Gypsy
Gypsy was a dog my dad and I adopted from the shelter when I was nine years old (well not exactly inside) as we noticed an old man crying in the parking lot whom was hugging his dog, and we approached him. I had been bugging my dad for a dog ever since we moved to Canada and had to leave my beautiful GS, Terry behind in France. After three years of my continuous bugging my dad finally gave in and on that particular day we were going to the SPCA to adopt a dog when we ran into the old man in the parking lot. The old man explained he and his wife had to move into an apartment and they didn't allow dogs and he couldn't bare his Gypsy to be in a shelter. I said I'd take her. From that moment on Gyspy became my dog and she never had to be in a shelter. She was a dog of undetermined breed but resembled a Beardie or some type of Collie mix. It was obvious Gyspy was overweight but soon she was a healthy dog due to all those walks in the woods and romps with me and my friends. She went everywhere with me and I loved her dearly. A year later I was walking by a place to visit a friend and who should we run into but the old man! It was obvious that "my dog" never forgot the old couple and soon they were inviting me over all the time. They immediately set out a bowl of milk and cookies for her. It was obvious even at the age I was, why she had problems with her weight earlier but I found it touching how both those old people just adored her and continuously spoke to her. They lived on the ground floor and soon after we visited a few times, Gypsy would bolt from the yard and be found at their place happily lapping up her milk and cookies. I will never forget the old man telling me one day, "you know the landlord has seen what a wonderful and well behaved girl she is and said it's too bad he hadn't realized it sooner as he would have let me keep her". He never asked me for her back as I knew this old couple had grown fond of me and would seem pretty heartless to ask a kid for her dog...yet even at age nine I knew the right thing to do. I went home and hugged Gypsy and told her how much I loved her. Put her leash on her and walked by myself to the old couples place and knocked on the door. I didn't discuss it with my family either, as Gypsy had been my dog. I don't remember the exact words I said or what they said ..all I remember about that day is I gave her back to them as I knew she was really theirs. I just remember sobbing all the way back home. Marianne and the boys |
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| Awww marianne what a wonderful and very hard thing to do.
Thanks for sharing the story of gypsy  |
Wow Marianne! What a wonderful story, I'll bet those people were so delighted to have Gypsy back... I know my elderly grandmother adores her dogs, it is such a comfort to her to have them with her! I'm sure it was the same for them  thanks so much for sharing, now I've got my warm fuzzy for the day!
Karen |
| That's a wonderful story, Marianne. You likely restored their hope for future generations |
| Mariane you have a heart of gold. |
| A wonderful story.... did you go back and visit? |
| Yes Marianne...Did you go back and visit???? Thats a wonderful story!! |
| Here I am again with tears in my eyes at one of your stories! What a big-hearted thing to do at such a young age.
Yes, please do tell us....did you see Gypsy again? |
| What a wonderful story Marianne! What a thoughtful child you were, I bet what you did meant the world to them.
I also have to know...did you see her again? |
| Awww... That's a touching story! |
| Wonderful story !!!!!! |
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| Great story.
Brought a tear or two to my eyes |
| aww - I love these kind of stories. |
| Awesome story and like everyone else said, did you go back? |
| wonderful story. |
So your thoughtful, generous nature started while you were a yee one...  |
| Marianne, I first read this story when I was up late last night and cried so that I couldn't respond. The story about how you found her and then returned her to the elderly couple just reinforces my feelings that everything happens for a reason. You were meant to take her in when she needed a home and then you returned her to the couple when they could again take care of her.
Thank you for sharing the story. |
| Hi Everyone,
Thanks for all the responses and I was glad to share that story with you. I often think of it and many years later can view it as an outsider would . I was pretty immature as a kid but looking back now, I guess I did have empathy for others at an early age. My best friend lived a few blocks from the old couple and for a while I avoided walking past their place and took a different route. Eventually, I did and they'd always try to ask me in for milk and cookies too. This was back in an era when kids would roam all over their neighborhood and wouldn't cause their parents concern and old people would think nothing of asking a kid in for treats. Kinda sad how times have changed. I have a vague recollection of doing it once but maybe it was too painful as I have no memory of that one time after I gave them Gypsy back. A few months later my brother suprised me on my birthday. I do remember always waving to the old man for years as he always sat on his porch daily. I think his wife died and perhaps Gypsy had passed away too by that time although he never mentioned it to me...for some reason I always thought that happened but can't be sure. When I visit my mom I always glance in the direction of that apartment and think of the old couple and Gypsy. On my 10th birthday my brother whom was 15 and had walked home in the rain, unzipped his jacket and I saw a little black and white head pop out!!! A puppy for me!!! The little furball was 8wks old, A Samoyed/Lab and I named him Snoopy, after the Charlie Brown character and he was my dog for the next 17 years. |
| What a wonderful gift from your brother! |
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