“The shelter was full. But as a volunteer, I’m allowed to “foster” animals that are too scared or too old to be adopted.
That’s when I saw Barnaby.
He was an old terrier mix, 10 or 11 years old. His family had “surrendered” him. He just sat in the back of his kennel, shaking. He wouldn’t look at anyone. He had given up.
I took him home. My neighbor, an 84-year-old widower named Frank, was sitting on his porch, just watching the cars go by. He lost his wife of 60 years last winter. His house is always quiet.
I walked over to say hello, with Barnaby in my arms.
“Old fella, isn’t he?” Frank said, his voice soft. “He’s had a hard time,” I said. “He needs a friend.”
I put Barnaby down on the porch.
This little dog, who hadn’t moved in two days, walked right over to Frank. He sniffed his leg, then… he did something that made my throat tighten. He licked Frank’s hand.
Frank, for the first time in months, let out a real, deep laugh. He reached down and started scratching Barnaby’s ears. “Well, hello there,” he whispered. “You’ve had a hard time, too, haven’t you?”
I was supposed to be Barnaby’s foster home.
But that was three weeks ago. Barnaby now lives with Frank. I bring them dog food every Tuesday.
When I visited today, Frank’s house wasn’t quiet. The TV was on, and Frank was talking. “And then… we’re going to watch the game, aren’t we boy?”
Barnaby was asleep in his lap.
Two old souls, both abandoned in their own way, found each other on a quiet porch. I don’t know who rescued whom.”
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All credit goes to the respective owner