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Every week I reminded myself that the best way to help a dog was with joy and tenderness. Focusing on the sadness and anger of their situation didn’t help either of us. “Hi there, pretty girl.”
She reached toward my hand and licked it.
“You’re most welcome. Now, how about a little walk out in the yard?”
Her paws padded alongside me in perfect unison. “Well, you’ve had training. You’re such a good girl.”
As soon as we reached the grass, she threw herself on the ground and rolled around as if her mission was to get as many grass stains on her freshly cleaned fur as possible.
“You do whatever you want, honey. I’m not gonna stop ya.”
Once I got my own butt on the ground, she stopped and leaped into my lap. Her two front paws settled on my chest, and her nose reached up toward my face. My chin was the lucky recipient of a doggie kiss.
My laugh turned into a sob because I knew what her fate would be. Senior dogs rarely got adopted. They spent months in the kennel, watching would-be owners pass them by every day, never giving them a moment’s thought. Nobody wanted an old dog.
Dogs never got put down in a no-kill shelter like this one, but eventually, the old ones put themselves down. They gave up, withered, and died. You could even tell the moment they had given up by the empty look in their eyes. I’d seen it happen a few times, and I couldn’t bear to watch it happen again.
Not to her.
I’d promised myself that I’d never adopt a dog from the shelter, or else I’d end up taking them all home. Besides, a dog didn’t fit into my career plan. I was rarely home. But could it? What if…?
I gazed down at the furry little ball of love in my lap. She panted happily, looking perfectly content. It wasn’t even up for debate anymore. I chose her, and she chose me. She would come home with me.
It was Karma.
Karma was not only for people who did shitty things to get their comeuppance. But for good people to get back what they put out. Good for good. Bad for bad.
I had put in years at the shelter, resisting the urge to take them all home. But there was nothing to resist now.
It was destiny.
Karma.
And since the jerks who abandoned her didn’t even bother leaving us her name, I got to name her myself for her new life with me.
“Come on, Karma, I’ve got some paperwork to fill out for your adoption and some dogs to walk and play with before you and I can go home. You could hang out with Simone at the reception desk until I finish. She’ll give you some treats and if you beg cutely enough, she’ll let you sit on her lap while she works.”
I walked back inside. Karma happily trotted at my side, her ears flopping.
