It all began on a dark and humid night in July of 2012. The whole family was watching the comedic film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, when suddenly; there was a sharp popping noise. Abruptly, all of the electricity went off. Everyone looked outside to see what could have possibly caused the power outage, when my family realized that a huge thunderstorm was brewing. This storm was also known as the notorious “El Derecho” of 2012. My family went three long arid days of no electricity. Thankfully, on a sizzling afternoon, the power returned. My family, deprived of technology, returned to the TV, and prepared to watch the end of the film. Before we turned the TV back on to DVD mode, a commercial from the Washington Animal Rescue League appeared on the screen. Have you ever seen one of those commercials about rescuing animals? It’s hard to see the faces of the homeless dogs or cats locked up in metal cages. Before the commercial ended, the spokesperson of the Rescue League claimed that due to the storm, the League had run out of supplies for the pets, and were looking for good Samaritans who would bring supplies to help the animals push through the sweltering summer.
The next morning, my parents and I drove down to the Rescue League with supplies for the animals. As we pulled up to the Washington Animal Rescue League’s building, we passed people walking dogs. My parents and I parked, and then entered the rather empty building, devoid of any color besides gray. Once we entered the establishment and provided the needed supplies, we asked to see all of the animals in the back.
The workers of the group, very spritely people, led my family to the back, where all the animals resided. One of the workers handed me a leash, and told me to pick any dog I wanted and to walk. The place seemed to be stripped of any happiness; it had a very strong jail-like feel. Walking through the aisles with the different animals was very hard. Each stall was filled with skinny dogs or cats, each looking deprived of love, with a lifeless in their eyes. Once I had walked through two out of the three aisles of animals, I entered the final corridor. All of the rooms were occupied except for one. Believing that the animal that occupied that specific room must have been on a walk, I briskly strolled away. However, before I could walk too far, I heard a faint bark coming from that same stall. I returned to the “desolate” compartment, and decided to ask one of the workers what was going on. “Oh, that’s Brandi’s stall. She should be in there. Look closely at the other side of the door, she’s probably plastered to the door.” Sure enough, the dog, Brandi, was plastered to the door, looking up at the ceiling, hoping to be noticed by any human. I decided to take Brandi on a quick walk, just for fun. As I walked the quirky Jack Russell Terrier around the property, I fell in love. She made me laugh, because if any other dog got too close, she barked at them ferociously, and when any pedestrian gave her any affection, she would stand on her two hind legs and jump around. At that moment, I had unexpectedly created a new friendship.
It has been two years since that summer of El Derecho, and I continue to remember the day I met that little dog. I always chuckle at the thought of seeing that short and stout dog. I am so glad that Brandi, now known as Tina, has joined the Hill family.
The next morning, my parents and I drove down to the Rescue League with supplies for the animals. As we pulled up to the Washington Animal Rescue League’s building, we passed people walking dogs. My parents and I parked, and then entered the rather empty building, devoid of any color besides gray. Once we entered the establishment and provided the needed supplies, we asked to see all of the animals in the back.
The workers of the group, very spritely people, led my family to the back, where all the animals resided. One of the workers handed me a leash, and told me to pick any dog I wanted and to walk. The place seemed to be stripped of any happiness; it had a very strong jail-like feel. Walking through the aisles with the different animals was very hard. Each stall was filled with skinny dogs or cats, each looking deprived of love, with a lifeless in their eyes. Once I had walked through two out of the three aisles of animals, I entered the final corridor. All of the rooms were occupied except for one. Believing that the animal that occupied that specific room must have been on a walk, I briskly strolled away. However, before I could walk too far, I heard a faint bark coming from that same stall. I returned to the “desolate” compartment, and decided to ask one of the workers what was going on. “Oh, that’s Brandi’s stall. She should be in there. Look closely at the other side of the door, she’s probably plastered to the door.” Sure enough, the dog, Brandi, was plastered to the door, looking up at the ceiling, hoping to be noticed by any human. I decided to take Brandi on a quick walk, just for fun. As I walked the quirky Jack Russell Terrier around the property, I fell in love. She made me laugh, because if any other dog got too close, she barked at them ferociously, and when any pedestrian gave her any affection, she would stand on her two hind legs and jump around. At that moment, I had unexpectedly created a new friendship.
It has been two years since that summer of El Derecho, and I continue to remember the day I met that little dog. I always chuckle at the thought of seeing that short and stout dog. I am so glad that Brandi, now known as Tina, has joined the Hill family.