Touched by Grace

I had the great joy of joining an online conversation involving a true story that is touched by grace. I’m sharing this story here with permission from the Animal Control Officer involved.

Over the course of five days Daniel received reports of a dog running loose in the forest. The dog was reported to be in bad condition. Daniel earnestly searched for the dog as he worried that it was only a matter of time before coyotes would prevail.

Daniel searched the forest passed 11pm the night before receiving a call from a fisherman. The man reported that he found a stray in the woods, and the dog was covered with fleas and ticks. When Daniel arrived at the location, the fisherman confessed that he was trespassing and should not have been fishing in this part of the woods. Daniel wrote that the fisherman said, “Issue whatever fines and citations for trespassing that you feel you have to – I will accept them and not argue, but PLEASE let me take this dog home.” Daniel said he could see the disparate sincerity on the man’s face.

The fisherman went on to tell Daniel that he would give the dog a good life, and get him to the vet today. Then the man told Daniel that his dog of fourteen years died last week. The fisherman added that he is retired and owns his own home. Daniel listened as he also observed the dog. It was clear to him that the dog wanted to go home with the fisherman.

Daniel wrote these words in his story: “I answered him saying ‘We’ve never met … We’ve never spoken … Give him a good life … He deserves it.”

The man shook Daniel’s hand enthusiastically with both of his hands and said, “God bless you man!” Then Daniel watched as the man drove away with a tail-wagging, big dog’s head out the passenger’s side window.  Even though it is a violation of the laws Animal Control Office’s uphold, Daniel listened with his heart.

A beloved friend shared this story on Facebook and a conversation began. An animal-loving woman made a point that she is more cautious when it comes to trusting people, and I could hear her heartfelt concern for the dog. I was simply happy for the fisherman and the dog. I expressed my gratitude for Animal Control Officer’s like Daniel, and I wanted to thank and praise him for his courage and goodness.

During the conversation, my friend stated that it would be nice if Daniel let us know if he ever gets an update on this story. As we chatted, Daniel joined the conversation. Sure enough, he had news to share. Daniel let us know that the man had just called him with an update on the vet’s exam. Daniel heard that the dog was cleaned of all parasites, vaccinated, and right there with him watching TV and being a “cuddle-hound.” We each enjoyed receiving the news.

Daniel spoke clearly to my heart when he wrote, “Angels walk among us,” and he felt sure he had met one this day. Daniel told us that it was not his instincts that he followed in making this decision. He said that the dog did everything but speak in English that he wanted to go with this gentleman. Daniel’s words soothed the concerns of the cautious woman. She wrote that dogs are a great judge of character, and she felt better knowing this part of the story.

I wrote that I believe in angels and I know them when I see them. I have seen angels in dog suits. I added my wondering about who is the angel – is it the man who rescued a dog giving him a loving forever home, or is it the dog who came to the man that had just lost his K9 companion of fourteen years? Daniel believes he met an angel in the man, and I trust Daniel’s first-hand experience in this event. Daniel shared that this story will stay with him for a long time, and he observed that his job rarely has such happy endings.  

When we reflect over the journey of a lifetime, I know that many of us have experienced incidents that are touched by grace. Do you believe that angels walk among us? Do you have a story of an extraordinary or an ordinary miracle that you would like to share? I would love to hear your story.