I delivered a 12 week old chihuahua puppy this week, one of a litter of five. We are on a fixed income so “puppy money” is important, but I felt compelled to break the rules. I drove to this rural home where Mom and four kids lived. She had already explained that their former dog had passed and the kids were very unhappy without a dog. Next problem was she didn’t have enough money for the pup. She could, however, pay a little less and pay it next month. She was willing to give me her engagement ring as “collateral”. I looked at those kids, dropped the price and agreed to next month’s payment. One of my other pups went to a neighbour who is awaiting a kidney transplant. Without one, she doesn’t have long to live. Her son lives with her and helps her. She really wanted one of the pups for her son who wanted a small cuddly dog. Again, I already knew her circumstances so dropped the price and will be paid at month end. Her son told her it was the best present she had ever given him. In the other family the 4 year old instantly named their dog Bullet” which is appropriate because he is a strong runner.
So I might have to cut back on a few things, but I feel really good and you can’t put a price on happiness.
The “paying it forward” came to me after these dogs were in their new homes. About six months ago a sleazy man and his kids arrived to adopt pups. At the time they looked pretty normal. He was a breeder himself of prize winning German Shepherds and had a wonderful website. So he gave me a downpayment and a cheque for the rest (it was a Sunday) and, stupidly, I accepted. The very next morning my bank told me there were no funds in that account. I am suing in small claims court, but that is not what this is about.
We went to see his “kennel” and found out he was a fraud who abused his children and animals. We were sick with worry about him abusing ours. Shortly after, he tried to sell them on kijiji even though we weren’t paid yet so he was selling stolen goods (this guy has a track record of this). It appeared that our two chihuahuas had not been adopted so I had to go begging to friends for enough money to buy back my own dogs. My friends stepped up and I had the money I needed. A friend who lived near this breeder volunteered to be the “buyer” without him knowing about us. We waited anxiously at the local Tim Horton’s as she paid her visit to get our dogs. Soon we saw her pull in and bring out our little buddies. We hugged her and thanked her and were SO glad to have our pups back and safe. I had to pay them off over two months but that was okay with them.
When I was returning from delivering “Bullet” was when I realized what I was doing was paying forward what my friends had done for me. What a wonderful feeling it was.
Money isn’t everything but friendships sure are.
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Hello!
I read each one of the responses before writing and in each one you counter the writer with why you are staying in this situation. When you left, did you think about what kind of life you were going to build for yourself? Because after the ini
Wow! What a great story. I myself am a chihuahua lover with three and I do know how you feel. You did a wonderful thing for those families and your friends did a wonderful thing for you. You are a beautiful person with good, beautiful friends. You have been blessed.