That is, a la dog!
This is Hazel. She is one of three dogs that ‘belong’ to Pharaoh.
Last Tuesday, we took Pharaoh and his mini-pack of 3 dogs out for our usual afternoon walk at the very end of Granite Dells Rd, out where the forest road ends and soon becomes the relative wilderness of the Tonto National Forest.
However, on this occasion Hazel decided to leave us and link up with a stranger who was hiking the forest. That was the last we saw of Hazel for many hours. Miracle of miracles, the stranger, Joanie, was a dog-lover so when Hazel had followed Joanie and her dog all the way to Joanie’s car, the next stop for her, Hazel that is, was our local Payson Humane Center. Hazel’s tag very quickly linked her to Jean (a great reminder of the importance of tagging your dogs!) who is well-known as a volunteer assistant at the Humane Society Thrift store and the scare was over.
But during the hours of tramping those miles along challenging forest tracks, calling out Hazel’s name, both Jeannie and I had plenty of time to hurt. Here’s a small insight, that millions of pet owners will resonate with, that demonstrates the way that dogs offer us so much love which, in turn, opens our human hearts to the purity of unconditional love. (And I know it’s not just dogs but many animals in our lives that offer us such love!)
Pharaoh and his ‘team’ sleep in our bedroom. During the Winter months Hazel will often lay stretched out on the bed-cover alongside the back of my legs. If I need a trip to the bathroom during the night, not unknown at my age, I can almost guarantee that Hazel will shift her cuddly body up to the warm sheets just below my pillow.
Thus it was this last Tuesday morning when I returned from my bathroom run about 3am; Hazel asleep with her head on my pillow! I didn’t have the heart to push her off the bed, so just slipped in beside her and moments later back asleep, my head nestled against Hazel’s warm head. Sleeping so close to a dog is more than just nice, it seems to stir very ancient memories deep in the subconscious, perhaps back all those thousands of years to when domesticated dogs were an integral part of early man’s security.
So you can imagine the anguish that, in our own separate minds, Jeannie and I were experiencing. I just couldn’t go to the place where never again would I feel the warmth of Hazel’s body against mine. Jean was desperately hoping this wasn’t a tragic repeat of losing Poppy. Thus when I went round to the Humane Center just as they were closing up and Hazel came out to me, I dissolved in sobs of relief.
That’s the heart-felt closeness of dogs and humans.
Learning from Dogs 
So glad that everything worked out for you and my buddy, Hazel.
What a sweetie!
I, of course, have fond memories of walking with Pharaoh’s pack last month.
I’m looking forward to walking with my pack this afternoon.
Grace and Peace
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Thanks Dean. Give them all a hug from Jeannie and me. Paul.
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What a beautiful account of your Lost and Found experience. When you told me on Wed that you and Jean had lost and found A dog,you did not mention it was Hazel! I had been afraid of her before, but last time we were at your home she was warm and friendly…and my attitude toward her changed. It’s hard to say who gets the most out of this deal?? The dogs? for all you do/give to them? or You??it’s a two way street for sure and everybody wins!! And it translates into your interpersonal life as well..Thank God!!! Love..mag
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Dear MaryAnne, My own thought, in terms of who gets the most out, is that it’s a virtuous circle. Dogs show their love and affection so easily towards all the animals and humans that they trust, and in the case of us humans the purity of that love gives us the confidence to return the love, not the most instinctive place for homo sapiens! So love to you and Ed. Paul
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Aww so happy Hazel got found and returned, and all ended happily, I agree we open our hearts to give love, and these wonderful animals that come into our lives and give us so so much of their own unconditional love… Also add to this Earth their own vibration which helps Mankind open up to his inner emotions..
So Happy all ended so well.. And loved the photo of them all…
~Sue
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Thank you Sue. 100% of my pleasure in writing for the Blog is from the warm and loving thoughts that are so beautifully expressed by you and so many others. P.
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My Gratitude and thanks Paul.. always a pleasure to comment here, Time allowing me, which has been in abundance today however 4 hours have just gone in 5 mins 🙂 hehe…
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Tell me about it! My ambition of completing a novel this year seems pretty far-fetched!
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OMG, the sadness in the thought of losing a pet is so heartbreaking! I am so happy you were able to find Hazel. Our pets become part of our lives, and can’t imagine not having them near us every day bringing us joy and laughter with all their beautiful and unambiguous personalities is definitely like losing a member of our inner circle of sacred family.
So pleased with the final outcome – Hazel back home where she belongs!
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What great pictures of Hazel; she is a sweetheart. So glad to be a part of reuniting her with her family. I knew she was as loved dog when I met her.
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Joanie, Well the first thank-you that I am so happy to offer on here is for your loving action in getting Hazel to the Humane Center and for leaving messages under the wiper blades of the parked cars at the trailhead, ours included.
The second thank-you is for you commenting on Learning from Dogs so other readers can recognise the consequence of your generosity.
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