coffee cups.

I use extra half and half in theirs.

Think about that.

And when you're ready,

go and visit a shelter.

Be a lover of dogs.

Heck, just let loose the reins of your heart and watch how it dances and plays with your new friend.

You won't be disappointed.

Writer's note. Alma, a husky, was abandoned then struck by a car, leaving

her with a broken leg and, I think,

a dislocated pelvis.

She was turned into a shelter and scheduled to be put down because of her condition.

She was rescued by a husky rescue group

who actually flew up and brought her back,

arriving a mere hour ahead of her termination.

I found her in a newspaper article and said to Gloria,

I found her next dog.

After going through all the hoops and paperwork,

we were turned down because they felt we were too old.

I always laugh at that.

To ensure the dog had adequate exercise.

And our dog run only has a five foot fence,

six foot required.

She was then adopted by the girl tending to her surgical recovery, so we felt good about that.

We, in turn, found Kona and Maui at her local humane society, Brother and Sister Huskies.

And the shelter folks were delighted, we inquired,

as the pair had never been apart

and so needed to be adopted together.

Best damn dogs ever.

This was Unconditional Love

by Vixie Fox. Read for you by Carrizo,

your coyote in the court.

You can find more stories on the web at thevoice.

thevoice.dog or find the show wherever you get your podcast.

Thank you for listening to The Voice of Dog